I’m using an example from everyday human life to help you understand. You used to offer yourselves as slaves to dirty habits, and you did more and more things that were wrong. Now offer yourselves as slaves to the right way of living. Then you will become holy.
Since all of this is true, then the Lord knows how to save godly people and keep them safe in times of testing. But he also knows how to keep ungodly people under guard until the day they will be judged and punished.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and controlled by all kinds of wrong desires and pleasures. We were hostile and envious. Other people hated us, and we hated them.
You were following the ways of this world and serving the one who rules over the spiritual forces of evil. That’s the spirit who’s still at work in those who aren’t obeying God.
Don’t live the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you’ll be able to recognize what God wants for you and agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.
But you have the Holy Spirit flowing over you, and the Spirit continues to live in you. So you don’t need anyone to teach you. The Spirit teaches you about everything, and his presence in you is real, not fake. So remain in Christ, just as you’ve been taught.
They won’t teach their neighbor anymore, and one person won’t say to one another, ‘Know the Lord.’ That’s because everyone will know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to put their hope in riches, which are so uncertain. Tell them to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you’re a young person. Instead, set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live, how you love, and in what you believe. Show the believers how to be pure.
But through Christ’s death, God has brought you back to himself and made you holy in his own sight. So now you don’t have any flaws and you’re free from blame.
Dear friends, since we have these promises from God, let’s purify ourselves from everything that could make our bodies and spirits impure. Let’s be completely holy, to honor God.
With God’s help, we’ve acted toward everyone, and especially toward you, honorably and honestly. We can say that with pride and a clear conscience. We’ve depended on God’s grace and not on the world’s wisdom.
Paul talked about how to live a godly life, about how people should control themselves, and about the time when God will judge everyone. This made Felix afraid. He said, “That’s enough for now! You may go, but when I find the time, I’ll send for you again.”
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
People who want to get rich are tempted, and they fall into a trap. They start to have many foolish and harmful desires that drag them down into ruin and destruction.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is to take care of widows and orphans who are in trouble and not let the world contaminate you.