Priests in Old Testament Israel were to offer numerous sacrifices on the altar of the tabernacle on a daily basis (Leviticus 1:1 – 7:38; Hebrews 10:11), whether sin offerings, burnt offerings, peace offerings, or otherwise. Among other things, these sacrifices represented the sacrifice of self to God (Psalm 50:14; Psalm 51:16–17; Micah 6:6–7). As the Lord has now graciously caused the “elect exiles” to be “born again,” they are no longer to “be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:14–15). Though Peter does not explain the phrase in the present passage, the wider context would indicate that what Peter envisions for his readers is that their daily conduct would show their identity as persons born of imperishable seed.
5 you 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.