CONFESSIONS OF THE PRIESTHOOD

1 Peter 2:4-10

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." 

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," 

8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 

9 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 marvelous light.

10 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. 

As a kingdom of priests...

1. We are united with Christ.

2. We serve our God.

• We host His presence. (1 Peter 2:5; cf. Acts 7:48; 17:24; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 3:6)

• We offer Him sacrifices. (1 Peter 2:5; cf. Psalms 51:16-17; Romans 12:1; Philippians 2:17; 4:18; Hebrews 13:15-16)

Examples of sacrifices:

A yielded heart

A pure life

Being a servant

Giving the tithe

Praising God

Sharing God

• We proclaim His praises. (1 Peter 2:9)

3. We believe the gospel.

• Jesus is the only way of salvation. (1 Peter 2:6; cf. Isaiah 28:16; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5)

• Faith is the only way to Jesus. (1 Peter 2:7; cf. Psalm 118:22; John 3:16, 36; Romans 9:30-33; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:21-23)

• Unbelief is the only criteria for judgment. (1 Peter 2:8;

cf. Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 21:42-45; John 3:16-20, 36; Acts 4:5-12; 1 Pet. 1:22-25)

4. We receive God’s grace.

• He called us out of darkness into His light.

(1 Peter 2:9; cf. Is. 9:1-2; 42:6-7; Mt. 4:15-16; Lk. 1:79; 2:32; Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:13)

• He made us His people when we weren’t. (1 Peter 2:10; cf. Hosea 1:4-9; 2:23-25)

• He gave us His mercy when we didn’t deserve it. (1 Peter 2:10)

CHRIST

“living stone” (4)

“rejected by men” (4)

“chosen” (4)

“precious” (4)

BELIEVERS

“living stones” (5)

rejected by the world

“chosen race” (5)

“people for his own possession” (5)

Thanks Pastor Jim!!