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A Living Hope, and a Sure Salvation

^1 (C1)Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as ^(C2)aliens, ^(C3)scattered throughout ^(C4)Pontus, ^(C5)Galatia, ^(C4)Cappadocia, ^(C4)Asia, and ^(C6)Bithynia, ^(C7)who are chosen² 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 ^(F2)be yours in the fullest measure.

^3 (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,⁴ to obtain an ^(C1)inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and ^(C2)will not fade away, ^(C3)reserved in heaven for you,⁵ 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.^6 (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,⁷ so that the ^(F1)(C1)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which ^(F2)is perishable, ^(C2)even though tested by fire, ^(C3)may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at ^(C4)the revelation of Jesus Christ;⁸ 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,⁹ obtaining as ^(C1)the outcome of your faith the salvation of ^(F1)your souls.

^10 (C1)As to this salvation, the prophets who ^(C2)prophesied of the ^(C3)grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,^11 (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.¹² 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.

¹³ Therefore, ^(F1)(C1)prepare your minds for action, ^(F2)(C2)keep sober in spirit, fix your ^(C3)hope completely on the ^(C4)grace ^(F3)to be brought to you at ^(C5)the revelation of Jesus Christ.¹⁴ As ^(F1)(C1)obedient children, do not ^(F2)(C2)be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ^(C3)ignorance,¹⁵ but ^(F1)(C1)like the Holy One who called you, ^(F2)(C2)be holy yourselves also ^(C3)in all your behavior;¹⁶ because it is written, "^(C1)YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

¹⁷ 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;¹⁸ 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,¹⁹ but with precious ^(C1)blood, as of a ^(C2)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.²⁰ 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 you²¹ 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.

²² Since you have ^(C1)in obedience to the truth ^(C2)purified your souls for a ^(F1)(C3)sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from ^(F2)the heart,²³ 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.²⁴ For,

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

^25 (C1)BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER."
And this is ^(C2)the word which was ^(F1)preached to you.