If you would, turn to 1 Peter
chapter 2, 1 Peter chapter 2. I'm gonna read a couple of verses
in 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2 and verses 4 and 5. to whom coming as unto a living
stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. Ye also, as lively stones, are
built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. It says here in this passage
that we are built up a holy priesthood. We read in Revelations 1 verses
4 through 6, we read, John to the seven churches which are
in Asia, grace be unto you and peace from him which is and which
was and which is to come and from the seven spirits which
are before his throne. And from Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and
the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us
and washed us from our sins in his own blood, hath made us kings
and priests unto God and his father. To him be glory and dominion
forever and ever, amen. That would include all of his
people, men and women, old and young, black and white, it is
God that has made us this, that is kings and priests of our God,
a spiritual house and holy priesthood. What exactly does this mean?
I read an article that got me thinking on this subject, that
subject of us being made priest under God. I don't want to be
too critical because I understand the desire to want things to
be done the right way. At the same time, I know we often
do, and mainly I know this because this is what I do. I start looking
at what we do instead of Jesus Christ and what he tells us in
his word. Jesus Christ has given us the
apostles who have given us instruction on how we are to conduct ourselves
in the house of God. If we are all priests, then does
that mean we are all called upon to perform or placed in the same
function or office, if you will? Does that mean anyone and everyone
that wants to get up front and speak that this is how God has
been pleased for us to conduct ourselves in the house of God?
I want to go through the following things, trying to follow God's
word and how he has been pleased to tell us how we are to do things. And here are the three things
I wanna go through. Christ, the great high priest, we have been
made priest unto God. Christ is the head. So let's
look at these things and pray God give us an understanding
of what he is telling us when he says in his word, we are a
holy priesthood. Christ, the great high priest.
First and foremost, Christ made the only acceptable sacrifice
to God. Hebrews 9.26 we read, for then
must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world,
but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put
away sin by the sacrifice of himself. It is for this very
purpose that God created the heavens and the earth. He created
it and purposed all things to the glory, honor, and praise
of His name, that is, Jesus Christ the Lord. The only possible way
for God to save a sinner was for Him to do it Himself. No
other man could do it and He had to be a man. God came into
the world to save sinners and He did not leave defeated. He
accomplished that for which He came to do. Hebrews 10 and 10
says, by the which will we are sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once. It says for all, but you can
leave that in there for all time, but once. He has all power and
authority and has not turned that over to anyone else. He
is still all powerful and has all authority. No man can say
unto him, what doest thou? He came down, was made under
the law for those for whom he chose, he went to that cross
suffering that for which I earned the right to suffer. But he himself
did this for me instead. If you knew what a sinner I am,
if you knew what a sinner you are, this would be an amazing
thing to behold knowing there is not one ounce of deservedness,
if that's a word, in this old wicked sinful flesh. He did this
purely because he chose to do so. He chose to love me. One that would cause him grief
and sorrow and ultimate death. Now don't get me wrong, don't
get caught up on being a great sinner. If we committed one sin,
if one man committed one sin, then Christ would have to suffer
the same thing. In fact, that is exactly what
Scripture tells us in Romans 5 and verse 12. We read, Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin,
and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sin, And
then down in verse 19 of Romans 5. For as by one man's disobedience
many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, and that
is Jesus Christ, shall many be made righteous. We have this
confirmed to us in 2 Corinthians 5.21 where it says, for he hath
made him, that is Christ, to be sin for us. Who knew no sin? that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him. So it is because of what he has
done that we have any hope of being righteous before a thrice
holy God. Next, we are priests unto God. We do make sacrifices to God.
We are actually told to do this. Let's look at these and then
look at how this is so in Romans 11 verses 33 through 12 in verse
one. Oh, the depth of the riches boast
of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his
judgments and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind
of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor?
or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto
him again. For of him and through him and
to him are all things, to whom be glory forever and forever,
amen. 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. So how are we to present our
bodies a living sacrifice? We do this in whatever we do,
giving glory to God, just as it says here, for him, through
him, to him. It is all about Jesus Christ
the Lord. That is no surprise to God's
people. We know he has done it all. Now
this flesh wants the glory for itself in whatever way. It continues
to do this. I must deaden this. How do I
do this? believe Jesus Christ, for in
him and through him and to him are all things. He is the only
one that is righteous enough to obey God's law. He is the
only one who is righteous enough to die the sacrifice unto God
for a sweet-smelling savor unto God, in which he would be completely
satisfied. Hebrews 13 and verse 15 says,
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. Notice here it says by him. Even our praises to God we cannot
take credit for. For we do it by him. But we are
to offer up these praises to him and no one else and nothing
else. For it is of God that we will
and do of his good pleasure. Am I to be thankful for those
around me? Absolutely. God gave them to
us. We as priests unto God are to
offer up unto God these sacrifices. It is our reasonable service.
