1So get rid of hatefulness and deception, of insincerity and jealousy and slander.

1 Peter 2:1

4Come to Him—the living stone—who was rejected by people but accepted by God as chosen and precious.5Like living stones, let yourselves be assembled into a spiritual house, a holy order of priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God through Jesus the Anointed.

1 Peter 2:4-5

6For it says in the words of the prophet Isaiah,

See here—I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone, chosen and precious;

Whoever depends upon Him will never be disgraced.

1 Peter 2:6

7To you who believe and depend on Him, He is precious; but to you who don’t, remember the words of the psalmist:

The stone that the builders rejectedhas been laid as the cornerstone—

the very stone that holds together the entire foundation,

1 Peter 2:7

8and of Isaiah:

A stone that blocks their way, a rock that trips them.

They stumble because they don’t follow the word of God, as they were destined to do.

1 Peter 2:8

9But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light.

1 Peter 2:9

10But things won’t always be this way . . . It shall turn out that in the very place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” they will be called “Children of the living God.”

Hosea 1:10

11Beloved, remember you don’t belong in this world. You are resident aliens living in exile, so resist those desires of the flesh that battle against the soul.

1 Peter 2:11

12Live honorably among the outsiders so that, even when some may be inclined to call you criminals, when they see your good works, they might give glory to God when He returns in judgment.

1 Peter 2:12

19For grace is clearly at work when a person accepts undeserved pain and suffering and does so because he is mindful of God.

1 Peter 2:19

35If you want to be extraordinary—love your enemies! Do good without restraint!Lend with abandon! Don’t expect anything in return! Then you’ll receive the truly great reward—you will be children of the Most High—for God is kind to the ungrateful and those who are wicked. 36So imitate God and be truly compassionate, the way your Father is.

Luke 6:35-36

The Anointed One suffered for us and left us His example so that we could follow in His steps. 23When He was verbally abused, He didn’t return the abuse; when He suffered, He didn’t make threats to cause suffering in return; instead, He trusted that all would be put right by the One who is just when He judges.

1 Peter 2:22-23

24He took on our sins in His body when He died on the cross so that we, being dead to sin, can live for righteousness. As the Scripture says, “Through His wounds, you were healed.” 25For there was a time when you were like sheep that wandered from the fold, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your lives.

1 Peter 2:24-25