The
Living Stone And A Chosen People
THEREFORE,
RID YOURSELVES OF ALL MALICE AND ALL DECEIT,
HYPOCRISY,
ENVY AND SLANDER OF EVERY KIND.
2
LIKE NEWBORN BABIES, CRAVE PURE SPIRITUAL MILK,
SO
THAT BY IT YOU MAY GROW UP IN YOUR SALVATION,
3
NOW THAT YOU HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GOOD.
4
As you come to Him, the Living Stone--
REJECTED
BY MEN
BUT
CHOSEN BY GOD AND PRECIOUS TO HIM--
5
YOU ALSO LIKE LIVING STONES,
ARE
BEING BUILT INTO A SPIRITUAL HOUSE
TO
BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD,
OFFERING SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD
THROUGH
JESUS CHRIST.
6
For in the Scripture it says:
'See,
I lay a Stone in Zion,
A
chosen and Precious Cornerstone,
And
the one who Trusts in Him
Will
never be put to Shame.'
7
Now to you who believe, this Stone is Precious,
But
to those who do not believe,
'The
Stone the Builders Rejected
Has
become the Capstone,' and
8
'A Stone that Causes men to Stumble
And
a Rock that makes them fall.'
THEY
STUMBLE BECAUSE THEY DISOBEY THE MESSAGE--
WHICH
IS ALSO WHAT THEY WERE DESTINED FOR.
9
BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE,
A
ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION,
A
PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD,
THAT
YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM
WHO
CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS
INTO
HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT.
10
Once you were not a people,
But
now you are the people of God;
Once
you had not received Mercy,
But
now you have received Mercy.
11
DEAR FRIENDS, I URGE YOU,
AS
STRANGERS IN THE WORLD,
TO
ABSTAIN FROM SINFUL DESIRES
WHICH
WAR AGAINST YOUR SOUL.
12
Live such good lives among the Pagans
That,
though they accuse you of doing wrong,
They
may see your Good Deeds and Glorify God
ON
THE DAY HE VISITS US.
Submission
To Rulers And Masters
13
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake
To
every Authority instituted among men:
Whether
to the king, as the Supreme Authority,
14
Or to Governors, who are sent by Him
To
Punish those who do wrong
And
to commend those who do right.
15
For it is God's Will that by doing Good
You
should Silence the Ignorant talk of foolish men.
16
LIVE AS FREE MEN,
BUT
DO NOT USE YOUR FREEDOM AS A COVER-UP FOR EVIL
LIVE
AS SERVANTS OF GOD.
17
Show proper respect to everyone:
Love
the brotherhood of believers,
FEAR
GOD, HONOR THE KING.
18
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters will all respect,
Not
only to those who are good and considerate,
But
also to those who are Harsh.
19
For it is Commendable
If
a man bears up under the Pain of Unjust Suffering
Because
h is Conscious of God.
20
But how is it to your Credit
If
you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?
But
if you Suffer for doing Good and you endure it,
THIS
IS COMMENDABLE BEFORE GOD.
21
TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED,
BECAUSE
CHRIST SUFFERED FOR YOU,
LEAVING
YOU AN EXAMPLE,
THAT
YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS.
22
'HE COMMITTED NO SIN,
AND
NO DECEIT WAS FOUND IN HIS MOUTH.'
23
When they Hurled their Insults at Him,
He
did not Retaliate;
When
He Suffered, He made no Threats.
INSTEAD,
HE ENTRUSTED HIMSELF TO HIM WHO JUDGES JUSTLY.
24
HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE,
SO
THAT WE MIGHT DIED TO SINS
AND
LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS;
BY
HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED.
25
FOR YOU WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY,
BUT
NOW YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE SHEPHERD
AND
OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS.
(1
Peter 2)
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