In the Kingdom of God: I am of a Royal Priesthood - Part 1
I dare say that 1 Pet 2:9 is a Bible verse that, although it may not be as popular as other scripture verses, it is a verse that every Christian has surely heard of (at least once) in their Christian journey.
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;
Here, Peter tells us that we, who are God's special people, are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
I wrote previously about our identity as kings unto God in Christ here, where the apostle John tells us in Rev 5:10 that Jesus has made us kings and priests to our God.
So, today I would like to take a look at being a priest, in Christ, unto God. And not just any priest, but a royal priest.
The funny thing about priesthood is that the world tends to have a mystical view about 'priests'. 😂
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We picture someone in a priest attire (yes, he has to wear this long black robe and maybe a small black priest hat as well.) He works in the church, for the church. His livelihood is in God (and the church). A priest is someone special. He is not just anybody. And not just anybody can be a priest.
What's more, often times, our idea/ concept of a priest remains as the OT picture of the priestly office. Our minds think of all the scriptures we read in Exodus, Leviticus and so on, pertaining to priest. Priests were only from the tribe of Levite. Priests were anointed, consecrated and sanctified (Ex 28:41). They had to wear special holy garments (Ex 28, 29). They handled the offerings in specific, detailed manner as prescribed by God (Read Leviticus). And only the High Priest can enter the Holy of Holies.
Ok, I think you get the idea. In the OT days, priests were a very special people and had very specific job description.
And, of course, there is still that dedicated priestly role in certain churches in our modern days. This is someone who will be addressed as 'father' and whose position is called 'a priest'. He (the office is usually always carried by a man) serves God and the congregation of a church.
No wonder, we are not able to fully grasp, appreciate and appropriate what the Apostle Peter said about us being a royal priesthood. It is understandable to question - who is this 'you' whom the Apostle Peter said are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood? Who is the Apostle Peter talking about? Who is the Apostle Peter talking to?
In fact, Apostle Peter said this in 1 Pet 2:5, 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.
Wow, living stones, spiritual house, holy priesthood.
Again, the BIG question: who is this 'you'?
Let's look to 1 Pet 1 for answer, shall we?
1 Pet 1:1-2 (NKJV) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
In the NLT, it says, I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
We have previously already looked at how we are God's chosen and elect in Christ.
So, yes, although Apostle Peter wrote the epistle/ letter to those in the regions mentioned, we know that it applies to us, whom God the Father knew and chose and has made holy and cleansed.
We are God's chosen people to whom Apostle Peter is saying 'you are a royal priesthood, you are being built up a spiritual house, you are a holy priesthood.'
Yes, beloved in Christ, the apostle Peter is talking about us. He is talking to us.
Remove all the veils and pre-conceived ideas that you may have about this person called a priest. Get rid of the traditional mindset that a priest is a special person and has a long list of specifications and requirements. That is something that is in the First Covenant.
In the New Covenant in Christ, this is all that we need to know and grasp and appropriate:
1 Pet 2:4-5 (NLT) You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
Beloved in Christ, I am a royal priest. You are a royal priest. In Christ, unto God, a Royal Priest. That is who we are!
