But, beloved,we are convincedof better thingsconcerningyou, and things that accompanysalvation,thoughwe are speakingin this way.
For thussaysthe highand exaltedOne Who livesforever,whose nameis Holy,"I dwell[on] a highand holyplace, And [also] with the contriteand lowlyof spiritIn order to revivethe spiritof the lowlyAnd to revivethe heartof the contrite.
"He who has believedand has been baptizedshall be saved;but he who has disbelievedshall be condemned.
When they heardthis,they quieted downand glorifiedGod,saying,"Well then,Godhas grantedto the Gentilesalsothe repentance[that leads] to life."
solemnly testifyingto bothJewsand Greeksof repentancetowardGodand faithin our LordJesusChrist.
Therefore,my beloved,fleefrom idolatry.
All this timeyou have been thinkingthat we are defendingourselves to you. [Actually], it is in the sightof Godthat we have been speakingin Christ;and allfor your upbuilding,beloved.
Therefore,havingthesepromises,beloved,let us cleanseourselvesfrom alldefilementof fleshand spirit,perfectingholinessin the fearof God.
For the sorrowthat is accordingto [the will] [of] Godproducesa repentancewithout regret,[leading] to salvation,but the sorrowof the worldproducesdeath.
For in ChristJesusneithercircumcisionnoruncircumcisionmeansanything,but faithworkingthroughlove.
For you showed sympathyto the prisonersand acceptedjoyfullythe seizureof your property,knowingthat you havefor yourselvesa betterpossessionand a lastingone.
But we are not of those who shrink backto destruction,but of those who have faithto the preservingof the soul.
howwill we escapeif we neglectso greata salvation?Afterit was at the firstspokenthroughthe Lord,it was confirmedto us by thosewho heard,
And having been made perfect,He becameto allthosewho obeyHim the sourceof eternalsalvation,
For Godis not unjustso as to forgetyour workand the lovewhichyou have showntowardHis name,in having ministeredand in still ministeringto the saints.
Beloved,I urgeyou as aliensand strangersto abstainfrom fleshlylustswhichwage waragainstthe soul.
Thisis now,beloved,the secondletterI am writingto you in whichI am stirringup your sinceremindby wayof reminder,
Beloved,I am not writinga newcommandmentto you, but an oldcommandmentwhichyou have hadfrom the beginning;the oldcommandmentis the wordwhichyou have heard.
Beloved,while I was makingeveryeffortto writeyou aboutour commonsalvation,I feltthe necessityto writeto you appealingthat you contend earnestlyfor the faithwhich was once for allhanded downto the saints.
