Tag: Priests

The Living Temple of God

On By TimIn 1 Peter 02, Church, Daily Walk, Jesus, Romans 12Leave a comment

you also, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house as a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

From our previous excursion, we note some important things: What God is doing is new, and it is alive. It is not like the old covenant of bondage. Just as Jesus Christ is a living cornerstone, set firmly in place, we believers are also firmly set in place.

With Jesus as the foundation, God is building upon that idea a new temple. It isn’t like the tabernacle made of skins and cloth. It isn’t like Solomon’s temple arrayed in the finest and costliest of materials. Nor is it Herod’s temple that was never quite as splendid as Solomon’s. This new temple isn’t made with perishable things. It’s made of more precious living stones.

Why use stone as a metaphor?

At the time, building with stone made the most durable structures. The proof is the ruins we visit in modern-day. Stone, once set, is practically immovable. The metaphor may seem imperfect, but we know this world suffers corruption, and things can happen to remove set stones. The place where God works doesn’t have corruption, therefore the stones God builds with cannot be moved.

We are the living stones. We are set in place making a new spiritual house. Earlier, Peter tells his us that in this place we are strangers or pilgrims, our citizenship is elsewhere. In the previous post, this elsewhere is Zion, New Jerusalem, the City of God.

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the entire building, tightly framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Back to the present, God is in the middle of a building program. He is using living stones to make a living spiritual house. Any of us who fall on the Cornerstone for mercy are saved and become living stones that God builds with. He makes us part of the living temple He is building upon the foundation stone, Jesus Christ.

A Holy Priesthood

Though Peter’s audience is primarily the ten scattered ‘lost’ tribes of Israel, the message he writes can be useful for us. Not all of those lost tribes were believers. Peter is writing to the believers of those tribes. Though what Peter writes is Jewish in nature, it parallels what Paul writes. Believers are part of a royal priesthood.

Way back in 1 Peter 1:2, it is written about the sprinkling of blood. We know Moses sprinkled blood on the people to consecrate them to the old covenant (Exodus 24.) The sprinkling of that blood represented the sealing of the covenant. In Leviticus 8, Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons as priests. It was done with the sprinkling of blood.

The same is for you and I, if we believe and have been sprinkled with the blood of Christ. The significance is we’ve been consecrated (set aside, reserved) to a new covenant and a priesthood, as the types and shadows in the law teach us. When that old covenant was established with blood a new nation was born. Likewise, we are a new nation.

Think like Peter, with the sprinkling of the blood from Jesus. We are set aside for God as a nation under a covenant and set aside as priests. The job of the priest is to declare the goodness of God because we’ve been healed of our sin and rescued from darkness to light. This idea is also typified in the law, when a leper was to be cleansed from his corruption he was sprinkled with blood (Leviticus 14.)

That’s the goodness of God. We’ve been set aside, given a new promise, and cleansed. Teach the goodness of God to others.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may declare the goodness of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Since we’ve been called from darkness to light, let’s live like it. We have already encountered this idea when Peter tells us to put off certain things. It is important to understand our identity in Jesus and to live it out. Peter gives us practical ways to do that.

Spiritual Sacrifices

As priests, we offer up spiritual sacrifices. The most important of these comes first:

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Did you see how this connects?

The sacrifices we offer are acceptable to God.

In a similar fashion of casting ourselves on the living set cornerstone for mercy, we present our bodies a living sacrifice to Him. It’s a reasonable service of worship.

The first spiritual sacrifice is a living one, our own body. In so doing we give wholly of ourselves, not reserving anything selfishly. We don’t seek to take from God. Such a sacrifice requires us to not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. That connects back to what Peter said to desire the pure milk of the word.

Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that He bore. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Through Him, then, let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:13–16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The writer of Hebrews in what leads up to this passage, speaks of Jesus who suffered on the outskirts in order to sanctify us. This leads to the next ideas of sacrifice.

The second sacrifice we offer is praise. It is easy to do that in church with brothers and sisters surrounding us. But we are called to live differently as pilgrims and foreigners. And that means we are going to suffer persecution. Even in the midst of severe persecution, we are to offer praise. In the direst of circumstances, the martyrs of old sang praises to Jesus.

It’s to go outside the camp. That is an allusion to help us remember to remove ourselves from our current circumstances. Sometimes we can do that physically by removing ourselves from challenges. Most times it is difficult to extract ourselves physically. We must remember to go outside the camp in our minds by setting them on heavenly things and not our current circumstances. And there, to continually praise God.

With such a sacrifice, God is well pleased. It is acceptable to God.

Take careful note of the admonition to do good and share. This is another spiritual sacrifice. It is one of helping others by sharing what we have.

Why do we do this?

In times past, you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We are set aside for a purpose. We are the chosen of God. Not for anything we did, but because of what Jesus did. He has set us aside by the sprinkling of His own blood because we’ve received mercy.

It is another poignant reminder of what was taught in the prophets who sought to look into these things, all the while knowing they were serving us believers.

Then the Lord said: “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not your God.” Yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” there it will be said to them, “You are the children of the living God.”

Hosea 1:9–10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We are the children of the living God. As we move on, Peter will continue to encourage us to live lives that are like it.

He Did it All

On By TimIn Atonement, Hebrews 01, Hebrews 09, JesusLeave a comment

When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Heb 1:3b — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

When He had by Himself purged our sins.

This sentence has a significant meaning. Most times we might just pass by it. Continuing from the previous post, we find the writer of Hebrews is giving us a brief outline of what he is going to say. Much of this will be elaborated on later in the epistle (Chapters 9 and 10.) What is offered here, is the Son is performing a multi-faceted dual role.

