For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore. And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. . . .

Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.

Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.

Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:

No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.

He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—

And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.

And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam a life-giving spirit.

his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.

because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:

After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”

and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels

in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers,

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.

so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:

From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.

Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you. Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you. Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’

Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.

Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; . . .

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.

Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” . . .

In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.

Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:

But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”

And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.

So the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.

And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.

He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. . . .

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.

as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.