So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"
and
“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Peter 2:1-8
Christian brothers and sisters, this may offend you, but hear me, please. The Word of God does not need your help to look appealing to the lost. Peter addresses this in the above passage: it's "a stumbling block" and "a stone of offense" (or the other way around) because people do not want to obey it. So why do we feel we always need to help? The word of God will not appeal to those who are stuck in sin and don't seek a way out. We're the enemies of the demonic forces that have a hold over this world (temporarily), and so they will insight those stuck in their sway against us. The Word of God is, by it's own nature, offensive. Those of us who are in Christ Jesus were offended before we got saved. Something in His word (through the Holy Spirit), told us that we were off, that something in us is wrong, and we can't fix it ourselves. It offended us enough to seek help, and thus allow Jesus Christ to come in, and for His Holy Spirit begin the process of restoration and transformation. We need to stop dressing up the Gospel. It is by it's nature offensive to those who are lost (1 Corinthians 1:18). It's time we boldly proclaim, and let the peace of God and restoration, with all tribulation and trouble (it happened to Jesus, so why are we exempt?), begin. Don't be afraid of the temporary consequences of boldly living out the Word of God and His Great commission, fear God, and worry about the eternal consequences of NOT proclaiming the Word that brings Life.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:9-12
