A Royal Priesthood

CoM City BowlCape Town Union, Kloof Street

12 July 2015

Colin Habberton

“Priests” (Wikipedia)

They are generally regarded as having positive contact with a deity or deities of the religion to which they subscribe, often interpreting the meaning of events and performing the rituals of the religion.

“Priesthood”

Their office or position is the priesthood, a term which also may apply to such persons collectively.

Quick Recap…

“Priesthood of all Believers” (1 Peter 2: 4-10)

• God makes His redeemed people priests, from the moment they know Him, without any other qualification, except that they place their faith in Him

• Christ is the basis or cornerstone for our priesthood: we draw our strength, direction and validation from Him

• Belief in Him is a matter of the head, the heart and practical effort, bearing in mind that we do not have to be perfect we have to just be doing our best, walking in dependence upon God.

• Finally that Christ, as the cornerstone of our priesthood will call us to love others but, nevertheless his truth may also offend those who do not believe in Him.

Historical Context (circa 64 AD)

Historical Context

Historical Context

Historical Context

Historical Context

1 Peter 2 v 9 (ESV)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His

own possession, that you may proclaim the

excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness

into His marvellous light…”

1 Peter 2 v 10 (ESV)

“…Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy,

but now you have received mercy.”

Identity Crisis?

1. Observations

2. Argument

3. Invitation

But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your

timepiece. Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold

leash.We don't care, we aren't caught up

in your love affair.

And we'll never be royals (royals).It don't run in our blood,

That kind of luxe just ain't for us.We crave a different kind of buzz.…

Lorde

What does it mean to be Royal?

• Kingdom - Kings & Queens

• Privilege & Power

• Riches & Wealth

• Subjects & Servants

• Reverence

• Inherited by birth

• Bloodline

How could we possibly be Royal?

• We serve a King – the King of Kings

• So are we His servants?

• But, we are also His children

The Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1: 1-17)

12.Obed

13.Jesse

14.David & Bathsheba

15.Solomon & Naamah

16.Rehoboam

40.Joseph & Mary

41. Jesus

1. Abraham & Sarah

2. Isaac & Rebekah

3. Jacob & Leah

4. Judah & Tamar

5. Perez

10.Salmon & Rahab

11.Boaz & Ruth

How could we possibly be Royal?

• We serve a King – the King of Kings

• So are we His servants?

• But, we are also His children

• Hang on, aren’t we sinners?

• How have we been chosen & redeemed?

John 3:16,17 (ESV)

For God so Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him…”

We = Royalty? – A Biblical Perspective

• Kingdom?

• Privilege & Power?

• Riches?

• Subjects?

• Servants?

• Reverence?

• Inherited by birth?

• Heirs?

1 Peter 3:22

1 Peter 2:9; Acts 2

1 Peter 1:3,4,7; 5:4

1 Peter 1:22; 2:10, 13

1 Peter 1:12; 2:5

1 Peter 1:17

1 Peter 1:18,19; John 3:16

Romans 8:12

How could we possibly be Royal?

• We serve a King – the King of Kings

• So are we His servants?

• But, we are also His children

• Hang on, aren’t we sinners?

• How have we been redeemed?

• What are our royal responsibilities?

What is the currency of His Kingdom?

Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV)

The Great Commandment

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

1 Corinthians 7:17-23 (ESV)

Live as You are Called

“17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him…

22 …For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. ”

Matthew 25:29 (ESV)

The Parable of the Talents

…29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’...

An Invitation

Mark 10: 17-27 (ESV)

The Rich Young Man

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

Mark 10: 21-24 (ESV)

The Rich Young Man

21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words…

Mark 10: 24-27 (ESV)

The Rich Young Man (or Woman)

…But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,

“Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

“The two most important days in your

life isthe day you are born,

and the day you find out why”

Samuel Langhorne Clemens

(Mark Twain)

A Personal, Committed Relationship with our

God and Father

Personal, committed relationships

with all He has createdguiding us in

what He has created us to do.

In Christ we find our true Identity

Royal, Servants, Priests