1 Peter 2

Living stones, a holy nation; Christ's example in suffering.

Believers are to lay aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil-speaking, and desire the pure milk of the word so they may grow. Coming to Christ — the living stone rejected by men but chosen by God — believers themselves are living stones being built into a spiritual house. Peter gives one of the great identity statements in Scripture: "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Peter then turns to practical conduct: submit to governing authorities, masters even harsh ones, following Christ's example, "who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth," and who "Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree."