1st
Peter 2:6-9; 6 For this is
contained in Scripture:
“
Behold I lay in Zion a
choice stone, a precious
corner stone ,
And
he who believes in Him
shall not be disappointed.
”
7
This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But
for those who disbelieve,
“
The stone which
the builders rejected
,
This
became the very corner stone, ”
8 and,
“
A stone of
stumbling and a rock of offense ” ; for
they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and
to this doom they
were also appointed.
9
But you are a
chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation
, a
people for God’s own
possession , that you may proclaim the
excellencies of Him who has called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light;10 for you once were not
a people , but now you are the
people of God ; you had not
received mercy
, but now you have received
mercy .
“ Baptist insistence on liberty of conscience has
always marked our history. It is based squarely upon the Biblical doctrine
of the priesthood of believers and the revelation of man’s personal
responsibility before God.” Dr. K.H. Good, God’s
Blueprint for a Church, pg 153
A. The Privileges of Believer-Priests
1. The Mediation of Christ; 1st Timothy 2:5,6; 5 For there is one
God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the
testimony borne at the proper time. See Hebrews
4:15,16; 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find
grace to help in time of need. KJV
2. The Sacrifice of Praise; Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us
continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of
lips that give thanks to His name.
3. The Sacrifice of Stewardship
a. Our Persons; Romans 12:1,2; 1 I urge you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a
living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your
spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
b. Our Possessions; Hebrews 13:16 And do not neglect doing
good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
B. The Practice of Believer-Priests Individually
1. By the Illumination of Biblical Truth; 1st John 2:20,21; 20
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because
you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
2. By the Application of Biblical Truth; Philippians 2:13 for it is
God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good
pleasure. See also 3rd John 2-4; 2 Beloved, I pray that in
all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul
prospers. 3 For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness
to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I
have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the
truth. See Galatians 5:1,2; 1 Stand fast
therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not
entangled again with the yoke of bondage 2 Behold, I Paul say unto
you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
C. The Practice of Believer-Priests
Corporately;
Romans 14:1-11;
- Give Place to the Weaker Brother; Vs. 1-3; 1 Now
accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose
of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One man has faith
that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
3 Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not
eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has
accepted him.
- Give Room for Others to Grow; Vs. 4
Who are you to judge the
servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he
will, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
- Give Yourself Occasion to be Fully Convinced; Vs. 5
One man
regards one day above another, another regards every day alike.
Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.
- Give Attention to the fact that You Do Not Live in a Vacuum; Vs.
6-9; 6
He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he
who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who
eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7
For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8
for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord;
therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ died and lived again,
that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
- Give Yourself to be Fully Accountable to God; Vs. 10
But you,
why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your
brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat
of God. 11 For it is written, “As
I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue
shall give praise to God.”
As members of GFBC we have covenanted together not to act in a way that
would genuinely offend the position of the church nor any of its members.
Our unity is centered in Christ and His blessed Word. May He grant us
peace and prosperity in all we do. To God be the glory; great things He
has done!
What about you, my friend?
God has provided the
means for you to be saved, baptized and be a part of His New Testament
Local Church ministry -- He gave His Son to intercede; all we have to do is confess our sin, ask for His forgiveness
and call upon Him to save us from the guilt and penalty of sin.
2nd Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin
on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
If you have never entrusted your life to Him, why not come to Him today
for Salvation. That's the first order of business.
"And
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven
that has been given among men, by which we must be
saved." Acts
4:12
Please contact
us if you sense your need to come to Him. We can help. (Just
click on "contact us.")
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