The Living Stone and Chosen People
(1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

1Having, therefore, put away all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisy, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2as new-born babes, long ye for the spiritual, unadulterated milk, that thereby ye may grow unto salvation, 3if ye tasted that the Lord is gracious;

4to Whom coming, a Living Stone, rejected, indeed, by men, but with God Elect, Precious, 5ye yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Corner-Stone, Elect, Precious; and he who believes on Him shall in nowise be put to shame."

7To you, therefore, who believe is the preciousness; but to those who disbelieve, a stone which the builders rejected, this was made into a head of a corner,"

8and "a stone of stumbling, and rock of offense"; who stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which also they were appointed.

9But ye are "an elect race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation," a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10who once were not a people, but are now God's people; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly desires, which, indeed, war against the soul; 12having your conduct seemly among the gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, from your good works which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Authorities
(Romans 13:1–7)

13Submit yourself to every human ordinance, for the Lord's sake; whether to a king as supreme; 14or to governors, as sent through him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for praise to those who do well; 15for so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men; 16as free, and not holding your freedom as a cloak for wickedness, but as servants of God. 17Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverse. 19For this is acceptable, if, for conscience toward God, one endures griefs, suffering wrongfully. 20For what glory is it, if, when sinning and being beaten, ye endure it? but, if, when doing well and suffering for it, ye endure it, this is acceptable with God.

Christ’s Example of Suffering

21For to this were ye called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps; 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; 23Who, when reviled, reviled not again; when suffering, was not threatening, but committed Himself to Him Who judgeth righteously; 24Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by Whose bruise ye were healed. 25For, as sheep, ye were going astray; but now ye returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.