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Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved. (A)As the scripture says, “You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is.”

Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. (B)For the scripture says,

“I chose a valuable stone,
    which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion;
    and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed.”
(C)This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe:
“The stone which the builders rejected as worthless
    turned out to be the most important of all.”
(D)And another scripture says,
“This is the stone that will make people stumble,
    the rock that will make them fall.”

They stumbled because they did not believe in the word; such was God's will for them.

(E)But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. 10 (F)At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.

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Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,(A) so that by it you may grow up(B) in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.(C)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

As you come to him, the living Stone(D)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(E) and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built(F) into a spiritual house[a](G) to be a holy priesthood,(H) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(I) For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(J)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](K)

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(L)

“The stone the builders rejected(M)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](N)

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](O)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(P)

But you are a chosen people,(Q) a royal priesthood,(R) a holy nation,(S) God’s special possession,(T) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(U) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(V) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14

1-3 So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.

The Stone

4-8 Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent:

Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion,
    a cornerstone in the place of honor.
Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation
    will never have cause to regret it.

To you who trust him, he’s a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him,

The stone the workmen threw out
    is now the chief foundation stone.

For the untrusting it’s

. . . a stone to trip over,
    a boulder blocking the way.

They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.

9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

* * *

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As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

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