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[2408.28 --> 2417.52] neighbors. And sometimes that's going to bring hardship to us as we have to say things like, |
[2418.34 --> 2427.80] this is actually for your good. And that's going to create points of conflict at some times and some |
[2427.80 --> 2434.02] places. And all of you can think of ways that you've experienced that or ways that you might. |
[2435.50 --> 2441.34] And the scripture's response to that, the scripture's encouragement is that even when you have to bring |
[2441.34 --> 2448.82] a challenging and prophetic word, do it with gentleness and respect. Or we are encouraged to |
[2448.82 --> 2454.92] live such good lives among those who don't believe that though they accuse you of doing wrong, |
[2454.92 --> 2459.68] though they think what you're doing is crazy, they see your good deeds and they glorify God. |
[2461.38 --> 2467.88] Right? This is Jesus when he says, pray for those who rule over you, pray for the emperors. |
[2468.48 --> 2471.88] Right? This is Jesus who says, bless those who persecute you. |
[2473.28 --> 2477.32] And this is the identity of the church that's called to be a blessing that we might live at peace |
[2477.32 --> 2482.36] with everyone. This is the words of Jeremiah to the people who were carried away into exile. He says, |
[2482.36 --> 2490.00] seek the peace and prosperity, the well-being of the city that God has carried you into. This is Babylon. |
[2491.64 --> 2497.78] Right? And that theme returns in the New Testament church as they engage in the emperor of Rome and the |
[2497.78 --> 2508.62] Roman Empire, bringing goodness and good news. Right? Being a blessing. And so as Christians who |
[2508.62 --> 2518.24] gather, we must also go in the work of politics and in the work of justice and in the work of mercy. |
[2519.80 --> 2527.68] This is how we are sent to be a blessing. And every one of you can do that in some way. |
[2527.68 --> 2539.10] You can be a blessing to your neighbors if you're in grade 10. You can be a blessing to your co-workers |
[2539.10 --> 2546.04] if you're in engineering. I had to return to that one because I started with that one saying that it |
[2546.04 --> 2554.54] was a secular activity. But that's how all of these activities get lifted up into the sacred task |
[2554.54 --> 2567.26] of our calling. Going is for blessing. Additionally, going is for revealing. And here I'm looking at |
[2568.06 --> 2576.04] Exodus 19. So if you're still in Genesis, the next book of the Bible is Exodus. Exodus 19, |
[2576.04 --> 2583.12] verse 5 and 6, God says to his people, |
[2583.94 --> 2590.68] Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my treasured |
[2590.68 --> 2598.92] possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. |
[2600.36 --> 2602.96] These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. |
[2602.96 --> 2610.70] And so God tells Moses in that moment that his people are to be a kingdom of priests. |
[2613.34 --> 2623.10] That Israel shall fulfill a priestly role as a people in the midst of the peoples. |
[2623.92 --> 2629.30] That is that through Israel, God is represented in the world of nations. |
[2629.30 --> 2636.34] And what priests are for in a people, Israel is to be as a people for the world. |
[2638.18 --> 2640.90] Now because of this, this shaping identity, |
[2641.74 --> 2647.46] I'll make quickly just outline for you three elements of what being a priest means in the Old Testament. |
[2648.74 --> 2653.72] Right? Three aspects that a priest has as part of their role. |
[2653.72 --> 2658.38] First, a priest is set apart in holiness. |
[2660.40 --> 2664.20] And a priest, second, mediates God's presence. |
[2664.60 --> 2667.90] That is, he brings God's presence to the people. |
[2668.14 --> 2674.80] And a priest does all of this, returning to a theme, for the sake of others. |
[2674.80 --> 2681.78] Right? In Israel, God's holy presence is made known through the work of the priest. |
[2682.56 --> 2689.60] The holy life and the behavior of the priest functions as a model of consecration and devotion to God. |
[2690.48 --> 2695.40] Right? Everything about this priest is set apart for God's use. |
