 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice and all deceitfulness+ and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speaking, 2 like newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word so that you may grow thereby, 3 if you have tasted that goodness+ of the Lord. 4 Come to Jesus as to a living stone, rejected+ indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious. 5 You also, as living+ stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore also, it is contained in the Scripture: Behold I lay in Zion+ a chief corner stone, chosen+ and precious, and those who believe in Him will not be ashamed+. Isaiah 28:16 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious. But to those who are disobedient: The stone that the builders rejected+ has become the chief+ cornerstone+, Psalm 118:22 8 a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. Those who stumble at the Word are disobedient to what they also were appointed. Isaiah 8:14 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a unique+ people. You should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 In time past, these were not a people. But now they are the people of God. Previously, they had not received+ mercy. But now, they have received+ mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge+ you as strangers and sojourners+: Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. 12 Have your conversation~ and conduct honest among the Gentiles so that, even if they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works that they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of mankind+ for the Lord's sake, whether+ to the king as the supreme ruler 14 or to governors as to those who are sent by the king for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well. 15 For this is the will of God: That by doing well, you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 As free in the Lord do not use your liberty as a cover+ for maliciousness, but use it as servants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the family+. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear. Not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ornery. 19 For this is grace+: If a person+, for conscience toward God, endures grief and wrongful suffering. 20 For what glory is it, if, when you are buffeted for your faults, you take it patiently? But if, when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even to this you were called. Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving an example for us, so that you should follow His steps. 22 He did not sin, nor was any deceitfulness+ found in His mouth. Isaiah 53:9 23 When He was reviled, He did not revile in return+. When He suffered, He did not threaten. But He committed Himself to the One who judges righteously. 24 Jesus Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree so that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness. By His stripes~ you were healed. Isaiah 53:5 25 For you were like sheep going astray. But now you are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
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