Christian: Priest

	The Christian is a prophet.  This does not require supernatural powers.  It simply means that he or she must speak the word of God.  The Christian is an evangelist, one who spreads the Gospel.  The Christian is a preacher, a proclaimer, a herald.
	In addition, the Christian is a priest.
	"And coming to Him as to a living stone," we read in 1 Peter 2:4-10, "rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For {this} is contained in Scripture: 'Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner {stone}, and he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.'  This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner {stone,}' and, 'A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense'; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this {doom} they were also appointed.  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for {God's} own possession, 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."
	Peter states it very clearly.  Christians are priests.  They form a royal priesthood.  But what is expected of these priests?  Peter explains in verse five that Christians are to offer "spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ."
	What is involved in spiritual sacrifices?
	"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God," Hebrews 13:15 instructs, "that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name."
	Our worship is a spiritual sacrifice.
	"And do not neglect doing good and sharing;" Hebrews 13:16 admonishes, "for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
	Spiritual sacrifices involve doing good and sharing.
	"But I have received everything in full," Paul writes in Philippians 4:18, "and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God."
	Giving is a spiritual sacrifice.
	"But I have written very boldly to you on some points," Paul states in Romans 15:15-16, "so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, that {my} offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."
	We offer a spiritual sacrifice when we evangelize, when we share the Gospel with others.
	"But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith," Paul notes in Philippians 2:17, "I rejoice and share my joy with you all."
	When we help others with their faith, we are offering a spiritual sacrifice.
	Spiritual sacrifices include praise and worship, doing good and sharing, giving, evangelizing, and assisting others with their faith.  But these are possible only if we offer one other sacrifice.
	"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God," Paul instructs in Romans 12:1-2, "to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
	We cannot offer other spiritual sacrifices if we do not first give up ourselves.  And, once we have given up ourselves, fulfilling the other sacrifices will come more easily.

	As a priest, the Christian offers spiritual sacrifices involving praise and worship, doing good and sharing, giving, evangelizing and serving the faith of others.  This starts with offering oneself.  Peter adds that these sacrifices must be acceptable to God.  If we can learn anything from the Old Testament system, this means that both priest and sacrifice must be sanctified or set apart.
	How is the Christian sanctified to serve as a priest?
	"Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth," Jesus prays in John 17:17-19.  "As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth."
	The Christian is set apart by the word of truth.
	"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor {the} covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God."
	After abandoning the sinful lifestyle of the world, the Christian is set apart in the name of Jesus and the Spirit of God.
	How is the sacrifice sanctified?
	"To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles," Paul explains of himself in Romans 15:16, "ministering as a priest the gospel of God, that {my} offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 
	The offering is sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  Under the Old Law, the offering was acceptable only if it conformed with the standard set by God.  The Holy Spirit has inspired the New Testament, the standard by which we must measure all of our spiritual sacrifices.
	The Christian priest offers spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God.  According to Peter, this must be done through Jesus Christ.
	"And whatever you do in word or deed," Paul admonishes in Colossians 3:17, "{do} all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
	In this sense, we offer spiritual sacrifices through Jesus when we do them in His name or by His authority.
	Christians praise and worship God through Jesus.  Christians do good and share through Jesus.  Christians give through Jesus. Christians evangelize through Jesus.  Christians serve through Jesus.  And Christians give themselves through Jesus.
	There is also another way in which we offer up spiritual sacrifices through Jesus.
	"Therefore be imitators of God," Paul urges in Ephesians 5:1-10, "as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.  But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and {there must be no} filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light {consists} in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."
	Christians offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus when they do so by following His example.  We follow His example of praise and worship.  We follow His example of doing good and sharing.  We follow His example of giving.  We follow His example of evangelizing.  We follow His example of serving.  And we are able to give ourselves because He first gave Himself.
	There is so much more which could be said about the Christian as priest and about the sacrifices offered.  For example, the Old Testament sacrifice sometimes involved salt.
	"You are the salt of the earth;" Jesus states in Matthew 5:13, "but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty {again}? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."
	The Old Testament sacrifice sometimes involved a fragrant aroma.
	"But thanks be to God," we read in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, "who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?"
	The Christian is a priest.  What is the goal of this priesthood? 
	"Grace to you and peace," John writes in Revelation 1:4-6, "from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, and He has made us {to be} a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him {be} the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
	The Christian priest brings glory to God.  As we have seen, though, the sacrifice is acceptable only if the priest has been sanctified.  Jesus says that Christians are sanctified by the truth.  Only the truth can set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."