¹⁷ Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.

²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.^[a]

¹⁹ And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

²² You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.^[a] Love each other deeply with all your heart.^[b]

²³ For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

Believers Should Stand Firm

¹³ As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first^[a] to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

²¹ So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

³² And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”