Sermon #249 Series: Isaiah

Title: A New Order of Priests

Text: Isaiah 66:21

Readings: Office: Merle Hart Auditorium: Mark Henson

Subject: The Priesthood of the Believer

Date: Sunday Evening - October 20, 1996

Tape # T-1

Introduction:

God’s purpose of grace never was limited to the physical Jewish nation. The Lord God never intended to limit his grace to the natural descendants of Abraham. The Israel of God, the church and kingdom of his elect, covenant people is made up of chosen, redeemed, sanctified sinners out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue. All Israel, all God’s true Israel, shall not be saved until the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in. The reason why he sent blindness to the Jews and cast off the physical nation of Israel was that all Israel (the true, spiritual Israel of God) might be saved.

Romans 11:25-26 "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. (26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob."

The inclusion of the Gentiles in the covenant and purpose of God, though it was never understood by the Jews, was a clearly revealed fact in the Old Testament. There is absolutely no question about the matter. Hear the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of is prophet Isaiah...

Isaiah 66:18-20 "For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. (19) And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. (20) And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD."

We must never allow ourselves to fall for the delusion of Zionism. God’s Zion is his Church. God’s Israel is the whole body of his elect in Christ. All who trust the Lord Jesus Christ are “Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29). That is another sermon. But it lays the foundation for my message tonight. The title of my message is A New Order of Priests. Our text is...

Isaiah 66:21 "And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD."

Proposition: The Lord God here promised, way back in Isaiah’s day, that he would take for himself out of the Gentile nations a new order of priests to serve him not in a temple made of stone, but in that living temple called his church, which is “a habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Dr. Gill says that these priests and Levites represent pastors and deacons in the New Testament church. Though there is no such thing as an ecclesiastical priesthood of men to serve as mediators between God and men in the New Testament, the priests and Levites of the Old Testament were clearly representative of pastors and deacons in gospel churches today.

1. The priests of the Old Testament offered up the blood of slain beasts by which atonement and the forgiveness of sins were ceremonially typified. Pastors and Gospel Preachers today point sinners to Christ, the Lamb of God, by whom sin has been put away. Priests in the Old Testament taught the people the Word of God, the knowledge of the law, as messengers of the LORD of hosts (Mal. 2:7). Pastors today are responsible to preach and teach the Word of God, to proclaim Christ crucified, and to teach sinners the way of life and faith in him.

2. The Levites, who were the priests brethren, ministered to the priests and assisted them in the service of the tabernacle. They were responsible for the tabernacle and temple, and for all the furnishings and vessels of divine service in them. In that sense, they were representative of the deacons of the New Testament Church, who are ordained of God to be helpers and assistants to their pastors, who labor in the work of the gospel ministry. It is the responsibility of deacons to serve the tables of the saints, to look after the secular, financial needs of the congregation and of God’s servants, so that those who preach the gospel may give themselves entirely to the work of the ministry.

However, our the text is not to be limited to pastors and deacons. This is a prophecy concerning the spiritual priesthood of all true believers.

1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

Revelation 1:6 Christ "hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Revelation 5:10 "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."

Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

Divisions: Tonight, I want to show you, to the best of my ability, the honor, privileges, and responsibilities conferred upon us by the grace of God as believer-priests in Christ. Let me raise and answer four questions about the priesthood spoken of in our text.

1. What is this priesthood?

2. How does a person get into this priesthood?

3. Why has God chosen us to be his priests?

4. What lessons should the priests glean from their priesthood?

I. WHAT IS THIS PRIESTHOOD?

I begin here because there is tremendous confusion in the minds of many about the priesthood of the believer. Obviously, the Bible does not allow for, but clearly condemns, the practice of papists and of those Protestants who establish an order of priests, mediators, and intercessors between God and men. Our only Priest, Mediator, and Advocate before God is the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

That man who assumes the title and work of priest and mediator assumes the title and work of God our Savior!

But there is another error concerning this spiritual priesthood that is just as grievous as that of the papists. Many, in the name of the priesthood of believers, declare that since all believers are priests before God then each religious order or denomination, each local church, and each believer has the right to believe, do, and practice whatever they see fit.