[2695.82 --> 2698.52] And that actually is the simplest definition of holiness. |
[2698.52 --> 2702.40] Right? It's to be set apart for God and for his use. |
[2703.76 --> 2707.20] A priest embodies, I might even say incarnates, |
[2707.62 --> 2714.18] a priest incarnates the holiness of God to the people for the people. |
[2715.70 --> 2718.70] And as you go forward, as we read into the New Testament, |
[2719.08 --> 2723.26] we realize again that this isn't about some sort of sacred, secular divide. |
[2723.26 --> 2730.10] Instead, everything and everyone is gathered up into this identity of being priests, |
[2730.30 --> 2733.34] gathered up into this being set apart for God's purposes. |
[2735.02 --> 2740.94] Right? In some way, just as sin has stained everything with its sort of parasitic nature, |
[2741.28 --> 2743.80] right, in the inverse, in the redemption of that, |
[2744.10 --> 2748.68] everything that we do is claimed by the blood of Jesus for the purposes of God. |
[2748.68 --> 2755.46] Now, this idea of the priestly role is actually fleshed out a little bit more in Leviticus. |
[2756.14 --> 2759.60] Leviticus is a book all about the priestly offices and the sacrifices |
[2759.60 --> 2761.66] and the things that needed to be made. |
[2761.80 --> 2766.74] And in chapter 21, which is a chapter about rules for priests, |
[2767.06 --> 2771.72] it says that the people should consider the priests holy |
[2771.72 --> 2777.84] because I, the Lord, am holy, I who make you holy. |
[2779.22 --> 2780.40] And so again, track that, right? |
[2780.60 --> 2784.22] The priest is holy because God is holy and they represent God, |
[2784.32 --> 2787.68] and through them, God makes the people holy. |
[2789.04 --> 2790.90] First of all, wow! |
[2792.56 --> 2793.84] What a responsibility! |
[2794.98 --> 2795.66] What a privilege! |
[2795.66 --> 2804.44] But second, right, that means that everything the priest does is for the people, |
[2804.96 --> 2807.14] for the sake of others, |
[2807.64 --> 2810.76] to make them holy, set apart for God's purposes, |
[2810.92 --> 2812.50] to be God's instrument in the world, |
[2812.58 --> 2816.06] to make more and more set apart for his purposes. |
[2817.84 --> 2820.02] Again, Michael Goheen, he summarizes it. |
[2820.08 --> 2820.34] He says, |
[2820.34 --> 2823.46] Israel, as a priestly nation in the world, |
[2823.82 --> 2826.12] is to be totally devoted to God's service |
[2826.12 --> 2828.26] and to model in its corporate life |
[2828.26 --> 2830.20] allegiance to the true God |
[2830.20 --> 2833.64] and the life of blessing that God means for all. |
[2834.92 --> 2837.30] And again, you're starting to see, right? |
[2837.86 --> 2841.14] This image, this calling, this responsibility |
[2841.14 --> 2844.56] carries forward to the new Israel, |
[2844.72 --> 2845.34] to the church. |
[2845.62 --> 2848.38] That's you and I who believe by grace through faith. |
[2850.34 --> 2854.48] In 1 Peter, we read the exact same language |
[2854.48 --> 2857.46] from what we read here in Exodus 19. |
[2857.86 --> 2859.50] You also, like living stones, |
[2859.62 --> 2861.56] are being built up into a spiritual house |
[2861.56 --> 2863.66] to be a holy priesthood, |
[2864.00 --> 2865.76] offering spiritual sacrifices |
[2865.76 --> 2868.00] acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. |
[2868.54 --> 2870.42] You are a chosen people, |
[2870.56 --> 2871.66] a royal priesthood, |
[2871.70 --> 2872.58] a holy nation, |
[2872.98 --> 2874.32] God's special possession, |
[2874.96 --> 2877.34] that you may declare the praises of him |
[2877.34 --> 2878.72] who called you out of darkness |
[2878.72 --> 2881.52] into his wonderful light. |
[2883.08 --> 2885.44] In fact, as we look even further forward |
[2885.44 --> 2886.78] in the book of Revelation, |
[2886.98 --> 2889.62] which we've gone from Genesis to Revelation |
[2889.62 --> 2891.08] to the end of the Bible, |
[2891.54 --> 2895.44] now Jesus, we read in Revelation 1 verse 6, |
[2895.56 --> 2898.54] Jesus has made us to be a kingdom |
[2898.54 --> 2902.72] and priests to serve his God and Father. |
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