To
The Elect Exiles
Peter,
an Apostle of Jesus Christ,
TO
GOD'S ELECT, STRANGERS IN THE WORLD,
Scattered
throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
2
WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN
ACCORDING
TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER,
THROUGH
THE SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT,
FOR
OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST
AND
SPRINKLED BY HIS BLOOD:
Grace
and Peace be yours in abundance.
Praise
To God For A Living Hope
3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
IN
HIS GREAT MERCY
HE
HAS GIVE US NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE
THROUGH
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD,
4
AND INTO AND INHERITANCE
THAT
CAN NEVER PERISH, SPOIL OR FADE--
KEPT
IN HEAVEN FOR YOU,
5
WHO THROUGH FAITH ARE SHIELDED BY GOD'S POWER
UNTIL
THE COMING OF THE SALVATION
THAT
IS READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME.
6
In this you Greatly Rejoice,
Though
now for a little while
You
may have had to Suffer Grief in all kinds of Trials.
7
THESE HAVE COME SO THAT YOUR FAITH--
OF
GREATER WORTH THAN GOLD, WHICH PERISHES
EVEN
THOUGH REFINED BY FIRE--
MAY
PROVE GENUINE
AND
MAY RESULT IN PRAISE, GLORY AND HONOR
WHEN
JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED.
8
THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT SEEN HIM, YOU LOVE HIM;
AND
EVEN THOUGH YOU DO NOT SEE HIM NOW,
YOU
BELIEVE IN HIM
AND
ARE FILLED WITH AN INEXPRESSIBLE AND GLORIOUS JOY,
9
FOR YOU ARE RECEIVING THE GOAL OF YOUR FAITH,
THE
SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS.
10
Concerning this Salvation, the Prophets,
Who
spoke of the Grace that was to come to you,
SEARCHED
INTENTLY AND WITH THE GREATEST CARE,
11
TRYING TO FIND OUT THE TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCES
TO
WHICH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN THEM WAS POINTING
WHEN
HE PREDICTED THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST
AND
THE GLORIES THAT WOULD FOLLOW.
12
IT WAS REVEALED TO THEM
THAT
THEY WERE NOT SERVING THEMSELVES BUT YOU,
WHEN
THE SPOKE OF THE THINGS
THAT
HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD YOU
BY
THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM HEAVEN.
Even
Angels long to look into these things.
13
THEREFORE PREPARE YOU MINDS FOR ACTION;
BE
SELF-CONTROLLED;
SET
YOUR HOPE FULL ON THE GRACE
TO
BE GIVEN YOU WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED.
14
As Obedient Children,
DO
NOT CONFORM TO THE EVIL DESIRES YOU HAD
WHEN
YOU LIVED IGNORANCE.
15
BUT JUST AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY,
SO
BE HOLY IN ALL YOU DO;
16
FOR IT IS WRITTEN:
'BE
HOLY, AS I AM HOLY.'
17
Since you call on a Father
Who
Judges each man's Work impartially,
LIVE
YOUR LIVES AS STRANGERS HERE IN REVERENT FEAR.
18
For you know that it was not with perishable things
Such
as silver of gold
THAT
YOU WERE REDEEMED
FROM
THE EMPTY WAY OF LIFE
HANDED
DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR FOREFATHERS,
19
BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST,
A
LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH OR DEFECT.
20
HE WAS CHOSEN BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD,
BUT
WAS REVEALED IN THESE LAST TIMES
FOR
YOUR SAKE.
21
THROUGH HIM YOU BELIEVE IN GOD
AND
GLORIFY HIM,
AND
SO YOUR FAITH AND HOPE ARE IN GOD.
22
NOW YOU HAVE PURIFIED YOURSELVES
BY
OBEYING THE TRUTH
SO
THAT YOU HAVE SINCERE LOVE FOR YOUR BROTHERS,
LOVE
ONE ANOTHER DEEPLY
FROM
THE HEART.
23
FOR YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN,
NOT
OF PERISHABLE SEED, BUT IMPERISHABLE,
THROUGH
THE LIVING AND ENDURING WORD OF GOD.
24
For, 'All men are like grass
And
all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
The
grass withers and the flowers fall,
But
the Word of the Lord stands forever.'
And
this is the Word that was Preached to you.
(1
Peter 1)
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