Study Desk

He was chosen before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times for you

By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation,

you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it is contained in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!

So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this One has become the cornerstone,

and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

For it is God's will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.

For it brings favor if, mindful of God's will, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.

For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; you have been healed by His wounds.

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

For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands,

not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.

For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,

But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed,

but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.