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^(C1)Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as ^(C2)strangers, ^(C3)scattered throughout ^(C4)Pontus, ^(C5)Galatia, ^(C4)Cappadocia, ^(C4)Asia, and ^(C6)Bithynia, ^(C7)who are chosen

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according to the ^(C1)foreknowledge of God the Father, ^(C2)by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, ^(F1)to ^(C3)obey Jesus Christ and be ^(C4)sprinkled with His blood: ^(C5)May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

^(C1)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^(C2)according to His great mercy ^(C3)has caused us to be born again to ^(C4)a living hope through the ^(C5)resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

to obtain an ^(C1)inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and ^(C2)will not fade away, ^(C3)reserved in heaven for you,

who are ^(C1)protected by the power of God ^(C2)through faith for ^(C3)a salvation ready ^(C4)to be revealed in the last time.

^(C1)In this you greatly rejoice, even though now ^(C2)for a little while, ^(C3)if necessary, you have been distressed by ^(C4)various ^(F1)trials,

so that the ^(F1)(C1)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes ^(C2)though tested by fire, ^(C3)may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at ^(C4)the revelation of Jesus Christ;

and ^(C1)though you have not seen Him, you ^(C2)love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and ^(F1)full of glory,

obtaining as ^(C1)the outcome of your faith, the salvation of ^(F1)your souls.

^(C1)As to this salvation, the prophets who ^(C2)prophesied of the ^(C3)grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,

^(F1)seeking to know what person or time ^(C1)the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He ^(C2)predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories ^(F2)to follow.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who ^(C1)preached the gospel to you by ^(C2)the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which ^(C3)angels long to ^(F1)look.

Therefore, ^(F1)(C1)prepare your minds for action, ^(F2)(C2)keep sober in spirit, set your ^(C3)hope completely on the ^(C4)grace to be brought to you at ^(C5)the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As ^(F1)(C1)obedient children, do not ^(F2)(C2)be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ^(C3)ignorance,

but ^(F1)(C1)like the Holy One who called you, ^(F2)(C2)be holy yourselves also ^(C3)in all your behavior;

because it is written: "^(C1)YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

If you ^(C1)address as Father the One who ^(C2)impartially ^(C3)judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves ^(C4)in fear during the time of your ^(C5)stay on earth;

knowing that you were not ^(F1)(C1)redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your ^(C2)futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

but with precious ^(C1)blood, as of a ^(C2)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

For He was ^(C1)foreknown before ^(C2)the foundation of the world, but has ^(C3)appeared ^(F1)in these last times ^(C4)for the sake of you

who through Him are ^(C1)believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and ^(C2)gave Him glory, so that your faith and ^(C3)hope are in God.

Since you have ^(C1)purified your souls ^(C2)in obedience to the truth for a ^(C3)sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from ^(F1)the heart,

for you have been ^(C1)born again ^(C2)not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring ^(C3)word of God.

For, "^(C1)ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

^(C1)BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is ^(C2)the word which was ^(F1)preached to you.

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