23(二)从信徒一面说:信徒是神的产业,为神拣选,……蒙祂用祂的荣耀和美德所召,……为基督所救赎,……借神活的话由神重生,……并借基督的复活得救。……他们现今蒙神的能力保守(彼前一5),得洁净以致彼此相爱(22),借着话奶的喂养而长大(二2),在生命里开发属灵的美德,……被变化且被建造成为属灵的殿,就是圣别的祭司体系以事奉神。……他们是神所拣选的族类,是君尊的祭司体系,是圣别的国度,是作神私有产业的奇特子民,以彰显祂的美德,……受神行政审判的管教,……凭佳美的品行和敬虔,过圣别的生活,以荣耀神,……在长老作榜样的牧养之下,……作神诸般恩典的好管家服事人,叫神借着基督得荣耀,……并且期待、催促主的来临,……叫他们得着丰富充足的供应,以进入主永远的国。……他们更期待永世里有神的义居住其中的新天新地,……并且不断在我们的主和救主耶稣基督的恩典和知识上长大。 23(2) From the side of the believers: The believers, as God’s possession, were chosen by God…, called by His glory and virtue…, redeemed by Christ…, regenerated by God through His living word…, and saved through the resurrection of Christ…They are now being guarded by the power of God (1 Pet. 1:5), are being purified to love one another (v. 22), are growing by feeding on the milk of the word (2:2), are developing in life the spiritual virtues…, and are being transformed and built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to serve God…They are God’s chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, and peculiar people for His private possession to express His virtues…They are being disciplined by His governmental judgment…, are living a holy life in an excellent manner and in godliness to glorify Him…, are ministering as good stewards of His varied grace for His glorification through Christ…(under the elders’ exemplary shepherding…), and are expecting and hastening the coming of the Lord…in order to be richly supplied with an entrance into the eternal kingdom of the Lord…Further, they are expecting the new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness dwells, in eternity…, and they are growing continually in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18).