Hebrews 13 and verse 16 says, But to do good and to communicate,
forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Again in
1 Peter 2 and verse 5 it says, ye also as, we read it as our
text, ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house
and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God by Jesus Christ. What else is involved in giving
these sacrifices? Mainly the proclamation of the
gospel. That does not just include those
who stand up here and speak. First of all, if no one was here
to listen to what anyone stands up here and says, then we would
be talking to ourselves. So you have to have someone listening
or hearing what is being said. But just to have a place where
we can do this takes money. It has to have those things to
take care of the building, grass mowed, house cleaned. It takes
money. Money to pay the electric bill,
money to pay the internet bills we have, money to support the
TV broadcast. What I'm trying to say is anything,
washing the dishes after a meal, anything that is done because
you love Christ and his brethren and want to do what you can to
help make it easier on anyone of his people to help make sure
the gospel continues. That gospel that praises Jesus
Christ our Lord for who he is and what he has done. We are
told that we are to sing unto the Lord, sing psalms, hymns,
and spiritual songs. We also are told to pray. We're
told to read the scripture. These are also part of sacrificing
unto God those spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, only those
that honor Christ. Many think it is just the preacher
who is involved in proclaiming the gospel. It's just not true. Who is involved in proclaiming
the gospel? All of the above are involved
in proclaiming of the gospel. It takes everything that God
puts in someone's heart to do for his glory. Because it is
he that gives it to them to do these things. So now I wanna go into Christ
is the head. And I have some things to say
before I go into that specifically. This article which I read, the
whole point it seemed to have is to look back at the old ways
of how they were doing things. I'm not totally opposed to how
things were done back then, so don't get me wrong. Depending
on how far back you wanna go, I would rather not have to light
candles for light in our place, or possibly have someone loading
the stove with wood so we can keep warm where we meet. It is
possible that I have misunderstood this article, that is possible.
But it seems to me that the whole point on this article was to
get back to where just anyone could get up and speak in the
local assembly. The article was about all of
us being priests of God. All being priests, we had no
need for one person to be over us. Just knowing myself in this
flesh, I know when I have an opinion about something, this
flesh likes to take it and run with it. I usually go too far
this way or too far that way. Whichever way is opposed to God
in my flesh, God help us to be careful and not do this. Who
is it then that should be getting up and speaking to men and women?
I'm talking about in the local assembly. As there is a special
elite, is there a special elite group that can do this? I think
you all are in trouble if that's the case. Let me ask a question
to make what I'm getting at a little bit more plain, maybe. Are women
to get up and preach the gospel to us at the assembling of the
saints? We are all priests of God, right? And we are, we are. 1 Timothy 2, verses 11 through
13 says this. Let the women learn in silence
with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach,
nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For
Adam was first formed, then Eve. This is what we are told by the
Apostle Paul as it concerns how we should conduct ourselves.
So who should be getting up to speak? Paul tells us in Timothy,
he says, in 1 Timothy 3.1, it says, this is a true saying.
If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good
work. So first of all, there has to
be a desire for this, and this is an office. It is an office
where there is some kind of rule to be done. Now just like we
have been talking about and saying we must not go too far either
one way or the other with this. But what else does Paul go on
to tell Timothy in 1 Timothy 4 and verse 14? Neglect not the
gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with
the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon
these things. Give thyself wholly to them,
that thy profiting may appear to all. This is not a part-time
thing. This is not something that a
man or a male, to be more clear, just gets up when he feels like
it, because he wants to give his thoughts on a subject. I'm
not saying that a man has to get up every time the assembly
comes together either. I'm not saying that. But they
give themselves wholly to it, whether they have the opportunity
to get up and speak all the time or not. There are no part-time
elders, pastors, bishops, in other words. Should those who
stand up to speak to us, should they get paid? Or maybe is it
better to ask it this way, is it wrong for them to get paid?
I mean, paid a salary. A salary being that a certain
amount is paid to the preacher all the time. 1 Corinthians 9
verses 6 through 9 reads this. Where I only am Barnabas, have
not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time
at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and
eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth
not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man?
Or sayeth not the law the same also? For it is written in the
law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that
treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
He goes on to say in verse 11, if we have sown into you spiritual
things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? I know there are those men who
look at being a pastor, elder, or bishop as their occupation.
