From Ben Fronczek... Becoming a Temple and a Priest

Becoming a Temple and a Priest

I Peter 2:4-10  Becoming a Temple and a Priest

I believe that one of the greatest buildings ever built was the Temple of Solomon which was built about 2000 years ago. In the past I had an opportunity to teach a class of teenagers in the Saratoga Church. Rather than just lecturing them, I gave them a hands on project where I had them erect a scaled down model of Solomon’s Temple. For every cubit in length and width we scaled it down to a centimeter. We duplicated the Tempe and it furnishing as best as we could using Styrofoam, clay, gold foil and even some doll house parts purchased from A.C. Moore. It was an amazing project which they took a lot of pride in constructing. And after they completed the building I had them look up the NT symbolism of those OT objects and present a short lesson to the adults.

Even today it’s hard to comprehend the magnificence of that temple. With all its fame you would think that it was huge structure but in all reality it was not. The Temple itself was only about 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and about 45 feet high. But when you read about its construction you can’t help but wonder about how magnificent it was. We read that it took more than a 154,000 men seven and half years to build. Most of those men were those who cut each stone perfectly to size in the quarry and then transported them to Jerusalem. But there were also many craftsmen, carpenters, metal smiths and artisans that decorated the structure ornately with gold, silver, bronze, cedar, & more.

I did a little figuring to come up with labor costs for just the stone workers. If you used today’s minimum wage as a reference, (this is not including the skilled artisans) labor cost would be close to 2 billion dollars. But that is a drop in the bucket when you consider how much gold and silver was used to decorate this structure. The Bible tells us that they used about 120 million oz. of Gold and about 1.2 billion oz. of silver. By today’s standards we are talking about $226 billion worth of gold and silver not including all the other precious metals and jewels used in this Temple’s construction.

Only the best was used in building God’s Temple. And after the priest brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy place, God’s presence, the Shakinah Glory of God came down and set above the Mercy seat in the Holy of Holies.  (2 Chron. 5:13-14)

Then Solomon offered up a prayer of dedication on behalf of the Jewish nation. He also offered up so many animal sacrifices the altar was not big enough to accommodate all of them so a temporary altar area had to be prepared in front of the Temple for the burnt offering.

The Bible says that Solomon offered up 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats as fellowship offerings that day and it must have blew their minds when the Lord sent fire down from heaven and consumed those offerings. Then the Glory of God filled the Temple and no one could go inside it.

This was probably the pinnacle, or highest point in all Judaism’s history. The people celebrated and marveled at not only Solomon and the Temple, and Glory of God that consuming those Sacrifices, they also probably felt a patriotism to their nation and their religion like never before.

The priesthood dated back to the time of Moses when God instructed Moses to consecrate his brother Aaron as the first High Priest and his sons to be the first regular priests to serve the people at the Tabernacle. (Exodus 28)

As exciting and glorious as all that was back then, those things; the Temple, the furnishings in the Temple, the Sacrifices, the High Priest and the regular priesthood, they were all shadows of things and people that would come later.

And today we will see that Peter talks about theses very things in his first letter to the early Christians in 1 Peter 2.

Now if you remember from previous lessons that Peter was writing to Christians who needed encouragement because life had become very difficult for them.  What makes Peter’s letter so practical and helpful is the fact that his words are encouraging for all Christians, including us today. As you know each generation has its own problems, trials, and hardships.  I know that some of you today are frustrated, discourages, and just plain tired of dealing with this life and the problems that come along with it.

In light of that listen to what the Apostle Peter wrote in his letter. 

Read 2:4-10 “

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by men but chosen by God   and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built   into a spiritual house   to be a holy priesthood,   offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁶ For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion,     a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  ⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected     has become the capstone,” ⁸ and,

“A stone that causes men to stumble     and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

⁹ But you are a chosen people,   a royal priesthood,   a holy nation,   a people belonging to God,   that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;  once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

There’s a story about a king of Sparta in ancient Greece who boasted to a visiting monarch about the mighty walls of Sparta. But the guest looked around and didn’t see any walls, and finally he said to his host, “I’d like to see those walls. Show them to me!” The Spartan ruler pointed with great satisfaction to some disciplined and well-trained troops, part of Sparta’s mighty army, and exclaimed, “There they are! Those are the walls of Sparta!”

Just as each Spartan soldier was viewed by the king as a brick in his mighty wall, so we are viewed by God as “living stones.. the very building blocks that make up His new Temple  We are God’s true temple, not built with quarried stones and cedar like Solomon’s Temple.  Rather that was a shadow of what God had planned all along. A temple not made with the hands of men but by God Himself.

God now resides in and among His people. And together Peter tells us that we can and should bring more Glory to His name than Solomon’s Temple ever did. And not only that, as Christians we have become God’s new holy priesthood. Not cleansed and made pure by the blood of animals like those early Jewish Priests, rather cleansed by the blood of Jesus, God’s one and only Son.

Solomon’s Temple, and that Jewish Priesthood of old were only a shadow of what was meant to be. We are now the foreordained Temple that God really wanted. And I believe this is more precious and precious to God than all the gold, silver and jewels of Solomon’s time. Jesus is ultimate High Priest as well as the only perfect sacrifice for our sin.  We are now members of God’s Holy Priesthood. And Peter said in verse 5 & 9 that we are a holy Priesthood that is meant to offer up spiritual sacrifices and verse 9 says that we  

“.. are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

The NLT put it this way, 

“You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.”

You and I are now priests of God. Back in the Old  Testament, a priest was a very special person.

