1 Peter
So then, ridding yourselves of all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy,
envy, and all slander,
like newborn babies long for the unadulterated
Gospel milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,
since you
have experienced the kindness of the lord.
Coming to him, a living stone rejected by people, yet chosen by God and
valuable to Him,
you yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual
house to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are
acceptable to God through Jesus Messiah.
For it stands written in Scripture,
“Look, I am laying in Zion a chosen stone, a valued cornerstone; the one who believes in him will never be shamed.”
This supreme
honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone
which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and “a stone they stumble over, and a rock which offends them.” They stumble by
disobeying the Gospel-word, as they were appointed.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession, so that you may announce the excellence of Him who called
you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
In time past you were not a
people, but now you are the people of God. You had not received mercy, but
now you have received mercy.
Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and spiritual resident aliens to
abstain from the lusts of human nature which battle against you.
Conduct
yourselves honorably among the non-believers, so that although they now
malign you as evildoers, they may see the good things you do and glorify God in
the coming day of visitation.
Subject yourselves for the lord’s sake to all human government — to a king as the supreme authority,
and to governors who are sent by the king to
punish evildoers and approve those who do what is right.
For this is the will of
God: that you by doing what is good may silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Live as free people, not using your freedom as an excuse for evil, but living as servants
of God.
Honor all people; love the brothers and sisters; fear God; honor the
king.
Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust.
For it is commendable if someone
endures hardship, suffering unjustly because of conscience toward God.
What credit is it if you sin and are harshly treated, and you patiently endure
it? But if you do what is right and suffer and patiently endure it, this finds
approval with God.
For you were called to this, since Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in his steps.
“He never sinned, and no deceit was ever
found in his mouth.”
When he was slandered, he did not slander back. When
he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to the One who
judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that
we might die to sin and live to uprightness. By his wounds you have been healed.
For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have come back to the pastor and overseer of your selves.
1 Peter