The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Peter 2:4-5,
"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
The priesthood was established by God in the nation of Israel. Aaron and his descendants were appointed by God for the priesthood. One of the primary functions of the priest was to offer sacrifices to God.
Where the temple worship with its sacrifices and offerings no longer takes place, Peter here tells us that believers in Jesus Christ are members of a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. What are these sacrifices?
I am reminded of Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The sacrifices of the believer, among other things, is the denying of our sinful, worldly nature. This is done by no longer conforming to the pattern of this world, but being transformed through the renewing of our mind, living a life pleasing to God.
Peter's observation of believers being a holy priesthood offering sacrifices that are acceptable to God flows from the context in his letter admonishing us to "rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." These are the sacrifices we as believers offer to our God who has demonstrated an incomprehensible love for us by sending his Son to die a miserable death to pay for our sins.
"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
The priesthood was established by God in the nation of Israel. Aaron and his descendants were appointed by God for the priesthood. One of the primary functions of the priest was to offer sacrifices to God.
Where the temple worship with its sacrifices and offerings no longer takes place, Peter here tells us that believers in Jesus Christ are members of a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. What are these sacrifices?
I am reminded of Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The sacrifices of the believer, among other things, is the denying of our sinful, worldly nature. This is done by no longer conforming to the pattern of this world, but being transformed through the renewing of our mind, living a life pleasing to God.
Peter's observation of believers being a holy priesthood offering sacrifices that are acceptable to God flows from the context in his letter admonishing us to "rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." These are the sacrifices we as believers offer to our God who has demonstrated an incomprehensible love for us by sending his Son to die a miserable death to pay for our sins.
How well am I carrying out my responsibilities as a priest today?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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