Therefore,holybrethren,partakersof a heavenlycalling,considerJesus,the Apostleand High Priestof our confession;
who has savedus and calledus with a holycalling,not accordingto our works,but accordingto His ownpurposeand gracewhich was grantedus in ChristJesusfrom alleternity,
I presson towardthe goalfor the prizeof the upwardcallof Godin ChristJesus.
For it was fittingfor us to have sucha high priest,holy,innocent,undefiled,separatedfrom sinnersand exaltedabove the heavens;
ThereforeI, the prisonerof the Lord,imploreyou to walkin a manner worthyof the callingwith whichyou have been called,
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
Therefore,He hadto be made likeHis brethrenin all things,sothat He might becomea mercifuland faithfulhigh priestin things pertainingto God,to make propitiationfor the sinsof the people.
and since [we have] a greatpriestoverthe houseof God,
[There is] onebodyand oneSpirit,justas alsoyou were calledin onehopeof your calling;
sothat you would walkin a manner worthyof the Godwho callsyou into His ownkingdomand glory.
I doall thingsfor the sakeof the gospel,sothat I may becomea fellow partakerof it.
ConsiderwhatI say,for the Lordwill giveyou understandingin everything.
Fightthe goodfightof faith;take holdof the eternallifeto whichyou were called,and you madethe goodconfessionin the presenceof manywitnesses.
For I saythat Christhas becomea servantto the circumcisionon behalfof the truthof Godto confirmthe promises[given] to the fathers,
For bothHe who sanctifiesand thosewho are sanctifiedare allfrom one[Father]; for whichreasonHe is not ashamedto callthem brethren,
SoJesussaidto them again,"Peace[be] with you; as the Fatherhas sentMe, I alsosendyou."
Nowtherefore, thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Consideryour ways!
The LORDhas swornand will not changeHis mind,"You are a priestforeverAccordingto the orderof Melchizedek."
Jude,a bond-servantof JesusChrist,and brotherof James,To thosewho are the called,belovedin Godthe Father,and keptfor JesusChrist:
For we have becomepartakersof Christ,ifwe hold fastthe beginningof our assurancefirmuntilthe end,
"An oxknowsits owner,And a donkeyits master'smanger,[But] Israeldoes not know,My peopledo not understand."
Thosewho havebelieversas their mastersmust not be disrespectfulto them becausethey are brethren,but must servethem all the more,becausethosewho partakeof the benefitare believersand beloved.Teachand preachthese[principles].
It was for thisHe calledyou throughour gospel,that you may gainthe gloryof our LordJesusChrist.
To thisendalsowe prayfor you always,that our Godwill count you worthyof your calling,and fulfilleverydesirefor goodnessand the workof faithwith power,
I adjureyou by the Lordto have thisletterreadto allthe brethren.
So,as those who have been chosenof God,holyand beloved,puton a heartof compassion,kindness,humility,gentlenessand patience;
yetHe has nowreconciledyou in His fleshlybodythroughdeath,in order to presentyou beforeHim holyand blamelessand beyond reproach--
giving thanksto the Father,who has qualifiedus to sharein the inheritanceof the saintsin Light.
and our hopefor you is firmly grounded,knowingthat as you are sharersof our sufferings,soalsoyou are [sharers] of our comfort.
To the churchof Godwhich is at Corinth,to those who have been sanctifiedin ChristJesus,saintsby calling,with allwho in everyplacecallon the nameof our LordJesusChrist,their [Lord] and ours:
Yes,they were pleased[to do so], and they are indebtedto them. For ifthe Gentileshave sharedin their spiritual things,they are indebtedto ministerto them alsoin material things.
But ifsomeof the brancheswere broken off,and you, beinga wild olive,were graftedin amongthem and becamepartakerwith them of the richrootof the olive tree,
[even] us, whomHe alsocalled,not from amongJewsonly,but alsofrom amongGentiles.
ThenHe saidto Thomas,"Reachherewith your finger,and seeMy hands;and reachhere your handand putit into My side;and do not be unbelieving,but believing."
But now,do considerfrom thisdayonward:beforeone stonewas placedon anotherin the templeof the LORD,
"Because he consideredand turnedawayfrom allhis transgressionswhichhe had committed,he shall surelylive;he shall not die.
"Therefore, sonof man,preparefor yourself baggagefor exileand gointo exileby dayin their sight;even gointo exilefrom your placeto anotherplacein their sight.Perhapsthey will understandthoughthey are a rebellioushouse.
That they may seeand recognize,And considerand gaininsightas well,That the handof the LORDhas donethis,And the HolyOneof Israelhas createdit.
Their banquetsare [accompanied] by lyreand harp,by tambourineand flute,and by wine;But they do not payattentionto the deedsof the LORD,Nordo they considerthe workof His hands.
"Rejoiceoverher, O heaven,and you saintsand apostlesand prophets,becauseGodhas pronouncedjudgmentfor you againsther."
"Thesewill wage waragainstthe Lamb,and the Lambwill overcomethem, becauseHe is Lordof lordsand Kingof kings,and thosewhoare with Him [are the] calledand chosenand faithful."
whatwe have seenand heardwe proclaimto you also,sothat you toomay havefellowshipwith us; and indeedour fellowshipis with the Father,and with His SonJesusChrist.
After you have sufferedfor a little while,the Godof allgrace,who calledyou to His eternalgloryin Christ,will Himselfperfect,confirm,strengthen[and] establishyou.
Therefore,I exhortthe eldersamongyou, as [your] fellow elderand witnessof the sufferingsof Christ,and a partakeralsoof the glorythat is to be revealed,
For in this wayin former timesthe holywomenalso,who hopedin God,used to adornthemselves,being submissiveto their ownhusbands;
But when Christappeared[as] a high priestof the good thingsto come,[He entered] throughthe greaterand more perfecttabernacle,not made with hands,that is to say, not of thiscreation;
whereJesushas enteredas a forerunnerfor us, having becomea high priestforeveraccordingto the orderof Melchizedek.
[to be specific], that the Gentilesare fellow heirsand fellow members of the body,and fellow partakersof the promisein ChristJesusthroughthe gospel,
Sincethere is onebread,we who are manyare onebody;for we allpartakeof the onebread.
"Thisis eternallife,that they may knowYou, the onlytrue God,and JesusChristwhomYou have sent.
At thistimePeterstoodup in the midstof the brethren(a gatheringof aboutone hundredand twentypersonswas there together),and said,
Becauseof the proofgiven by thisministry,they will glorifyGodfor [your] obedienceto your confessionof the gospelof Christand for the liberalityof your contributionto them and to all,
Take care,brethren,that there not be in any oneof you an evil,unbelievingheartthat falls awayfrom the livingGod.
For the Lawappointsmenas high priestswho are weak,but the wordof the oath,which came afterthe Law,[appoints] a Son,made perfectforever.
For thisreasonHe is the mediatorof a newcovenant,sothat, since a deathhas taken placefor the redemptionof the transgressionsthat were [committed] underthe firstcovenant,thosewho have been calledmay receivethe promiseof the eternalinheritance.
Therefore,brethren,since we haveconfidenceto enterthe holy placeby the bloodof Jesus,
Let us hold fastthe confessionof our hopewithout wavering,for He who promisedis faithful;
But I urgeyou, brethren,bearwith thiswordof exhortation,for I have writtento you briefly.
