As Jesus became our last High Priest with His crucifixion on the cross for sins, every believer in Him is now under His priesthood. No longer is the priesthood order something that only a certain people group can have, but now every person that believes in Jesus Christ for salvation is chosen by God to carry it also. These are the attributes of such people. As Peter said, 1“wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:1-5) Oh how glorious is the Lord, our God, to have seen us in our broken state and then taken us home to Him. We were once very sinful, but the Lord has renewed us through the Holy Spirit. In this, we have become the elect of God, chosen by God, to be a part of His kingdom. It is so amazing that the Lord has allowed every person that calls upon His name to be saved. We didn’t have a way out of the wicked life that we were in, but He broke through our sins and addictions and found place in our hearts to dwell. Then, has the darkness been expelled and the light come in, in order to showcase His love and affection for us. We never saw this while in the world, but with Him now guiding our lives, His compassion and mercy is made known in an entirely new light. Oh, how precious and glorious is our God.
Because you have decided to not just believe but follow Jesus, the Lord has awakened you from your sleep, in order for you to know greater things. He has instilled in you the Spirit of God to guide you on His holy and righteous path. And through this, you have become 1“a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9,10) You are dearly beloved, every one of you that are holding tight to Christ the Lord. This is what is helping you to abstain from fleshly lusts and seek what is holy. And here is why you are called by God. 1“Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21-25) Jesus paid the price for our sins and there is now mercy and forgiveness found through Him alone. And because He lives, we have newness of life. How blessed we are to have a Savior in Jesus. Keep seeking Him in prayer often and in His Word daily. May the Lord bless you.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, it is my prayer that we remember who we are at all times. That we don’t just put up a good showing while at church, and then live an entirely different life outside of its walls. If we believe, let this be made known every day of our lives. Shine through us, that we may be a light unto this darken world. Give us ears to hear what is righteous and not give heed to what is wicked. Your ways are for us, but the world only offers sin and death. So we ask that You expel any bondage left in our lives, that we may begin to seek You with our whole hearts. As we follow You, You have put in us new desires. Our old life is put away and we now walk in newness of life. Thank You Lord. Thank You for choosing us while we were in sin, and showing us the right path to follow. It is a blessing and an honor to be chosen by You and to be under You, our last High Priest. And because You are our Shepherd and bishop to our souls, our hearts are open to You always. We come at Your feet, in order to listen to You, and then follow Your commands. Otherwise, we are not for You and are lost. These people, Lord, are seeking the wrong things and don’t even realize it. And because Satan is guiding them and not You, they have no real reason to live. Your holy presence is what we need in life to be happy. This is what helps us know the way and to seek after righteousness. We cannot do this on our own, for we will only stumble and fall because of temptation. So gird us up with Your armor, oh Lord. Help us take upon ourselves the Word of God, that we might be protected when the enemy strikes. I believe in You. I trust in You, God. Oh, how I love You, Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
11 Peter 2 (KJV)
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Wow- right from the get-go //As Jesus became our last High Priest// is an interesting eisegesis of the scriptures. It’s a shame the ancient Church didn’t believe that way. Take for example The Didache The Lord’s Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations – Roberts-Donaldson Translation. “Chapter 13. Support of Prophets. But every true prophet who wants to live among you is worthy of his support. So also a true teacher is himself worthy, as the workman, of his support. Every first-fruit, therefore, of the products of wine-press and threshing-floor, of oxen and of sheep, you shall take and give to the prophets, for they are your HIGH PRIESTS.” and not just in the singular either but High Priests.
While I can understand the need for Luther to formulate an ‘all believers priesthood’ having been excommunicated from the Catholic church – and hence a loss of any priesthood authority (if he had any in the first place) it just goes to show how man makes doctrine to further their own theology rather than accept the simple truths of the word of God.
“As Jesus became our last High Priest with His crucifixion on the cross for sins, every believer in Him is now under His priesthood.”
This is twisting. The bible does not support this view. He was a High Priest, but not because of his atonement. And he wasn’t the last High Priest.
Speaking to the believers in Christ, both men and women. He said we are all a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. Jesus is now our High Priest, whom we love and serve.
1 Peter 2:9,10 (KJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.