For this reason, holy brothers, marked out to have a part in heaven, give thought to Jesus the representative and high priest of our faith;

Who gave us salvation, marking us out for his purpose, not on account of our works, but in the measure of his purpose and his grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus.

Because God's selection and his mercies may not be changed.

But when it was the good pleasure of God, by whom I was marked out even from my mother's body, through his grace,