Ephesians; 1:4 – Election of church age believer, part 41. The elected priest.

Thursday January 10, 2019

 

3g. The elect are royal priests in the kingdom of God, 1PE 2:1-10.

 

1PE 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice [chosen or elect] and precious in the sight of God,

 

1PE 2:5 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.

 

Spiritual sacrifices:

 

ROM 12:1

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (which are revealed in Rom 12-15)

 

EPH 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

 

EPH 5:2 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.

 

Chapters 4, 5, and 6 describe this walk in love through numerous commands.

 

Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God - being imitators of God as beloved children and walking in love as Christ did. The commands of Eph 4-6 describe it.

 

There are multiple commands with multiple parts. I count sixty-one things that are either commands of entreaties to the elect, with the first one being, “walk in a manner worthy of your calling.”

 

PHI 2:17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

 

PHI 2:18 And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

 

The Philippians shared a financial gift with Paul, and more importantly with it, their compassion and support of him.

 

PHI 4:18 But I have received everything in full, 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.

 

PHI 4:19 And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

 

PHI 4:20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

The spiritual sacrifices of the royal priest are given from one who is sanctified and forgiven, and so, they are not offerings for sin, but offerings of good works in service to God by the perfectly cleansed priest.

 

HEB 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

 

HEB 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

 

HEB 10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them

After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart,

And upon their mind I will write them,"

 

He then says,

 

HEB 10:17 "And their sins and their lawless deeds

I will remember no more."

 

HEB 10:18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

 

Picture the contrast between the priest in the OT and the NT. And remember, not all priests were believers. Yet, picture the OT priest anointed with oil, assisting the people with their offerings, slaying the animals, caring for and baking the grain offerings, caring for the articles in the temple, offering the incense, caring for the showbread and the golden lamp, and the high priest sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat. This goes on constantly.

 

Now picture the NT priest anointed with the Holy Spirit; assisting others through charitable virtues: compassion, kindness, graciousness, patience, gentleness, goodness, forbearance, and forgiveness. He takes care of the word of God and the church of God. He takes care of his home, his family, his neighbors through love that binds in unity all of his charitable virtues. He prays consistently in worshipping God in thanksgiving, and asking for help, for others and for himself. He leads others to Christ, not ceremonially, but literally.

 

The OT priest is all ritual. The NT priest is all substance of divine love and worship.

 

The OT priest serves the temple. The NT priest is the temple.

 

The OT priest is earthly. The NT priest is heavenly.

 

The OT priest is only ceremonially cleansed. The NT priest is actually cleansed forever.

 

1PE 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice [kakia = wickedness] and all guile [dolon = deceit] and hypocrisy and envy and all slander [evil speaking],

 

1PE 2:2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

 

1PE 2:3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

 

1PE 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice [eklekton: chosen out one or elect] and precious in the sight of God,

 

1PE 2:5 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.

 

1PE 2:6 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."

 

“a choice stone, a precious corner stone” - one chosen out, a corner stone, held in honor.

 

1PE 2:7 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,"