THE LIVING STONE AND A CHOSEN PEOPLE

1 Peter 2:1-12

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.

(1 Peter 2:1-12)