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A Holy Priesthood You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual* sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.—1 Peter 2:5, NIV Andrew Polychronis One of the most profoundly beautiful analogies used in Scripture to describe the truly consecrated believer is the one used by apostle Peter in his first general epistle. Peter describes the honorable role of true believers as that of “living stones” which God uses to build a great temple throughout the Gospel age. It is “living stones” because we come to the Lord Jesus Christ who is himself a “living stone”—not just any “living stone” but a “cornerstone”; and not just any cornerstone, but the “chief cornerstone.” “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.”—1 Peter 2:6-8 The vision of the building of this temple must have made a vivid and profound impression on Peter’s mind because it was the fulfillment of the great prophecy made by Jesus on the earlier occasion of Peter’s confession of faith. In Matthew’s gospel we read: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”—Matthew 16:13-18 Although there is much controversy and theological debate over Scriptural teaching of the “rock/stone” analogies, what Jesus is saying to his disciples on this occasion is quite clear. God’s revelation to Peter that the Lord Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” clearly is the “rock” upon which the “church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23) would be built. Indeed, the “gates of hades” (Matthew 16:18, NIV) have never prevailed, and never will prevail, against this fundamental doctrinal truth. Roman Catholicism’s teaching that the “rock” is Peter, the first pope of Rome, eludes the import of our Lord’s question and more significantly, Peter’s revealed response. The confusion among men at the time when Jesus asked the disciples “whom do men say that I, the Son of man am” has continued throughout the Gospel age in the guise of the inexplicable philosophy of the trinity. This is Satan’s attempt to undo the very foundation upon which the church is being built! But praise be to our heavenly father, there has always been a remnant of true believers who, like Peter, have allowed God’s holy spirit to reveal the true nature and identity of Christ, thus seeing through the falseness of the trinitarian doctrine. As “living stones” they come to the “rock,” the “chief cornerstone,” and are being built up a spiritual house. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). What is the significance of Jesus being the cornerstone? In referring to Jesus as a cornerstone, Peter is quoting from both the Psalms as well as the prophet Isaiah. The Isaiah prophecy is of special significance: “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place” (Isaiah 28:16,17). As we well know, the purpose of “the measuring line” and the “plummet” is to bring every stone in perfect alignment with the cornerstone. It is God’s justice and righteousness through our Lord Jesus Christ that qualify us to be fit “living stones” to be used by the Masterbuilder. God’s destiny for each of his children is that their lives be brought into perfect alignment with the life of Jesus that we might be conformed to his blessed image (Romans 8:29). In the account of the building of Solomon’s temple we are told: “And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building” (1 Kings 6:7). The work and noise of the “hammer, axe, and tools of iron” occurred in the quarry where the stones were being prepared. When the temple was actually erected, the stones fit together so perfectly no further noise was heard. What a profoundly beautiful picture this is of God’s workmanship with each and every member of the body of Christ. For two thousand years God has been preparing “living stones” in the quarry of life. Each saint goes through a unique set of experiences which chisel, hammer, and polish us, to bring us ultimately to the same end result: the character-likeness of Jesus! The world is absolutely oblivious to the great work that God is doing with his saints in this age. Not a sound is heard as the chisel and hammer do their work. But one day the dazzling splendor of the glorified bride of Christ will be revealed to the world of mankind and to all of creation (Revelation 21). What a revealing that will be! Not only is God preparing all body members as “living stones” to fit perfectly into the temple he is building, he prepares and qualifies them to carry out the priestly duties associated with the temple: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5, NIV). Clearly, the typical Aaronic priesthood not only made material sacrifices and offerings, but was expected to offer up spiritual sacrifices as well. These included the following: w The offering of thanksgiving: “Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High” (Psalm 50:13,14). “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing” (Psalm 107:21,22). w The offering of praise and humility: “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:15-17). w The offering of contrition and prayer: “Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:1,2). These sacrifices and offerings were a foretaste of the spiritual sacrifices which were to be made by the “living stones” in the Gospel age. God is not pleased with animal sacrifices: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). That situation was remedied by our Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, who not “by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). We, in return, as “a holy priesthood” are called upon “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Again, some of these spiritual sacrifices include: w Our very beings, as loving worship to him: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). w Our service: “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all” (Philippians 2:17). w Our gifts (material and spiritual) and abilities: “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18). w Our praise and sharing: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15, 16). Historically it was the “rediscovery” of these New Testament scriptures that convinced and reassured Luther of the truth of the “priesthood of all believers,” a priesthood not limited to an elite and privileged few as within the Roman Catholic church. This conviction and revelation along with many others ultimately led to the great Protestant Reformation. Although we know that we will have the awesome privilege and honor of serving as a “kingdom of priests” in the age to come with Christ as our high priest, our training as underpriests must begin in this age. Peter confirms this by saying: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). May we truly with all saints, recognize the absolutely amazing, noble, and privileged call we have to come to Jesus as “living stones,” and that we “are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” And may we continue to submit to his workmanship (Ephesians 2:8,10) in the full confidence and assurance that “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). _________________ |