³ For this is the will of God, ^(A)your sanctification:^{[a] (B)}that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? ^(A)Are we to sin ^(B)because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves ^(C)to anyone as obedient slaves,^[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But ^(D)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the ^(E)standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, ^(F)having been set free from sin, ^(G)have become slaves of righteousness. ^19 (H)I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For ^(I)just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members ^(J)as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

^20 (K)For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ^21 (L)But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things ^(M)of which you are now ashamed? ^(N)For the end of those things is death. ²² But now that you ^(O)have been set free from sin and ^(P)have become slaves of God, ^(Q)the fruit you get leads to sanctification and ^(R)its end, eternal life. ^23 (S)For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Stand Firm

¹³ But ^(A)we ought always to give thanks to God for you, ^(B)brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you ^(C)as the firstfruits^{[a] (D)}to be saved, ^(E)through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

Greeting

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of ^(A)the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to ^(B)the foreknowledge of God the Father, ^(C)in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and ^(D)for sprinkling with his blood:

May ^(E)grace and ^(F)peace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

^3 (G)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! ^(H)According to his great mercy, ^(I)he has caused us to be born again to a living hope ^(J)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,