17 If you aaddress as Father the One who bimpartially cjudges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves din fear during the time of your estay on earth;

18 knowing that you were not 1aredeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your bfutile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

19 but with precious ablood, as of a blamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

20 For He was aforeknown before bthe foundation of the world, but has cappeared 1in these last times dfor the sake of you

21 who through Him are abelievers in God, who raised Him from the dead and bgave Him glory, so that your faith and chope are in God.

22 Since you have ain obedience to the truth bpurified your souls for a 1csincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from 2the heart,

23 for you have been aborn again bnot of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring cword of God.

24 For,

“aAll flesh is like grass,

And all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

And the flower falls off,

25 aBut the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is bthe word which was 1preached to you.