From the 'Chock-full-o'-buts' file:
One passage teemed with buts is 1 Peter 2:4-10. There you find five buts in seven verses, all focused on making one point: Jesus is the Living Stone.
Jesus is: the living Stone--rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious to Him.
Having called upon the readers of his letter to grow in their faith, Peter now uses a metaphor to illustrate what God is doing--He's erecting a temple and a priesthood, peculiar unto Him. Jesus is the cornerstone. Another but about it: To those who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not...
Faith is necessary. Jesus is the cornerstone of this spiritual house. Apart from accepting that truth in faith, he is a stumbling stone--a rock that makes men fall.
Peter continues by allowing that we would have been just like those who reject the message were it not for God's intervention. And another big but: But you are a chosen people, a holy priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Because, once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. And, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This is a truth worthy of our praise and thankfulness--indeed, our lives given in offering to Him. No ifs, ands--but a bunch of buts about it.
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