They look at it as them having a normal job, if you will, that
they can be hired from or fired from. God sent men are not so. There is nothing wrong with taking
care of a man of God if you have the means to do it and do it
willingly. It also says not to muzzle the mouth of the ox. If
you can only give so much and he wants to work to make his
own money, then you are not to muzzle the ox. Now this thing
on anyone and basically everyone getting up to speak that this
article I read spoke of, the heading for this point is Christ
is the head. The one I'm talking about right
here, Christ is the head. He put those in the body where
he sees fit. We can go too far either way,
we look at this. He is the one that places members
in his body and they are to do the function for which he placed
them there. But everyone cannot do the same
thing. If you would, turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12. 1 Corinthians
12. And I'm gonna go through this
whole chapter. 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Now concerning spiritual gifts,
brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were
Gentiles carried away into these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore, I give you to understand
that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed,
and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the
Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of
gifts, but the same Spirit. and there are differences of
administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities
of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in
all. But the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to every man to profit with all. For to one
is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word
of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same
Spirit, To another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.
To another, the working of miracles. To another, prophecy. To another,
discerning of spirits. To another, diverse kinds of
tongues. To another, the interpretation
of tongues. But all these worketh that one
and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he
will. For as the body is one and have
many members, and all the members of that one body being many are
one body, so also is Christ. For by one spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether
we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one
spirit. For the body is not one member,
but many. If the foot shall say, because
I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not
of the body? And if the ear shall say, because
I am not the eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not
of the body? And listen to this. If the whole
body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were
hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members,
every one of them, in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member,
where were the body? But now are they many members,
yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the
hand, I have no need of thee. Nor again the head to the feet,
I have no need of you. Nay, much more, those members
of the body which seem to be more feeble and are necessary,
and those members of the body which we think to be less honorable,
upon these we bestow more abundant honor. And our uncomely parts
have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no
need, but God hath tempered the body together, having given more
abundant honor to that part which lacked. that there should be
no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same
care one for another, and whether one member suffer, all the members
suffer with it, or one member be honored, all the members rejoice
with it. Now ye are the body of Christ
and members in particular, and God has set some in the church,
first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, Helps, governments, diversities
of tongues, are all apostles, are all prophets, are all teachers,
are all workers of miracles, have all the gifts of healing,
do all speak with tongues, do all interpret, but covet earnestly
the best gifts, and yet show I unto you a more excellent way. And it would do you some good
to go on and read that more excellent way that he speaks about in chapter
13. Whatever we do, we do it in love,
and that is love to God and love to our brethren. If we are looking back through
the ruins of what man has done or not done, we will never get
out of the ruins. If you're looking for the foundation,
there is not reason to sift through man's works. God has given us
his word, and that is where we can see the one true foundation. That is where we are to build
our foundation, else we're building on sand. One way men do this
is to look back at creeds. I don't need a creed, although
I know there are some creeds out there that mention good and
right doctrines. But we are ever learning of Christ
and I sometimes have my mind changed by God through his spirit
and by his word. I'm sure this happens to all
men who are of God. The problem is the creed never
seems to be changed to reflect those things. But what reason
do we have to hold to a creed when we have God's word? There's
so much in God's word for me to know completely as it is,
and this is not everything about God. His word is just what he
has been pleased to reveal unto us. I like what one preacher
said. He said, the spirit of God summarized
his word for us into that which he wanted to reveal unto us.
How do we think we can summarize it any better into a creed? I
don't need to go back and look at how churches or assemblies
did things once upon a time. Again, I have God's word in front
of me and I know what it says is true without a doubt. Do I
think that there are assemblies that might not be doing things
the way they should according to scripture? Of course I do. There are no perfect assemblies,
including Sovereign Grace Chapel in Crow, West Virginia. I'm not
saying that we should not look to do those things which God
instructs us to do, but we ought to be looking to God's word for
that. Too many people look back at how some of their friends
and family done things, or some of those that they said and tried
to follow those things instead of just looking to God's word
for his spirit for guidance, and his spirit for guidance.
They want to look at how such and such preacher did it. But
if they follow God's word as it concerns how they do things,
then if whoever did it previously did it that way, then good. If
they did not, then we now follow Jesus Christ. They or we may
have done things the wrong way, and if so, we should change what
we do or what we say, if that may be the case. What we are
called on to do is to honor Jesus Christ the Lord for who he is
and what he has done. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to
the following, Philippians 3, verses 13 and 14. Brethren, I
count not myself to apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Don't go looking
through the ruins of fallen man to find out what you should do. Look to our great high priest,
Jesus Christ the Lord, who deserves all sacrifice of our lips and
our service. He does all things well. Amen. Dear Lord God, thank you for
allowing us to be here today. Be with those who are not able
to make it for one reason or the other, dear Lord. May you
comfort them with words of your son. Open our hearts, minds,
ears, dear Lord, that we may hear your word. Oh, may it be
that when we speak that we're glorifying your name, dear Lord,
because it is all you. You've done everything. You do
everything. Be with Walter as he stands to
speak. Give him boldness to speak the truth. All these things we
ask in Christ's name. Amen.