1 Peter 2:5,9
Audio MP3
January 20,
2013 PM
Pastor Craig
Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Exodus 19:6)
A.
1.
Mediators. Men who represented
God to the people of the world, and represented the People back to God
2.
They were responsible for the
sacrifice of animals.
3.
They had one High Priest, the
head Priest. Only he was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies in the Jewish
temple. This especially sacred place was separated from the rest of the temple
and from the other priests and from all the worshippers by a great curtain or
veil.
B.
With the crucifixion of
the Messiah Jesus, everything changed.
1.
The great veil in the temple “was
rent in twain from the top to the bottom” (Matthew 27:51), indicating that
anyone can access Almighty God directly because of His Son, Jesus Christ! Jesus,
the great High Priest, now mediated between God and humankind.
2.
No longer was the sacrifice of
animals needed, because Christ, the Lamb of God, had given himself as a
sacrifice for sin. This was a once-and-for-all act.
3.
No more mediators! No longer were
the priests of the Old Testament needed. Human mediators are no longer needed.
All who believe in Jesus become priests themselves, with direct access to
God. We can go directly to God in prayer, in confession, to praise, and to
worship. What an opportunity!
4.
Everything of the Old Testament
was done away (Heb 10:5-14):
a.
The
b.
The High Priest – fired!
c.
Every normal priest – redundant!
d.
Lambs – now only for stew!
5.
All so that God could establish
something BETTER!
a.
A
b.
A Better High Priest – Jesus!
c.
And a Better Priesthood
C.
The world has many Unbiblical
ideas about Biblical priesthood. So do so many Christians as well!
1.
Celibacy - Cannot be married
(1Tim 4:1-3; 1Tim 3:1-5) – not allowed!
2.
Continuing the Sacrifice of the
life of Jesus
3.
Confessions
4.
Clergy and Laity
a.
Clergy – those people who are
specially ordained by their religion to lead the people
b.
Laity – two words –
5.
Hierarchy
a.
Bishops
b.
The Pope
c.
Patriarchs
d.
Major archbishops
e.
Cardinals
f.
Primates
g.
Metropolitans
h.
Archbishops
i.
Diocesan bishops
j.
Ordinaries and local ordinaries
k.
Presbyterates
l.
Vicars general and vicars
capitular
m.
Monsignor
n.
Ordinary Priests
6.
No woman priests!
7.
Thinking the “Pastor” “Reverend”
“Guru” “Master” is higher up and closer to God than other people!
D.
Well, God has a different
view of priests today!
1.
There was a CHANGE in the
priesthood when Jesus died
2.
All believers became priests the
moment they became Born Again!
3.
No need for ordination, orders,
archbishops, holy Sees, Councils, or Magisteriums
4.
There is only a need for
believers to SEE themselves as PRIESTS, and NO LONGER as small people, or as
idiots!
E.
Let’s take a brief look at
What it Means to Be a New Testament Priest
II.
Message – The Life of a
New Testament Priest
A.
New Testament Priesthood Is a
Life (1Peter 2:5,9) – Not an Occupation – Something We ARE!
1.
We become Priests by the New
Birth – Not by Choice (Num 3:5-10)
2.
We are Anointed to be Priests (Ex
28:41; 1John 2:20,27)
a.
Chosen by God to draw near unto
Him
b.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit of
God
3.
We never stop being priests (Rev
5:6,9,10)
B.
All New Testament Priests Are
under One, Great, High Priest (1Tim 2:5)
1.
Heb 2:17 “faithful high priest”
2.
Heb 3:1
3.
Heb 7:25,26 “perfect”
4.
No hierarchy (Mt 23:8,9)
5.
We follow Him only, and do as He
did in this world
C.
New Testament Priests Wear
Special Clothes – Distinctive of their relationship to God
1.
We stand out from “common people”
– unsaved, unbelieving- we are different, peculiar
2.
Holy Garments (Ex 31:10) – clean
and pure
a.
Not holy underwear like the
Mormons!
b.
But Clean and Godly lives (Ps
132:9,16; Ex 40:13; 19:22)
c.
Old Testament priests were not to
touch dead things (Lev 21:1) – things that would ruin, soil or defile us
d.
Neither should we (2Cor 6:14-18)
– dead things
3.
Beautiful Garments (Ex 28:3-8) –
beautiful to God
a.
Not drab or sad, or mournful
b.
Just like the Armour of God – a
godly life and attitude is part of God’s protection of a Christian!
c.
Garment of Praise and Joy (Isa
61:3)
4.
Clothed with Humility (1Peter
5:5)
5.
Visibly Loving of the Brethren
(John 13:34,35)
6.
What do YOU wear around your
house, and when at school or at work?
D.
New Testament Priests Minister
to God (Ex 30:3; Acts 13:2)
1.
Blessing HIM
2.
Walking with Him
3.
Obeying HIM
4.
Worshiping HIM
5.
Making Offerings / Sacrifices to
God (Lev 1:7-ff; 1Pet 2:5; Heb 13:15,16)
a.
No longer of lambs, or bulls, or
goats, or wheat or oil
b.
But of Praise
c.
Of Prayer
d.
Of Fellowship – Communication
e.
Of Ourselves – sacrifice of our
own lives for others (Rom 12:1)
E.
New Testament Priests
Minister to People for God
1.
We Can Make it Possible for the
Unclean to Get Cleansed
a.
Lepers
b.
The Defiled
c.
The Sinful (Heb 7:26, 27)
d.
Through pointing them to the ONE
great FINISHED sacrifice in their place
e.
Through Intercession to God for
them (1Tim 2:1)
2.
Teach the Word of God (Ezek
44:23)
3.
Preserve the Word of God (Dt
17:18; 31:9, 25,26; 2Cor 2:17)
4.
Settle Controversies (Dt 19:17;
1Cor 6:1-7)
5.
Encourage People (Dt 20:2; 21:5;
1Thes 5:11) Edify, bless, make better, not bitter!
III.
Conclusion
A.
That is quite a list of duties
and characteristics of New Testament priests
B.
And it is a present reality
whether we believe it or not, in every one of our lives
1.
Direct Access to God, through the
One mediator, Jesus Christ
2.
Simple, honest confession to God
3.
Intercession for sinners