1 Peter 2:1 says, “Therefore…” which means that we have to go back up to the previous verse. 1 Peter 1:25 says, “But the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

1 Peter 2:1 says that since we have the gospel which endures forever, we need to lay aside some things. The Amplified says, “So be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.” Selah. Stop and think about this.

If we don’t lay aside these fleshly attachments, we will be stunted in our spiritual growth. September 22, 2011 I had a dream. In the dream I was teaching. As I woke up these words were in my mind. “Without forgiveness our spiritual growth is stunted, like the butterfly that remains swollen.”