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and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
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who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
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These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
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Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
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Be Holy
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
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But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
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for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
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Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
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For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
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but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
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now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
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Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
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and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
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For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
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Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
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For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
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But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
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Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
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For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,
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like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
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Suffering for Doing Good
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
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For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.
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For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
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Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
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But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
