For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal.

and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.

I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.

As a matter of fact, my friends, I could not talk to you as I talk to people who have the Spirit; I had to talk to you as though you belonged to this world, as children in the Christian faith.

Do not be like children in your thinking, my friends; be children so far as evil is concerned, but be grown up in your thinking.

The law of the LORD is perfect; it gives new strength. The commands of the LORD are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it.

Reverence for the LORD is good; it will continue forever. The judgments of the LORD are just; they are always fair.

I had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready for it,

There has been enough time for you to be teachers---yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk.

Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong.

And that is how God will bless my descendants, because he has made an eternal covenant with me, an agreement that will not be broken, a promise that will not be changed. That is all I desire; that will be my victory, and God will surely bring it about.

Those who claim to be respectable are more and more convinced they are right.

The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.

Let us try to know the LORD. He will come to us as surely as the day dawns, as surely as the spring rains fall upon the earth."

I will be to the people of Israel like rain in a dry land. They will blossom like flowers; they will be firmly rooted like the trees of Lebanon.

Once again they will live under my protection. They will grow crops of grain and be fruitful like a vineyard. They will be as famous as the wine of Lebanon.

But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the sun and bring healing like the sun's rays. You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall.

He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord.

Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.

Our friends, we must thank God at all times for you. It is right for us to do so, because your faith is growing so much and the love each of you has for the others is becoming greater.

But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.