1 So then, stop doing anything to hurt others. Don’t lie or be jealous anymore, and stop trying to fool people with evil words and behaviour. 2 Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow up and be delivered. 3 You have already tasted the goodness of the Master.
4 Our Master YAHUSHA is the living stone (THE MOST IMPORTANT STONE IN HIS SUPERNATURAL TEMPLE/BODY OF PEOPLE). The people of the world have rejected this stone, but He is the one YAHUAH chose as precious - So come to Him. 5 You also are like living stones, and YAHUAH is using you to build a new spiritual house. So serve YAHUSHA in this house (YOUR BODY) as Set-Apart Priests, offering him spiritual sacrifices (BEHAVIOUR) that He will accept.
6 The Scriptures say, “Look, I have chosen a chief-cornerstone of great value, and I put that stone in Zion, and anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame or disappointed.” 7 So, that precious stone is for you who believe, but for those who don’t believe, then He is “the stone that the builders rejected, which became the most chief corner-stone.”
8 For the unbeliever, He is also “a stone that makes people stumble and a rock that trips and makes people fall.” People stumble because they don’t obey what YAHUSHA says, and this is what He planned to happen to those people.
9 But you are His chosen people, a new Royal Priesthood, a Set-Apart nation, a bridal-people who belong to YAHUSHA. He chose you to speak about the wonderful things He’s done, bringing you out of the darkness of sin, into His wonderful light. 10 In the past you were not a special people, but now you are YAHUSHA’S people. Once you had not received mercy, but now YAHUSHA has given you His mercy and compassion.
11 Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to keep your lives free from the evil things you want to do, from those fleshly lusts and desires that fight against your true inner spirit-life. 12 People who refuse to believe are living all around you, and may say that you are doing the wrong thing. So behave in such a way, and live such good lives that they will see the good you do, and give esteem to YAHUSHA on the day He comes.
13 Be willing to serve the people who have authority in this world (RULERS, GOVERNORS, PRESIDENTS, OR OTHER GOVERNMENT LEADERS). Do this for the Master YAHUSHA. Obey the King, the highest authority. 14 And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do good. 15 When you do good, you stop ignorant people from saying foolish things about you. This is what YAHUSHA wants. 16 Live like free people, but don’t use your freedom as an excuse to have wrong behaviour and do evil things. Live as those who are serving YAHUSHA. 17 Show respect for all people. Love your brothers and sisters in YAHUSHA’S family. Respect YAHUSHA and honour the King.
18 Servants, be willing to serve your Masters with all respect (EMPLOYEES/EMPLOYERS etc). You should obey the Masters who are good and kind, and you should also obey the Masters who are foolish and bad. 19 One of you might have to suffer even when you have done nothing wrong. If you think of YAHUSHA and endure the pain, this pleases Him. 20 But if you are punished for doing the wrong thing, then there is no reason to praise you for enduring that punishment. But if you suffer for doing good and you are patient, this pleases YAHUSHA.
21 For this is what you were chosen to do. Messiah gave you an example to follow. He suffered everything for you - so you should do the same as He did: 22 “He never sinned, and He never told a lie.” 23 People hated and insulted Him, but He never insulted them back. He suffered and didn’t threaten anyone, but committed His whole life to the One who Who judges righteously. 24 Messiah carried our sins in His body on the Torture-Stake, so that we would stop living for sin and live for what’s right and be obedient to Him. By His wounds you were healed. 25 You were like sheep that went astray, but now you’ve come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your lives.
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