18. You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors—not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
19. but with precious blood like that of a lamb without defect or spot, the blood of Messiah.
20. He was chosen before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21. Through Him you are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.
22. Now that you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth, leading to sincere brotherly love, love one another fervently from a pure heart.
23. You have been born again—not from perishable seed but imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
24. For, “All humanity is like grass, And all its glory like a wildflower. The grass withers, and the flower falls off,
25. But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed as Good News to you.