Seeking Jesus First - Feb. 14, 2023

One major difference between the old and new covenant is the priesthood. Jesus became the highest priest of the new covenant. And wonder of wonders, He made all who believe in Him into priests of His new covenant. There is no longer just one tribe who serves, one family to minister, or one man who can enter the holiest of holy places…

“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:5–10, NKJV)

Christ Jesus was not a Levite so He did not operate as a priest according to the law. He could not. But as God’s chosen holy sacrifice, He could serve as the fulfillment of the law; and His blood could give us a new and living covenant.

It was God’s intention all along to have relationship with everyone who wanted to. He never wanted to put another man between you and Himself. He always wanted each of us to act as our own priest who who serves, ministers and enters the holiest of holy places. Yes, Jesus is our high priest, but He ripped up the veil/curtain that separated people from the Presence of God.

I am not The Body of Christ. We are The Body of Christ. Like you, I am now a precious member of the body of Christ. My body has been made a temple of Holy Spirit and I have a specific purpose in the body. We each have a specific purpose in the body of Christ. And we are all priests unto God in this covenant that Jesus instituted for us.

• You are all living stones being built into a spiritual house.
• You are all a holy priesthood who offers up acceptable spiritual sacrifices through Christ Jesus.
• You are a chosen people and a holy priesthood.
• You are made into a holy nation of very special people who proclaim the praises of God.
• You are translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the marvelous light kingdom of God’s Dear Son.
• You are now God’s own possession and people.
• You are now a partaker in the mercy of God.

One thing that we sometimes overlook in that statement is the word holy. We are a holy priesthood. God has made us holy by declaring His word of truth over us. He has sanctified us as His own people and priesthood. He has made us holy. We are holy. Now, we can accept this holiness or reject it. We can believe it and receive it or we can say, “When I die, I’ll be holy.” This is not what God has in mind for us. He did not want for us to to wait until we get to heaven to experience His holiness. He gave us the spirit of holiness. He gave us His Holy Spirit whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.”

We may not feel holy, but we are. We may not look holy, but we are. We may reject holiness altogether while we live on this earth, but if we have put our faith in Christ, holiness lives in us. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. If God says we are holy, we are holy. And God has done everything that He needed to do to call us holy.

So let’s just believe it and receive it and let holiness permeate our spirit and soul and body. One of my favorite verses is, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NKJV)

If you believe that God has made you holy, you can be holy as He is holy. If you believe that God has made you righteous, you can be and live righteously by faith. If you don’t believe it, you can’t do it. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Believe God. You are holy and righteous. You are a holy priesthood. Jesus is the high priest of your confession. You are holy like the one who made you holy (See Heb. 2:11)

“Our Father, I humble myself and believe what You say about me. Sometimes I find it hard to believe, but You do not lie. You cannot lie. You declared word creates in me everything that Your word desires me to be. I believe it and I receive it. I am holy and righteous because of Your word and because of my faith in Your word.”