RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-04-22	Priesthood of the Believer is Private
		Priesthood of The Believer is Private The previous message was about the public privilege we have in Christ known as our Ambassadorship. Today we will refer to the private privilege we have in Christ known as the Priesthood of the believer. The main passage that deals with the priesthood of all believers is 1 Peter 2:5-9. Here are the highlights of the text: “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… 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 (1Pe.2:5,9) Priests of the Old Testament were chosen for a purpose, namely, to serve God with their lives by offering up sacrifices. The priests were mediators between God and man. The priests served as a picture or “type” of the coming ministry of Jesus Christ. At the time of Christ's death the thick Temple veil that covered the doorway to the Holy of Holies was torn by God (Mt.27:51). God was indicating that the Old Testament priesthood was no longer necessary. Christ our High Priest has made one sacrifice for sin for all time (He.10:12), and no more sacrifice for sin can be made (He.10:26). As priests once offered other kinds of sacrifices in the Temple, so Peter tells us God has chosen Christians “to offer up spiritual sacrifices” to God. Peter gives us two aspects of this priesthood. (1) To be chosen by God to be a priest was a privilege. (2) Purpose of offering spiritual sacrifices. Peter says we are a “chosen generation” and a “special people” (v.9). In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies. And then only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The death of Christ on the cross has given to us access to the throne of God, not through an earthly priest, but the Jesus directly. The second aspect of being priests is that we get to “proclaim the praises of Him” (spiritual sacrifices, He.13:15-16) who called us out of darkness. Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Heb 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Thus, in both life (1Pe.2:5) and word (1Pe.2:9) our purpose is to serve God. Today, the believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co.6:19-20). So we offer our lives to God as a living sacrifice (Rm.12:1-2). In the future, we will serve God but not in any temple, for “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (Rv.21:22) The Old Testament priests were to be free of defilement as was seen in their ceremonial cleansing. Christ has made us positionally holy before the Father. He calls us to live holy lives that we might be a “holy priesthood” unto God (1Pe.2:5). We have a privileged status as heir to the kingdom of God. Because of this privileged closeness with God, no other earthly mediator is necessary. When we offer up spiritual sacrifices we are a people “zealous for good works” In response to this great privilege we get to share this wonderful grace with others. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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