A Living Hope RSV

1 Peter 1:3-12 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power and guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials,

so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which through perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

without having seen him you love him; thought you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.

As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.

The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired about this salvation;

they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory.

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Ephesians 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

which he lavished on us. For he had made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ

as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will,

we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.

In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Colossians 1:3-8 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have for all the saints,

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel

which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing--so among yourselves, from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth,

as you learned it from Ep'-a-phras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf

and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

James 1:12-18 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one;

but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Of his own will be brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Job 23:8-12 "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him;

on the left hand I seek him, but I cannot behold him; I turn to the right hand, but I cannot see him.

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth.

2 Peter 1:16-21 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,"

we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,

because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

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

Ephesians 3:7-13 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given me by the working of his power.

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;

that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might know be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

This was according to the to eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him.

So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.