"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.' So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and' A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.'They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do."  1 Peter 2:1-8

The fear of the Lord is the emotive, joyful trembling of the child of God as he enters into and understands the wonder of the cross of Christ which leads to thankful worship and service.

"And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,"  1 Peter 1:17

As we live out the emotive, rejoicing, and trembling fear of God:

1. We pursue a sincere love of fellow Christians (v. 1:22-23).

2. We strip off attitudes that destroy lives/community (v. 2:1).

3. We long for biblical truth formation like newborn babies desire milk (2 Corinthians 5:2, Romans 1:12).

4. We are being built up as a spiritual house with others who call upon the Lord (v. 2:5).

5. We continually come to the One who is a living stone/cornerstone.

Because of the glory, goodness, kindness, and precious reality of Jesus, we offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."  Romans 12:

"Through him, then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."  Hebrews 13:15-16

"I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." Philippians 4:18 “…One cannot simply step over Jesus to go on about the daily routine and pass him by to build a future. Whoever encounters him is inescapably changed through the encounter: Either one sees and becomes ‘a living stone,’ or one stumbles as a blind person over Christ and comes to ruin, falling short, i.e., of one’s Creator and Redeemer and thereby of one’s destiny.” Leonard Goppelt, A Commentary on I Peter, p. 146 "What, therefore, neither the light of nature nor the law can do, God accomplishes by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the Word or the ministry of reconciliation. This is the gospel about the Messiah, through which it has pleased God to save believers, both in the Old and New Testaments.”  Canons of Dort, Article 6: The Saving Power of the Gospel

Q. “What is effectual calling?”

A. “Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel.”   Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 31