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The Living Stone and a Chosen People
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
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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.
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For in 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.”
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Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
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and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
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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.
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Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
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Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
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or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
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For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
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Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
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Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
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Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
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For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
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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.
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To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
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“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
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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.
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“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
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For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
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Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
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Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
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Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
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like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
