PURPOSE & PRIORITY: Is spelled out for us in one word PRIESTHOOD!
Israel missed it and messed it up. We as Gentile Christ followers miss it and mess it up. To personalize this, I miss it and mess it up!!A priest is more than a mediator between God and man! Priest were consecrated to God as ones devoted to worship! They are worshippers. They are consecrated, holy, committed to being in the presence of God and being obedient to God. We miss the point if we reduce priesthood to a mediatorial role.
The church is a spiritual house, a holy nation, a chosen people, a royal priesthood. Gentiles are to be consecrated, committed, holy, worshippers of Jesus who live and walk in the presence of God representing God in this world.
This is our PURPOSE & PRIORITY in life. NOTICE THE FOLLOWING KEY WORDS IN Exodus 19:5-6, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9-10:
1. You – who is the “you” in 1 Peter?
It is not Israel.
2. Kingdom of priests
3. Holy nation
4. Spiritual house
5. Holy priesthood
6. Royal priesthood
7. People of God “Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” ”Exodus 19:5-6 NASB“ you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5 NASB “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”1 Peter 2:9-10 NASB