1 Peter 1:13-21

Contemporary English Version

Chosen To Live a Holy Life

¹³ Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how God will treat you with undeserved grace when Jesus Christ appears. ¹⁴ Behave like obedient children. Don't let your lives be controlled by your desires, as they used to be. ¹⁵ Always live as God's holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy. ^16 (A) That's why the Scriptures say, “I am the holy God, and you must be holy too.”

¹⁷ You say that God is your Father, but God doesn't have favorites! He judges all people by what they do. So you must honor God while you live as strangers here on earth. ¹⁸ You were rescued^[a] from the useless way of life you learned from your ancestors. But you know you were not rescued by such things as silver or gold that don't last forever. ^19 (B) You were rescued by the precious blood of Christ, that spotless and innocent lamb. ²⁰ Christ was chosen even before the world was created, but because of you, he did not come until these last days. ²¹ And when he did come, it was to lead you to have faith in God, who raised him from death and honored him in a glorious way. This is why you have put your faith and hope in God.