In week three of The Church Imagined series, we explored another identity-shaping image of the church in the New Testament: the Royal Priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us that the church is not a building or an organization, but a holy people chosen by God, called out of darkness, and set apart to proclaim His praises.
By looking back the role of the Jewish priesthood in the Old Testament, we saw how Jesus fulfilled the priestly system once and for all as our Great High Priest. Because of His death, resurrection, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God has now made the church itself His royal and holy priesthood.
The sermon focused on three key aspects of this calling: priestly clothing, priestly duties, and priestly portion. From Colossians 3, we were challenged to “put on” spiritual clothing such as compassion, humility, forgiveness, and love. We were also reminded that just as the priests of old had duties, we too as a royal priesthood have responsibilities today: praying and interceding for others, caring for God’s temple by loving one another and using our spiritual gifts, and teaching the Word of Christ through both instruction and example. Finally, we reflected on our greatest inheritance as God’s priests: the Lord Himself, our portion now and for eternity.
As Christ’s church, we are a royal priesthood so that we may proclaim the praises of the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. May this truth shape how we live and serve together!
