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Christians As Priests of God
November 06, 2016
Under the Law of Moses the offspring of Aaron were the priests. In the spiritual temple of God all Christians function as priests in the temple. We pray, we sing, we offer the sacrifices of praise and of our own lives, we ask God for forgiveness of our sins and the sins of others, and we assist our needy and poor.. - Bernie Parsons
Christians as Priests of God
a sermon by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Globe church of Christ on 11-06-2016
Presented to the Load church of Christ on 11-13-2016
Under the Law of Moses, the offspring of Aaron became the priesthood in
perpetuity.
Exodus 28:41 “And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his
sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify
them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.”
Exodus 40:15 "And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their
father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their
anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their
generations."
Under the new covenant, believers in Jesus Christ, or Christians, are
the priests.
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and
the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the
earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be
glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 2:3 "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
and urges them to be living stones of the spiritual house of which
Christ is the cornerstone
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."
1 Peter 2:9 "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."
What we can do as the priests of God.
As Christians, we can pray to God.
1 Timothy 2:8 "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up
holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for
another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much."
Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints;"
Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."
As Christians, we can sing praises to God and to admonish one another.
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
As Christians, we are the priests who offer sacrifices.
1 Peter 2:5 "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."
Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to
God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his
name."
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
As Christians, we preach the gospel as the word of God.
Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned."
Acts 8:1 "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there
was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and
they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and
Samaria, except the apostles."
Acts 8:4 "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where
preaching the word."
Philemon 1:14 "And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by
my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of
good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add
affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the
gospel.
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in
truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will
rejoice."
We minister to our needy, sick and helpless.
Matthew 25:35 "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty,
and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in
prison, and ye came unto me."
Matthew 25:40 "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say
unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me."
1 Corinthians 16:1 "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I
have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in
store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I
come.
3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them
will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me."
The Christians’ authority comes from God and must reflect the
commandments of God.
1 Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if
any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that
God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be
praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
The Hebrew word here translated as “oracles” is from the root word that
means “utterances, or words”. Therefore, any Christian speaking on
matters of religion must be speaking the words of God, not adding to or
taking away from them. The Christian must present those words in the
context in which God presented them.
Christians serve in the spiritual temple of our bodies and the body of
Christ, the church.
John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh
such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit
and in truth."
