THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVERS

1 PETER 2:9

A. "BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; THAT YE SHOULD SHOW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT."
  1. With these words, Peter unfolds the mission of the church of God in this world:
    1. "Ye are a chosen generation"
    2. "A royal priesthood"
  2. That ye should show forth His praises":
    1. Ours is a mission to this dying world.
    2. It is a demonstrative mission, something to be seen and demonstrated.
B. THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
  1. History of the priesthood:
    1. It began in the home of the believer.
    2. This is indicated in Cain and Abel bringing sacrifices to the Lord, independently of each other - Gen. 4:3, 4, 26
    3. This family priesthood was continued in the days of the Patriarchs -
      1. Noah and his family - Gen. 8:20
      2. Abraham and his household - Gen. 13:18
      3. Jacob - Gen. 35:1
    4. With Israel moving to the land of Canaan a change came in, the ministry of the priesthood was given to Aaron and his sons, later to the tribe of Levi - Heb. 7:8, 9
  2. The Christian church:
    1. Has the priesthood in which all the believers have an active part.
    2. Every believer in Christ is called to witness for the glorious truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ - Acts 1:8, 9; Rom. 15:9
    3. It is called "a royal priesthood" because it connects the believers with the ministry of the Messiah, who is a Priest King.
    4. We are linked with the work carried on by our Lord in the heavenly sanctuary.
    5. This makes witnessing for Christ a royal privilege, and places upon us royal obligations.
  3. Office of the priesthood:
    1. We are God's Ambassadors of good will to this world - 2 Cor. 5:20
    2. We seek to connect the lost world with heaven. EXAMPLES -
      1. Abraham was called for this work - Gen. 12:1- 3
      2. Moses and Israel - Ex. 32:30-32
      3. Paul and his people - Rom. 10:1-3
    3. We are workers for God, witnessing for Jesus Christ our Lord - 2 Cor. 6:1-3
C. ESSENTIALS FOR AN EFFECTIVE PRIESTHOOD
  1. A living sacrifice:
    1. This living sacrifice includes, in the first place, our own selves - Rom. 12:1
    2. It includes all we posses, which belongs to the Lord in the first place - 1 Chron. 29:12, 13
    3. It includes the best we have, not the lame or sickly - Mal. 1:7-10
  2. An altar:
    1. The altar is a symbol of our surrender and dedication to the Lord.
    2. It is an emblem of loving devotion to God and His cause. That is indicated in the worship of the Patriarchs - Gen. 8:20; 12:7; 13:4; 35:1
    3. The altar is a constant reminder of the worshipper of our need of a constant surrender to the perfect will of God - Matt. 26:42
  3. Consecration:
    1. The act of consecration was a very solemn event in the Levitical priesthood.
    2. The ceremony was most impressive and very significant to the priest and the people.
    3. A study of the following scriptures will be very useful to the people of God in our day - Ex. 28:3- 41; Num. 3:1-17; Lev. 7
  4. Purpose of consecration:
    1. It represents a wholehearted and unreserved dedication of the individual to God and His service.
    2. It means a complete separation from that which is sinful and unclean. This is absolutely necessary for man to be used by the Lord.
    3. Finally, consecration indicates that we are dedicated to the service of the Lord - heart, soul and body, as indicated in our opening text.


Design © John Bryant 2011