Illustration: The Southern Baptists’ Conflicts over Inspiration

And The Ordination of Women

Nothing could be further from the truth! While we must never make any effort to force others by law or social pressure to practice our faith, we must never tolerate or embrace as Christian those who disregard the teachings of Holy Scripture. Though every man has a civil, political right to do so, no one has any right before God to believe and practice what he chooses. The priesthood of the believer is not a priesthood in rebellion to God, but a priesthood in submission to him.

This is God’s promise - "And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD." What a great and glorious promise this is! It is a high honor, great privilege, and tremendous responsibility to be priests and Levites before God.

A. These were men who were set apart from all other people as GOD’S PECULIAR PROPERTY.

When the Lord spared the firstborn of the Israelites on that night when he slew all the firstborn in Egypt, he claimed all the firstborn from that day forward to be his own.

Exodus 13:2 "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine."

Exodus 13:13 "And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem."

The tribe of Levi was specifically selected and appointed to do the service of the tabernacle. The chief among the Levites was the house of Aaron, from whom those priests who ministered in the sanctuary were chosen. Thus, in our text, the Lord God declares that he will take out a people of all nations to be his own peculiar property.

· By Sovereign Election.

· By Particular Redemption.

· By Effectual Calling.

As it was ceremonially in the Old Testament, so it is spiritually today - Priests must be consecrated to God by blood, blood shed for their sins, sprinkled upon the altar, personally applied by grace, and divinely anointed (See Lev. 8:22-30).

B. The priests were OCCUPIED WITH SACRED THINGS.

While others were occupied with their farms, cattle, or commerce, and others were occupied with politics or recreation, the priests were occupied with holy things, the things of the Lord. The priests and Levites were in the courts of the house of the Lord. They served the altar and lived upon God’s special provision. So it is with this new generation and new order of priests. Each one is occupied with sacred things. Believers are priests and Levites, men and women who live...

· For the Glory of God.

· Upon the Provision of God’s Hand.

· And Seek to Do the Will of God.

They are occupied with Christ. They have set their affection upon things above. They live not for the world, but for Christ. With Paul, their testimony is...

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Galatians 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

C. The priests enjoyed the privilege of DRAWING NEAR UNTO GOD.

In the Old Testament, in that dispensation when everything was typical, the other people stood without, at a distance, at the door of the tabernacle, while the priests were busy in the holy place. One of them, the High Priest, was even allowed to enter the into the most holy place once a year with the blood of atonement. There he ministered in the very presence of God himself, in the presence of his manifest glory!

In fulfillment of the type, there is a priesthood chosen of God from among the nations of the world, chosen and given the privilege of drawing nigh unto God by faith in and through the merits of the precious blood of Christ. That same precious blood that is sprinkled upon the mercy-seat is sprinkled upon our consciences, giving us confidence of our pardon and acceptance with the Almighty.

Hebrews 10:19-22 "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

D. These chosen priests and Levites had SPECIFIC, GOD-ORDAINED WORKS TO PERFORM.

They each had something to do toward God and something to do toward men.

1. They had something to do toward God. These men offered sacrifices to God continually, made intercessions for the people. And upon the basis of the sacrifices offered and by the intercessions made, they brought down upon the people the blessings of God. So it is with God’s priests today. We offer to God the sacrifices of prayer and praise. And in answer to the prayers of his people, God sends his blessings upon the sons of men.

2. Another part of the priests work was to speak for God to the people. Speaking by the prophet Malachi, the Lord tells us that it was the duty of the priests to keep up and teach the knowledge of God among the people (Mal. 2:4-7). So it is with God’s priesthood today.

The scribes, who became the copyists of the Scriptures, were the expounders of the law and teachers of the people. These scribes came from the Levites. They represented gospel preachers who, like Ezra, open to the people the Word of God, unfold his promises, and declare his covenant. So, too, each of us in our measure, though not scribes, are priests. As the priests, of God it is our duty to teach the people the things of God...

· By Personal Witness.

· By Tracts, Tapes, Literature.

· By Bringing Them to the House of God.

II. HOW DOES A PERSON GET INTO THIS PRIESTHOOD?

It is a fact that God does take from among the fallen sons of Adam men and women to be priests unto him. But how do any get to be God’s priests?

A. First, let it be understood that NO ONE TAKES IT UPON HIMSELF TO BECOME A PRIEST.

The priesthood is not something you join, but something to which you must be called.

