THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER*
1 Peter 2:4-10 (NKJV)
Sunday, July 26
Dr. Mike Milburn
The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People
4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5you 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. 6Therefore 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.”
7Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who [b]are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9But 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; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:4-10 NKJV
The Priesthood of the Believer is a doctrine held dear by Bible-believing Christians. It is at once a privilege AND a responsibility for the Believer.
IT’S A
The priest who does business with God must be holy. ‘Holy’ is at once a condition and a characteristic.
IT’S A GREAT
Under the Old Covenant, access to God’s Presence was limited – only Aaron and his descendants – High Priests – were allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. That all changed 2000 years ago. As Christ died on the cross. Suddenly, Access to a personal relationship with God was possible.
IT CARRIES A TRILOGY OF
1. Prayer & Worship.
Entering into the throne room of Heaven
- Regarding the Word.
You don’t have to rely on a priest or any other man to give you the Word of God. You are enabled by the Presence of the Holy Spirit to hear, read, study, even interpret the Word
John 14:26 He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 16:13-14 When He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.
There are built-in spiritual parameters
• You may not
• You may not
• You may not interpret the Word according to your
• You may not
• You may not
- Sensing the Will of God.
the Spirit leads God’s people – like an
THE INTENT OF THIS MINISTRY. The Priesthood of the Believer has its roots in the Biblical teaching of the competency of the individual to make his/her own decisions for or against God (the freewill of man). Once the decision to believe and follow Christ is made, the individual is enabled by the Spirit’s help to serve as a priest in behalf of self & others.
The Point of Commitment. What does the priesthood of the Believer look like in your life?
What will you change in response to this passage?