12 But they were told that they were serving you and not themselves. They preached to you by the power of the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. And their message was only for you, even though angels would like to know more about it.
13 Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how God will treat you with undeserved grace when Jesus Christ appears.
14 Behave like obedient children. Don't let your lives be controlled by your desires, as they used to be.
15 Always live as God's holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy.
16 That's why the Scriptures say, “I am the holy God, and you must be holy too.”
17 You say that God is your Father, but God doesn't have favorites! He judges all people by what they do. So you must honor God while you live as strangers here on earth.
18 You were rescued from the useless way of life you learned from your ancestors. But you know you were not rescued by such things as silver or gold that don't last forever.