The Living Stone and Chosen People
Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22
1So putting away all wrongdoing, and all tricks and deceits and envies and evil talk,+ 2Be full of desire for the true milk of the word, as babies at their mothers' breasts, so that you may go on to salvation;+ 3If you have had a taste of the grace of the Lord:+ 4To whom you come, as to a living stone, not honoured by men, but of great and special value to God;+ 5You, as living stones, are being made into a house of the spirit, a holy order of priests, making those offerings of the spirit which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.+ 6Because it is said in the Writings, See, I am placing a keystone in Zion, of great and special value; and the man who has faith in him will not be put to shame.+ 7And the value is for you who have faith; but it is said for those without faith, The very stone which the builders put on one side, was made the chief stone of the building;+ 8And, A stone of falling, a rock of trouble; the word is the cause of their fall, because they go against it, and this was the purpose of God.+ 9But you are a special people, a holy nation, priests and kings, a people given up completely to God, so that you may make clear the virtues of him who took you out of the dark into the light of heaven.+ 10In the past you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; then there was no mercy for you, but now mercy has been given to you.+ 11My loved ones, I make this request with all my heart, that, as those for whom this world is a strange country, you will keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh which make war against the soul;+ 12Being of good behaviour among the Gentiles; so that though they say now that you are evil-doers, they may see your good works and give glory to God when he comes to be their judge.+