How blessed and wonderful are the gifts of God, beloved!
Life in immortality, splendor in righteousness, truth in confidence, faith in assurance, self-control in holiness—all these have come within our understanding.
What, then, are the things being prepared for those who wait for him? The Creator and Father of the ages, the All-Holy One himself, knows their greatness and beauty.
Therefore let us strive to be found among the number of those who wait for him, so that we may share in the promised gifts.
And how will this happen, beloved? If our mind is firmly fixed on God in faith; if we seek what is pleasing and acceptable to him; if we accomplish what accords with his blameless will and follow the way of truth, casting away from ourselves all injustice and wickedness, greed, strife, malice and deceit, whispering and slander, hatred of God, pride and arrogance, vainglory and inhospitality.
For those who practice these things are hateful to God—not only those who do them, but also those who approve of them.
For Scripture says: “But to the sinner God said, ‘Why do you recite my ordinances and take my covenant upon your lips?
You hated instruction and cast my words behind you. If you saw a thief, you ran with him, and you placed your share with adulterers. Your mouth multiplied wickedness, and your tongue wove deceit. Sitting there, you spoke evil against your brother, and against your mother's son you placed a stumbling block.’”
“You did these things, and I remained silent. You supposed, lawless one, that I would be like you.
I will correct you and set you before your own face.
Understand these things, then, you who forget God, lest he seize you like a lion and there be no one to rescue you.
A sacrifice of praise will glorify me, and there is the way by which I will show him the salvation of God.”