2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”[b]
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”[c]
8 and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”[d]
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
The Rich and the Poor(NOTES)
Hebrews
13:2 New International Version
2 Do not
forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown
hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Matthew
25:40 New International Version
40 “The King
will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
James 1:1
New International Version
1 James, a
servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered
among the nations:
James 2:1
New International Version
Favoritism
Forbidden
1 My
brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show
favoritism.
Matthew
22:39 New International Version
39 And the
second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[a]
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Trust and Encouragement(NOTES)
Matthew
10:8 New International Version
8 Heal the
sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons.
Freely you have received; freely give.
2 Timothy
4:6-8 New International Version
6 For I am
already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure
is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but
also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 1:9 New International Version
9 He has
saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but
because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus
before the beginning of time,
1
Corinthians 1:18-31 New International Version
Christ
Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom
18 For the
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will
destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will
frustrate.”[a]
20 Where is
the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of
this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the
wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased
through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews
demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a
stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God
has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of
God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness
of God is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers
and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were
wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble
birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God
chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly
things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to
nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is
because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from
God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is
written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b]
2 Corinthians 11:16-33 New International Version
Paul
Boasts About His Sufferings
16 I repeat:
Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you
would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident
boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are
boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with
fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who
enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps
you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
Whatever
anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast
about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they
Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my
mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison
more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again
and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three
times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have
been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from
bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in
the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false
believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I
have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold
and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern
for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into
sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must
boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father
of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes
guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window
in the wall and slipped through his hands.
Acts
28:16-31 New International Version
16 When we
got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul
Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17 Three
days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had
assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing
against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in
Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to
release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews
objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not
intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have
asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I
am bound with this chain.”
21 They
replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none
of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about
you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people
everywhere are talking against this sect.”
23 They
arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the
place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening,
explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the
Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what
he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and
began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke
the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “‘Go to
this people and say,
“You will be
ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never
perceiving.”
27 For this
people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise
they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn,
and I would heal them.’[a]
28
“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the
Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29] [b]
30 For two
whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came
to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus
Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
James
2:17 New International Version
17 In the
same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Matthew
25:14-30 King James Version
14 For the
kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own
servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto
one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man
according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he
that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them
other five talents.
17 And
likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he
that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a
long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he
that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying,
Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them
five talents more.
21 His lord
said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou
into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also
that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two
talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord
said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful
over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord.
24 Then he
which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou
art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou
hast not strawed:
25 And I was
afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is
thine.
26 His lord
answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that
I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou
oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my
coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take
therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto
every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him
that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast
ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.