Privileges of the New Birth
The Priesthood of All Believers • Sermon • Submitted
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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; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
We’ll be studying from the first letter of Peter which he addressed to the Christians scattered around the known world.
A letter of relief… with anticipation… coronavirus,, someone in authority --- there is impact —
it is lost now when this letter is read.
The central message is that there is hope!
More specifically:
There is Hope for the People of God!
In Peter’s letter, even more specifically those who ------ have been born again.
the idea of being born again - should bring excitement.. ask, does it bring excitement to you?
Remember it was Jesus Who said in John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Peter mentions being born again or the new birth twice:
first in great exuberance:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Peter said you were born again into a living hope, how was this accomplished?
Through nothing less than the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Hallelujah!
we read
If you are a Born-again Christian today you should be the most hopeful people.
Peter also said:
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
Highlight the words: not of corruptible seed but incorruptible..
everything in the world will see corruption, but the word of God lives and endures forever:
verse 25:
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
We should be people of hope sharing the living hope by proclaiming the living word - the good news of salvation.
We now come to the substance of being born again.. we have privileges:
1. You have been chosen by the King!
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
if they reject you, remember Jesus Himself was rejected,, notice Jesus was the chosen and precious living stone..
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,”
Through Jesus, You are Also Chosen and Precious!
“holy priesthood”
we no longer have to look for a tabernacle made of human hands, nor rely on a single person to act as our priest - God has made us all a Holy Priesthood.
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.
“spiritual sacrifices” - our lives should be living sacrifice
Our whole being, our whole life should be about giving glory to God!
2. You have been appointed to live in exciting times!
You are a chosen generation — this may be the generation that will witness the return of the Lord Jesus.
The other side of the resurrection… each day is a day closer to the Lord’s coming.
15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
3. You are called to serve the King!
You are a royal priesthood..
Only Jesus deserved to take the office of King and Priest — the Messianic offices of Prophet, Priest and King..
David - King and Prophet
Samuel - Prophet and Priest
Saul and Uzziah - violated the principle
Only Jesus owned the privileged position of being both Priest and King!
Now what should that make you feel if you yourselves serve as a Royal priesthood
We offer up the following spiritual sacrifices:
a. Our bodies are living sacrifice
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
b. The praise of our lips.
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
c. The good works we do for others.
16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
d. Our material treasures.
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
e. The people we win to Christ.
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
4. You are among a people set apart from the world!
You are a Holy Nation., His own special people.
Explain what holy is not..
Explain what Holy is..
Attractional versus missional
Being Holy is to be set apart for God’s use!
5. You are on the most important mission on earth!
that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. This is your life!
We do the work of ministry by the grace of God:
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
We imitate the great High Priest!
Here again are the privileges of the New Birth:
1. You have been chosen by the King!
2. You have been appointed to live in exciting times!
3. You are called to serve the King!
4. You are among a people set apart from the world!
5. You are on the most important mission on earth!
Now go and live the living Hope in You by Proclaiming the Living Word - the Gospel of Salvation!