A holy priesthood

Wednesday 19 May 2021

A holy priesthood

If you listen carefully to my voice and keep my covenant... you will be a kingdom of priests to me, and a holy nation. Exodus 19:5,6

You, too, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house - a holy priesthood - to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Have you noticed the fundamental difference between these two verses which are addressed, the first, to the people of Israel and, the second, to believers ? They both speak of being a holy priesthood for God, but one is in the future and depends on a condition (if you listen... you will be me), and the other is an affirmation in the present, unconditional. (yourselves... are...). However, the people of Israel were unable to fulfill the conditions set for them in the covenant : to listen to the voice of the Lord and to obey his commandments. So it was never really that people of priests that the Lord wanted.

Why are there no conditions for Christians ? Because this priestly dignity was acquired for them by Christ. His work, having made them perfect, gave them the right and the capacity to appear before a perfectly holy God (Hebrews 10:14 and 19). They can then exercise their holy priesthood, that is, stand before God to express their adoration to him as well as their gratitude for his love.

Since there is no requirement to be part of this holy priesthood, can I do anything ? Of course not ! He who thinks thus shows that he has not understood the love of God, nor the greatness of his grace. On the contrary, the believer who measures a little the immensity of the love with which God loved him seeks to be filled with the knowledge of his will to walk in a way worthy of him, to please him in all respects (Colossians 1:9.10).

The holy priesthood is exercised with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, in communion with the Lord Jesus, our high priest. This is why we can speak in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

This is the pinnacle of Christian life, which gives the mark of heaven to all our behavior on earth, which makes God happy and brings us much joy in the Lord.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)