Q: What does it look like to live out being of the royal priesthood?
A: First we must understand who is the ‘royal priesthood’. Then we can learn to understand what it is that we who are of that priesthood are to do.
1 Peter 2:7-10 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,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 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. 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.
You = In Exodus 19:5 God called Israel His chosen people and a nation of priests to the world. Here, Peter is talking to all Christians, a new nation under Christ.
Romans 9:24-26 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
Chosen = Priesthood is and has always been a privilege chosen by God. It has never been an office chosen by man.
Ephesians 1:4 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love.
2 Timothy 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
Priest = We serve the great High Priest, who is Jesus Christ.
Holy = kept separate from the world, constantly purified, to be focusing on God.
Purpose 1: Proclaim
The purpose of this group of priests is to ‘proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.’ All this to bring glory to God (Isaiah 60:21; 61:3)
We serve the Great High Priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Timothy 2:5) who is the only mediator needed between God and any person.
1 Peter 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 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.
Purpose 2: Sacrifice
Another purpose of us as priests is to offer acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. These sacrifices include our obedience (submission of the will – Romans 12:1-2), worship (submission of the honor – Hebrews 13:15)
Revelation 22:3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
Purpose 3: Practice
A final purpose for us as priests is to practice serving and worshipping for when we will do it perfectly in eternity. We are to draw near to God, and then help others to draw near as well.