John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ² This is how it is written in the prophet Isaiah:^[a]

⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. ⁶ John was clothed in camel’s hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He preached, “One more powerful than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals! ⁸ I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: For the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow to do what he promised, as some consider slowness. Instead, he is patient for your sakes,^[a] not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Live a Holy Life

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.^[b] On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be dissolved as they burn with great heat, and the earth and what was done on it will be burned up.^{[c] 11} Therefore,^[d] since all these things will be destroyed, what kind of people ought you to be, living in holiness and godliness, ¹² as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God? That day will cause the heavens to be set on fire and destroyed, and the elements to melt as they burn with great heat. ¹³ But according to his promise we look forward to new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, as you look forward to these things, make every effort to be found in peace, spotless and blameless in his sight.