Priests in a Holy Church (Santosh Poonen)

One of the areas in which Jesus is an example to us is as a priest (Hebrews 6:20). Paul was effective for God because he realized this (Romans 15:16). God showed us His kindness by choosing us as priests to serve Him continually (I Peter 2:3-9) – through our individual lives, in our marriages and homes, and in the church. A faithful priest daily seeks to present an offering to God without any defect. The priests ministry is first toward God, in being cleansed and sanctified: In the Old Covenant this meant making sure they wore holy garments (Exodus 28:42-43); In the New Covenant this means making sure that when we serve as priests on earth we are cleansed from things like malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and slander (I Peter 2:1). The priests ministry is then toward mankind in: having a heart full of goodness (Romans 15:14); being filled with knowledge (Romans 15:14) by being immersed in the Word so that we are continuing to grow (I Peter 2:2); admonishing, counseling, and instructing others (Romans 15:14); receiving grace from God (Romans 15:15) by: walking in humility (I Peter 5:5); becoming like all of our brothers (Hebrews 2:17, 5:1-5); sympathizing with the weaknesses of others (Hebrew 4:15); getting our hands dirty in the atoning work of others. The two verses of the new song that we will sing in heaven are (Revelation 5:1-14): 1. Jesus is worthy because He purchased us with His blood; 2. We who are purchased have become priests to God.