The first portion of that role is as Priest.

In Leviticus 1 and on, we see the role of the priest is doing the work of making an offering for sin. This priest was the one who slaughtered the offerings after laying hands on its head. Those who laid hands on the offering were the ones responsible for the party who sinned. If an individual, it was the individual, if a congregation, it was the elders. This act of laying hands on the head was an imputation or transfer from one party to another. It is still practiced today in churches when people are ordained. This is patterned for us, in like manner the sacrifice became the substitute of the sinning party. The sin guilt was transferred to the sacrifice. I would also extend, that given the practice outlined in Leviticus 16, the sin was confessed while hands were laid.

Nevertheless, It was always the priest who was present. It was the priest that performed the ceremony. It was the priest who slaughtered the sacrifice. It was the priest who went before the presence of God with the blood as an intermediary between the one who sinned and God. It was the priest who prepared and burned the offering. It was the priest who lit the fire. It was the priest who arranged the wood on the altar. It was the priest who did the work as an intermediary in the atonement.

The second portion of that role is as High Priest.

The Day of Atonement was for the entire congregation. It was a day for making atonement of all the sin of the people. It is established in Leviticus 16.

There was an inner sanctum behind the veil. Entering the presence of God was a certain death sentence.

The LORD said to Moses: Speak to Aaron your brother so that he does not come at any time into the Holy Place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is on the ark, so that he will not die, for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.

Leviticus 16:2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The priest could only go in once a year. It wasn’t just any priest, but the High Priest.

He couldn’t just go in, either. There was much preparation to the ceremony. Rituals of purification, washing and changing garments.

Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and he shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and shall be girded with a linen sash, and shall be wearing the linen turban. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water and then put them on. He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.
Aaron shall offer his bull for the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Leviticus 16:3–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It was the privilege of the High Priest to enter the presence of God on behalf of the entire congregation. He did it with blood, to purge sins.

The third portion of that role is as that Sin Offering.

In the case of the High Priest, his role is to select the offerings for the people. What is alluded to here is that the Son gave Himself as that offering. Blood is needed to purge sins.

Aaron shall bring the goat on which the lot of the LORD falls and offer him for a sin offering.

Leviticus 16:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Sin offerings are treated a bit differently. The priest would not take a portion of the sin offering whose blood was sprinkled in the Holy Place, but it would be completely consumed in the fire on the altar.

Any sin offering where blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place shall not be eaten. It shall be burned up in the fire.

Leviticus 6:30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

As seen previously, the offerings for specific sin always involved a laying on of hands. There was an imputation from the sinning party to the sacrifice. But this one day, this one offering was different.

Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, and bring its blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it over and in front of the mercy seat. And he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins, and so he shall do for the tent of meeting that remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. There shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out and has made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

Leviticus 16:15–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This offering is for all the people and all their sins. It is comprehensive in scope, meaning that there isn’t a limit to it. I know folks may object, as it was for the congregation of Israel, and in that context it was comprehensive. There was nothing left out. In Israel’s calling, they were to be a light to the Gentiles, to show that salvation reaches everywhere.

He says, “It is a light thing that you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make you a light to the nations so that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I do know that this verse of Scripture has a dual purpose and is fulfilled in the Son. It suffices to show the entire scope of the sin offering here as comprehensive, and for the benefit to the people of the whole world; Israel being a light to the nations.

This idea will also be elaborated upon in later portions of the epistle.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests would regularly go into the first part, conducting the services of God. But only the high priest went into the second part once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people, committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was signifying through this that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet revealed, because the first part of the tabernacle was still standing.

Hebrews 9:6-8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We see that the roles are clearly established. Priests do the daily ministering; the High Priest has an established role to do once for the people into the very presence of God. And not without the blood of the sin offering.

The fourth portion of that role is as that Scapegoat.

It is in this offering that sin is confessed. It is also significant that the sin is transferred and taken away forever.

When he has made an end of atonement for the Holy Place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, then he shall bring the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away by the hand of a designated man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear on it all their iniquities to a desolate land, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:20–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

For the studious, in Leviticus, we see the ordinance of sacrifice for unintentional sin. But what of the intentional?

The writer of Hebrews shows the sin offering is for sin committed in ignorance. Here is where the High Priest would lean onto the head of that goat confessing all the iniquities and all transgression in their sins. These are transferred to that sacrifice, but it isn’t killed. It’s led away, into the wilderness… To never come back. Effectively carrying away all sin.

This is the exact thing being told to us in a small number of words. “When He Himself had purged our sins.” All of the work to purge sins is accomplished in Him alone.

He sat down.

This ought to be the thing that we rejoice over most!

All the work is done. He knew it when He selected and gave Himself. He cried “Tetellisti!” (It’s finished.)

The work in the tabernacle was never done. It was a perpetual thing. The fire had to be constant, it needed fuel. Ashes needed to be carted away. There was always a priest on duty never sitting down.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law for the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. The priest shall put on his linen robe, and his linen undergarments on his body. Then he shall remove the ashes from the fire of the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments, and he shall bring the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out. The priest shall feed it with wood every morning. He will arrange the burnt offering on it, and he shall burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar. It shall never go out.

Leviticus 6:8–13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He sat down. There is no more perpetual work.

At the right hand of the Majesty on high

This is the place of honor. The author of the epistle will go into greater detail

He was made so much better than the angels as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

Hebrews 1:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s not that Jesus is made or created. This is stating His position of honor. His is detailed in the portions immediately following.

In this introduction to the epistle, many things are established in such few words. My hope is that as you read further, you understand what is being said in the entire epistle. It is one of my favorite books in all of the Bible.