¹⁷ For if by the one man’s ^[a]offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

¹⁹ For ^(A)the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers ^(A)the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign ^(B)till He has put all enemies under His feet. ^26 (C)The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For ^(D)“He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. ^28 (E)Now when all things are made subject to Him, then ^(F)the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

¹³ He has delivered us from ^(A)the power of darkness ^(B)and ^[a]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

¹⁰ for he waited for ^(A)the city which has foundations, ^(B)whose builder and maker is God.

¹⁶ But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed ^(A)to be called their God, for He has ^(B)prepared a city for them.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we ^[a]may ^(A)serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People^(A)

⁴ Coming to Him as to a living stone, ^(B)rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

⁷ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who ^[a]are disobedient,

⁸ and

^(F)They stumble, being disobedient to the word, ^(G)to which they also were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of ^(H)darkness into His marvelous light; ^10 (I)who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

¹³ but rejoice ^(A)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that ^(B)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.