1272. Ye Are a Royal Priesthood
Ye Are a Royal Priesthood
"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Rev_1:6).
1. Ye are a priesthood. The word suggests a new service. Formerly we yielded ourselves as servants of unrighteousness; now we have become the priests of God.
In olden days the priests came from one tribe alone–the tribe of Levi. Today, in Christ Jesus, all saints are priests. Let us examine the ministry of our priesthood.
(1) Priests offer up sacrifices. The Old Testament priest knew what it was to shed the blood of lambs and of goats, typifying the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ Himself, however, our model High Priest, offered neither the blood of bulls, nor of goats, but He offered His own Blood. Every priest must have something to offer, so Christ offered Himself a ransom for many.
Have we nothing to offer vicariously? No. Yet, we may present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, which is our rational service.
The Apostle Paul said, "I am now ready to be offered up" (poured out as a drink offering). Are we likewise ready?
Many a disciple has given up his all, his home, his health, his very lifeblood in behalf of Jesus Christ. Are we willing to offer up such a sacrifice?
(2) Priests made intercessions. They went before the Father to pray in behalf of the people. Once again we look at Jesus Christ as the model High Priest. He sits at the right hand of the Father and ever liveth to intercede for us. He pleads our cause, and represents our needs.
As saints we should carry on a similar priestly work down here. We should make intercessions along with the Spirit. We should carry upon our hearts the burden of others, and bring them to God. Frequently we underestimate the power and possibilities of prayer. We forget that even those who have been refused the privilege of going to some foreign missionary field may become an intercessory missionary. We can represent peoples near at hand, and peoples afar to God, even though we cannot always go in person to the people themselves.
(3) Priests represent God to the people. This was a large part of the Old Testament priesthood. The prophets and the priests both brought messages to men concerning the will and purpose of God.
Jesus Christ, our Heavenly High Priest has delegated the Holy Spirit to fulfil in men this phase of priestly work. Christ is our "Paraclete" representing us to God; the Holy Spirit is our "Paraclete" representing God to us.
Saints should fulfil this same ministry. God has given us sufficient commandment: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."
Let us not be negligent of this great work. It is vital to carry the people to God, it is quite as vital to carry God to the people. We must not become lop-sided in our priestly work, placing all of our stress on preaching and none on prayer. We need an equality of both of these blessed ministries.
2. Ye are a royal priesthood. Priests are not only in service, but they are in royal service. Saints represent a Heavenly court.
(1) Are saints bolshevists, or royalists? We are living in a day of the people's rule. The predominant clay in the toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image has been verified in history. Even those nations which still hold to the monarchial form of government have greatly lessened the power and supremacy of the ruler, and have greatly increased the power of the people.
In England the terms of royalty are still heard. It is "royal" this, and "royal" that. In this country the word is almost out of use. Firms do not employ the word to advertise, nor governments the word to specialize.
Shall we then, in the midst of such a generation; and in the heart of such a country, the greatest republic on earth, shall we speak of royalty? Yes–for we are all royalists, so far as Heavenly service is concerned.
(2) What royalty means. Briefly the words "royal priesthood" mean this:
(a) That Jesus Christ is a monarch of absolute sway. He is Lord, and He is destined to be King of kings. We need not fear His rule, for our King will reign in righteousness. His rule is always right: Jesus Christ holds undisputed sway among saints.
(b) That saints are servants representing a royal court. Saints are taught to be vessels sanctified, and meet for the Master's use. The word "master" in 2Ti_2:21, is the Greek, "despote," despot. Christ then is a theocrat with autocratic powers and we are His bondslaves.
We need not fear, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We need not dread, for He calls us not servants, but friends. Yet, we love to fall at His feet and call Him "Master," "Lord."
3. Ye are a royal priesthood, that ye may show forth the glories of holy, royal service.
(1) Service should be done gladly, not irksomely. It is willing, whole-hearted work that magnifies the name of the Lord. Did the Apostle endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ? Yes. Did he endure hardness, gladly? Yes. No suffering, no pain, no privation ever dampened his spirit of praise and song. Thus Paul glorified God.
(2) Service should be done faithfully. A task half completed is a work that bears shame. A task well done is a task of glory. It is required in a steward that he be faithful. Let us finish the work which God has given us to do.
The other day we saw a church building started before the war, standing roofed over, with its bare walls, its unfinished windows, rotting and wasting. It spoke forth nothing but shame.
(3) Service should be done according to the plan. No service, be it ever so gladly done, or ever so arduously done, can glorify God, unless it is done according to specifications. The builder must follow the blue-print; the sailor must follow the chart; the wrestler must strive according to the laws of the game.
If saints would glorify God in their priestly work they must be obedient to every detail of God's commands.
"See thou make it according to the pattern shown thee in the mount," was the command to Moses. And seven times we read, "As the Lord commanded Moses, so did he." We must obey orders, if we would bring glory to God.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR