I Pt 2.1-3 (bad chapter break): because we have this unstoppable hope for new life after this one’s over, we have to be good to each other. Stop hurting each other. Stop lying. Stop trying to trick people. Stop being jealous. Quit gossiping. Crave God’s word as if it was life-giving nutrition (because it is). We already know it’s beneficial, so we shouldn’t stop craving it.
2.4-10 reassures us that Jesus is the only way to go. If the church is a house, Jesus is the primary load-bearing structural component. Each Christian makes up the other materials used in construction. Between Jesus and his church, we have a complete, functional house. It’s word imagery that may not be native to our thinking, but it works. The rest of the world doesn’t think Jesus should be the foundation we build on. They don’t think his teaching or existence is worth anything (7-8). Beyond seeing no value in our lifestyle, they even get offended at the things we believe and practice. God will take care of them in the end, they’re not our problem.
2.11-12 — What is our problem is how we live. The world hates who we are and what we believe. We can’t let them pressure us into giving up or living like they do because it’s easier. If we live morally pure lives, they’ll be forced to acknowledge God (and us— 2.12; 4.13; 5.12) when he returns!
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