The Believers' Priesthood

Intro

Text -

1 Peter 2:4–9 NKJV

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;

1 Peter 2:5–9 NKJV

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

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

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

what are the things that we must know about our 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’

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

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

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

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

1 Peter 2:11–12 NKJV

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

1 Peter 2:13–14 NKJV

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 Timothy 2:1–4 NKJV

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

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