The Believers' Priesthood
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Intro
Intro
Text -
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Title - Our Priestly Duties
Background
Background
In the O.T. God appointed priests who ministered in the temple.
Levites - the tribe God appointed to serve in the temple
Aaron and his sons - appointed to serve as priests
sons of Kohath - named as singers in the temple, with other families
Zadokites - Zadok was priest in the time of David and Solomon, his descendants were appointed to the temple until its destruction, and also in the second temple up to the first century B.C.
in the N.T. a new order of priestly service was inaugurated by Jesus Christ
Paul identifies this priesthood to be in the order of Melchizedek
Jesus has become the High priest of our confession
the title and office of priest was no longer applied and used to identify the ministers of the gospel.
the believers are the priests under the leadership of Jesus Christ
The Main Point
The Main Point
Every believer is a priest in the house of God.
We are the house of God, the spiritual building owned and governed by Christ Himself, who is our High Priest
What, then, are the duties and responsibilities of every believer as priest unto God?
Sermon Points
Sermon Points
what are the things that we must know about our priesthood?
It is a “holy priesthood”
It is a “holy priesthood”
Because God, the focus and object of our worship, is holy
even in the O.T., all activities and furnishings in the temple were sanctified before they were used
holy means pure, sanctified, set apart,
Because it is spiritual house - it is composed of spiritual men and women
- the carnal - carnally minded person - cannot please
Because its sacrifices are spiritual
only the spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God
only the spiritual man will be able to offer up spiritual sacrifices!
Note - any sacrifice is spiritual because it is offered by a spiritual person
an
Example
Praise - - praise to God, only acceptable when
sacrifice of the wicked
It is a “royal priesthood’
It is a “royal priesthood’
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Compare with
kingdom of priests - it means “a holy nation”
Because the believers are kings and priests
Note: the saints, the spiritual people of God, are now seated in the heavenly places, and will sit with Christ in His throne.
Its primary function is to proclaim God’s praises
Its primary function is to proclaim God’s praises
Note:
praises - grk. ARETAS, excellencies, virtuous acts, praiseworthy acts
Our primary duty as priests is to declare, proclaim, the great works of God, especially in our lives!
when He calle dus out of darkness and brought us into His marvelous light
The proclamation is not just toward God, but more importantly towards the people who need God!
As priests in the house of God, we have important duties that we cannot and must neglect.
They are to be performed faithfully, and daily.
They are to be performed especially in behalf of those who need God in their lives.
the primary function of the O.T. priest was to stand before God in behalf of the sinners
The personal benefit of the priesthood in the N.T. is that we no longer need another person everytime we come to God.
the only Mediator we need is Jesus Christ, who is also our acceptable sacrifice, and our Savior, and the Lord whom we serve and love
Note: the O.T. priest’s duty is primarily to stand before God in behalf of the sinner
Sermon Points
Sermon Points
Our duty is to declare God to the world, to the sinners!
to stand before God
God is most pleased when we tell the world about Him!
How can we proclaim the excellencies of God?
1.) Live a conduct that is honorable among the Gentiles
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
2.) Submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
1 Peter 2.13-14
3.) Pray for our community and the leaders
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Tmothy 2.1-4
Note: Peter’s admonitions reflect the character of the spiritual man or woman:
spiritual men and women live honorable lives
the carnal usually bring reproach to the name of Christ
spiritual men and women are submissive to the laws of the land
the carnal is usually a rule-breaker
spiritual men and women see the need of their community and leaders
the carnal is mostly concerned of their personal needs
Conclusion
Conclusion
Christ wants to see His people - His priests - take a stand in times like these, and declare the great things of God!
We are
Christ wants to see and hear His people perform their priestly duties!
Go and live godly lives
do not be conformed to this world, be transformed instead
Go and submit to authorities
Go and pray for your community and leaders