¹⁶ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Jesus Gives True Rest^(A)

^25 (B)At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that ^(C)You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent ^(D)and have revealed them to babes. ²⁶ Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

³ For ^(A)we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. ⁴ But when ^(B)the kindness and the love of ^(C)God our Savior toward man appeared, ^5 (D)not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through ^(E)the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

¹¹ (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of ^(A)Him who calls),

¹² But ^(A)as many as received Him, to them He gave the ^[a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ^13 (B)who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit^(A)

^21 (B)In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of ^(A)darkness into His marvelous light; ^10 (B)who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

^18 (A)Of His own will He brought us forth by the ^(B)word of truth, ^(C)that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Stand Fast

¹³ But we are ^[a]bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God ^(A)from the beginning ^(B)chose you for salvation ^(C)through ^[b]sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, ¹⁴ to which He called you by our gospel, for ^(D)the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.