⁶ and made us a kingdom, priests serving^[a] his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.^(A)

⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand years.^(A)

⁶ but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”^(A)

⁵ like living stones let yourselves be built^[a] into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^{(A) 6} For it stands in scripture:

⁷ This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,^[b]

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.^(D)

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,^[c] in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.^(E)

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.^(A)

The New Life in Christ

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship.^(B)

¹² singing with full voice,

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing,

¹⁴ And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.