10 At one time you were not God’s people. But now you are his people. In the past you had never received mercy. But now you have received God’s mercy.
11 Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to stay away from the evil things your bodies want to do. These things fight against your soul.
12 People who do not believe are living all around you. They might say that you are doing wrong. So live good lives. Then they will see the good things you do, and they will give glory to God on the day when Christ comes again.
13 Obey the people who have authority in this world. Do this for the Lord. Obey the king, who is the highest authority.
14 And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
15 So when you do good, you stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you. This is what God wants.
16 Live as free men. But do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God.