Spiritual Growth and Unity
Pastor Steve Hardy
As Living Stones
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is [a]choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, [b]are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in [c]Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone,
And the one who believes in [d]Him will not be [e]put to shame.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,
“A stone which the builders rejected,
This became the [f]chief cornerstone,”
8 and,
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed.
9 But you are a chosen people, 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; 10 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.
11 Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may [g]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of [h]visitation.