Hebrews 5:4 "And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron."

Be sure you understand this - God’s priesthood is one of his own choosing and his own making. Men have nothing to do with the selection. The Lord says, “I will take of them for priests.” Mother and Daddy cannot bring you up in the priesthood. You cannot decide to join the priesthood. And nothing you do can qualify you for the priesthood.

B. ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A PRIEST.

Our text does not say, “I will look out and find fit men to be my priest.” It says, “I will also take of them (fallen, depraved, dead, vile Gentiles) for my priests, and for Levites, saith the LORD.” Those whom God chose to be his priests, he makes to be priests. Those who God takes for Levites, he makes to be Levites.

1. The only way any of us could ever become priests is through the merits and mediation of Christ, because God would never accept us as priests if we were not perfect before him.

Exodus 19:5-6 "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (6) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."

2. God, by a marvelous transformation of grace, takes those who are naturally most unfit to be his priests and makes them priests.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

Illustrations: Augustine Martin Luther

John Bunyan John Newton

William Huntington Saul of Tarsus

III. WHY HAS GOD CHOSEN US TO BE HIS PRIESTS?

The answer to this question is not hard to find. It is obvious to even the youngest babe in the family of God.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence. (30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

Ephesians 2:7 "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

A. The Lord God has chosen us to be his priests and has made us priest TO DISPLAY IN US HIS INFINITE MERCY, LOVE, AND GRACE.

Our heavenly Father is such a Forgiver that he takes in his poor prodigals and trusts us with the very treasures of his house! Oh, how he forgives! He leaves no back reckonings!

Ephesians 3:8 "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."

2 Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

B. I think the Lord has made such things as we are to be his priests THAT HE MIGHT SHOW IN US THE POWER OF HIS GRACE, TOO.

He makes lions to lie down with his lambs. He makes those who are by nature as poisonous as snakes and as deadly as asps to be harmless among his children.

C. The Lord has chosen us for his priests TO SHOW FORTH HIS GREAT SOVEREIGNTY.

God almighty seems to delight in taking those who are, in the opinions of others, altogether worthless and useless, to make them his priests and Levites. He declares...

Romans 9:16-18 "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. (17) For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. (18) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."

D. The Lord graciously takes the very vilest of sinners to be his priests because HE DELIGHTS TO TRIUMPH OVER SATAN OPENLY.

Spurgeon said, “All heaven rings with rapture when a great sinner is saved; and all hell howls with dismay when one of the arch host bows to kiss the feet of Christ , and receive the mercy of God.”

E. The Lord takes such sinners as we are to be his priests TO ENCOURAGE HIS CHURCH.

When we look at ourselves and our circumstances, we often cry, “Who then can be saved?” We begin to doubt whether God will ever work again until we see him save just one wretch. Then we begin to say, “With God all things are possible. None are beyond the reach of his omnipotent arm.”

F. Again, God takes for his priests and people such things as we are TO ENCOURAGE OTHER SINNERS WITH THE HOPE OF MERCY.

When one leper is healed, others hope to be. When one beggar is fed, others hope to be. When one sinner is pardoned, others hope to be.

IV. WHAT LESSONS SHOULD THE PRIESTS GLEAN FROM THEIR PRIESTHOOD?

Let us, my brothers and sisters, remember where we were and what we were when the Lord saved us by his grace. Then consider what we have been called to be. Then ask yourself this question - What would I become if grace were to leave me? That thought ought to be shocking! This I know, though I am a priest of God, I would become a bigger devil than Eli’s two sons ever imagined, if grace did not prevent it!

A. Let every priest of God watch and pray.

Illustration: Estil Sims

B. God’s grace experienced in our souls ought to fill us with humility.

1 Corinthians 4:7 "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"

C. We who have been forgiven much ought to love much.

D. Our lives ought to constantly overflow with thankfulness, gratitude, joy, and praise to God our Savior!

E. We who are God’s priests and God’s Levites ought to be filled with confidence toward him.

Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

1. He has not done all this for us to forsake us now.

2. He will continue his works for us and in us until he has made us perfect.

Application:

Let us now, who are the priests of God, as the priests of God, consecrate ourselves to our God in the entirety of our beings, as Aaron and his sons did in the camp of Israel.

Leviticus 8:23 "And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot."

Romans 12:1-2 "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. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."