The Lord is Good

1Therefore having put aside all malice, and all deceit, and hypocrisy, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2like newborn babies, crave pure reasonable milk, so that by it you may grow up in respect to salvation, 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Living Stone
(Isaiah 28:14-22; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

4Coming to Him, a living stone, indeed rejected by men, but chosen and precious in the sight of God, 5you yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house into a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6Therefore it is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone,

a chosen precious cornerstone;

and the one believing on Him,

shall not be put to shame.”a

7Therefore the preciousness is to you believing. But to those disobeying,

“The stone which those building have rejected,

this has become into the head of the corner,”b

8and,

“A stone of stumbling

and a rock of offense.”c

They stumble at being disobedient to the word, to which also they were appointed.

9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of the One having called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, 10who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; those not having received mercy, but now having received mercy.

11Beloved, I exhort you as aliens and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly desires, which war against the soul, 12keeping your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that wherein which they speak against you as evildoers, through having witnessed the good deeds, they may glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Authorities
(Romans 13:1-7)

13Be in subjection to every human institution for the sake of the Lord, whether to the king as being supreme, 14or to governors as being sent by him for vengeance to evildoers and praise to well-doers, 15because the will of God is this: doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 16as free, and not having the freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as servants of God.

17Honor everyone: love the brotherhood, fear God, Honor the king.

18Servants, be subject to masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unreasonable. 19For this is acceptable, if for sake of conscience toward God, anyone endures griefs, suffering unjustly. 20For what kind of credit is it, if sinning and being struck, you shall endure? But if you shall endure doing good and suffering, this is commendable before God.

Christ's Example of Suffering
(Isaiah 53:1-8; Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; John 18:19-24)

21For to this hereunto you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow after His steps:

22“Who committed no sin,

neither was deceit found in His mouth.”d

23Who being reviled

did not retaliate;

suffering did not threaten,

but He gave Himself over to Him judging justly.

24Who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree,

so that, having been dead to sins, we might live to righteousness.

“By whose scourge marks you have been healed.”e

25For you were like sheep going astray,f but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.