## As Living Stones, God's Chosen Family 

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Therefore, laying aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 

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like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 

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if you have tasted the kindness of the LORD. 

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_And_ coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 

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you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

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For _this_ is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner _stone_, And he who believes upon Him will not be put to shame." 

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This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner _stone_," 

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and, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this _stumbling_ they were also appointed. 

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But you are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for _God's_ own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

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for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

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Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul, 

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by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good works, as they observe _them_, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

## Be Subject to Authority 

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Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 

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or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good. 

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For such is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 

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_Act_ as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but _use it_ as slaves of God. 

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Honor all people, love the brethren, fear God, honor the king. 

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Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are crooked. 

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For this _finds_ favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unrighteously. 

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For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer _for it_, you endure, this _finds_ favor with God. 

## Christ, Our Example 

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For to this you have been called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps, 

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who did no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 

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who being reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting _Himself_ to Him who judges righteously. 

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Who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that having died to sin, we might live to righteousness; by His wounds you were healed. 

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For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.