7 Therefore, since we have these promises,^(A) dear friends,^(B) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness^(C) out of reverence for God.

⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.^(A)

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹ Dear friends,^(A) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,^(B) to abstain from sinful desires,^(C) which wage war against your soul.^(D)

⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(A) Wash your hands,^(B) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(C) you double-minded.^(D)

²⁵ I will sprinkle^(A) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse^(B) you from all your impurities^(C) and from all your idols.^{(D) 26} I will give you a new heart^(E) and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone^(F) and give you a heart of flesh.^(G)

³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves,^(A) just as he is pure.^(B)

⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(A) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(B) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(C)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(D) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(E) and to self-control, perseverance;^(F) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(G) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(H) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(I) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(J)