Beloved,I urgeyou as aliensand strangersto abstainfrom fleshlylustswhichwage waragainstthe soul.
And Abrahamsojournedin the landof the Philistinesfor manydays.
"I am a strangerand a sojourneramongyou; giveme a burialsiteamongyou that I may burymy deadout of my sight."
So Jacobsaidto Pharaoh,"The yearsof my sojourningare one hundredand thirty;fewand unpleasanthave beenthe yearsof my life,norhave they attainedthe yearsthat my fatherslivedduring the daysof their sojourning."
"For we are sojournersbeforeYou, and tenants,as allour fatherswere; our dayson the earthare like a shadow,and thereis nohope.
I am a strangerin the earth;Do not hideYour commandmentsfrom me.
Your statutesare my songsIn the houseof my pilgrimage.
"Hearmy prayer,O LORD,and giveearto my cry;Do not be silentat my tears;For I am a strangerwith You, A sojournerlike allmy fathers.
If a manlieswith a woman[so that] there is a seminalemission,they shall both bathein waterand be uncleanuntilevening.
The land,moreover, shall not be soldpermanently,for the landis Mine; for you are [but] aliensand sojournerswith Me.
"Be on guard,sothat your heartswill not be weighted downwith dissipationand drunkennessand the worriesof life,and that daywill not comeon you suddenlylikea trap;
but that we writeto them that they abstainfrom things contaminatedby idolsand from fornicationand from what is strangledand from blood.
that you abstainfrom things sacrificed to idolsand from bloodand from things strangledand from fornication;if you keepyourselvesfreefrom suchthings,you will dowell.Farewell."
ThereforeI urgeyou, brethren,by the merciesof God,to presentyour bodiesa livingand holysacrifice,acceptableto God,[which is] your spiritualservice of worship.
but I seea differentlawin the membersof my body, waging war againstthe lawof my mindand making me a prisonerof the lawof sinwhich is in my members.
for ifyou are livingaccordingto the flesh,you mustdie;but ifby the Spirityou are putting to deaththe deedsof the body,you will live.
Therefore,we are ambassadorsfor Christ,as thoughGodwere making an appealthroughus; we begyou on behalfof Christ,be reconciledto God.
And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
Therefore,havingthesepromises,beloved,let us cleanseourselvesfrom alldefilementof fleshand spirit,perfectingholinessin the fearof God.
Nowthosewho belong to ChristJesushave crucifiedthe fleshwith its passionsand desires.
So thenyou are no longerstrangersand aliens,but you are fellow citizenswith the saints,and are of God'shousehold,
ThereforeI, the prisonerof the Lord,imploreyou to walkin a manner worthyof the callingwith whichyou have been called,
Nowfleefrom youthfullustsand pursuerighteousness,faith,love[and] peace,with thosewho callon the Lordfrom a pureheart.
Allthesediedin faith,withoutreceivingthe promises,but having seenthem and having welcomedthem from a distance,and having confessedthat they were strangersand exileson the earth.
But, beloved,we are convincedof better thingsconcerningyou, and things that accompanysalvation,thoughwe are speakingin this way.
Whatis the sourceof quarrelsand conflictsamongyou? Is not the sourceyour pleasuresthat wage warin your members?
Peter,an apostleof JesusChrist,To those who reside as aliens,scattered throughoutPontus,Galatia,Cappadocia,Asia,and Bithynia,who are chosen
Ifyou addressas Fatherthe One who impartiallyjudgesaccordingto each one'swork,conductyourselves in fearduring the timeof your stay[on earth];
Beloved,do not be surprisedat the fiery ordealamongyou, which comesupon you for your testing,as thoughsome strange thingwere happeningto you;
soas to livethe restof the timein the fleshno longerfor the lustsof men,but for the willof God.
Thisis now,beloved,the secondletterI am writingto you in whichI am stirringup your sinceremindby wayof reminder,