- They were  not only to serve as “go-betweens” for men and God, they also had a the     

 responsibility to evangelize the world of their time.

 -  They led in worship and taught from the Scriptures

-  They wore special robes that distinguished them from other worshippers

-  Only they could handle the holy things of God (incense, sacrifices, the    furniture of the tabernacle – anything related to worship)

- They had a distinctive initiation before entering their office

- They had to be anointed as marks of their office (ex. 29)

-  And not just everyone could become a Priest – you had to born of the tribe of Levi

AND now, Peter tells us that we are a “holy priesthood”  in vs. 5, and part of a “royal priesthood” in vs. 9.  (If you are a Christian you are a Priest!)

The Apostle John also wrote in Revelation: Jesus 

“… has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father…” (Revelation 1:6)

So, how have we become like the Old Testament priests?

- We have been born of the line of Jesus – The True and Perfect High priest.

- And we were set apart for priestly service when we were saved. Just like the Priests of old we were washed with water and anointed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2)

- And just like those priests we have put on a new garment. Galatians 3:27 tells us “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

And now because we are priests of God, we have a right to handle the holy things of God.
We have the privilege of coming before God in prayer
We have the right to baptize others into Christ
We have the responsibility of knowing and teaching the Word of God
AND we have no need for anyone other than Jesus to intercede for us before God

What about theses spiritual sacrifices that we are to offer up? What is He talking about there?  

Here are FOUR SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES mentioned in Scripture:

#1. We should offer up our Bodies as a living Sacrifice. Romans 12:1 says,.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.”

• Will you use your body for doing what is right, or what is wrong?
• Its about making daily choices – will I use my hand to hit and hurt someone, or to heal and help?

#2.  In Hebrews 13:15 it says to OFFER SACRIFICES OF PRAISE:

“Through Jesus,  therefore,  let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15).

#3 & #4. And here’s two more in Hebrews 13:16; it says. 

^16″ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”                                                                                  

• Doing Good and Sharing with others are also seen as  the kind of sacrifices that please God.

Whether you realize it or not, in God eyes you are very special, you hold a very high and privileged position in His kingdom.  Peter wrote those word long ago to encourage those Christian who were struggling and probably down, who needed encouragement. Closing: Maybe it was a hard week for you. Maybe you feel tired, or depressed, lonely, or just feel like giving up like I would imaging those people did back then when Peter wrote to them. Over and over Peter reminds us today how precious we in God’s sight. Earlier in his letter he told us that we have a Heavenly Father who is watching over us and because of His great love He has shown us mercy and grace by sending His son Jesus.

He has also given us a new birth into a eternal life set aside for us in heaven. And here in our reading today he tells us how He views us and reminds us of our position and role in His sight; and that is you are part of God’s Holy Temple and you are a priesthood made pure by the blood His Son Jesus

I would like to close with the following reading: Hebrews 10:19-25

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵ Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Gary... A double- "double take"

Some time ago, brother Walter Vogt gave me this picture.  I liked it the moment I spied it and some months later, I find I like it even more!!!  I look through a lot of pictures to find just the "right one", but in all the hundreds I look through, this is the only one like this.  This effect is caused by not advancing the film and taking two pictures on the same frame.  Neet, isn't it?  Then, I wondered- Are there any double takes in the Scriptures?  Then, I found the following...

2 Kings, Chapter 18

1 After many days, Yahweh’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.” 

  2  Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.  3 Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly:  4 for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)  5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.” 

  6  So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.  7 As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” 

  8  He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’” 

  9  He said, “Wherein have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?  10 As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they didn’t find you.  11 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’  12 It will happen, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared Yahweh from my youth.  13 Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred men of Yahweh’s prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?  14 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”;’ and he will kill me.” 

  15  Elijah said, “As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”  16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” 
  18  He answered, “I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and you have followed the Baals.  19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

 Both Obadiah and Ahab could hardly believe their eyes when they saw the prophet Elijah.  One called him lord and the other, well- a "troubler".  The difference was how they felt about the Almighty and those who represented him.  Question: When someone shares the Word of God with us, how do we respond- positively or negatively?  Not just with the person who shares the message, but with the message itself?  We are all surprised at times, but if in the process, we realize where our heart is, it just might change it for the good.  If we learn, fine, if not- well, we might need a stronger lesson.  Want to see how the Elijah's challenge (vs. 19 above) turned out... see the rest of the chapter in your own Bible?  Guaranteed, you will become bullish for God!!!

From Mark Copeland.... What Is Our Hope, Glory, And Joy? (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20)

               "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

              What Is Our Hope, Glory, And Joy? (2:17-20)

INTRODUCTION

1. Soon after the church at Thessalonica was started, Paul was forced
   to leave...
   a. Unbelieving Jews had created problems for some of the members 
      - cf. Ac 17:5-9
   b. Paul and Silas had to be sent away by night - Ac 17:10

2. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul reflects upon their abrupt
   departure...
   a. How it created an eager desire to see them again - 1Th 2:17
   b. How Satan had hindered them from fulfilling that desire - 1 Th 2:18
   c. Prompting him to ask the question:  "For what is our hope, or 
      joy, or crown of rejoicing?" - 1Th 2:19

3. We do well to ask ourselves the same question...
   a. What is our hope?  For what do we long with desire and 
      expectation?
   b. What is our joy?  What gives us true happiness and satisfaction?
   c. What is our crown of rejoicing?  What provides the highest degree
      of joy in our lives?
   -- Is our answer the same as Paul's?  Should it be?

[As we consider what our answer should be, let's examine more closely
our text and the answer Paul gave...]

I. PAUL'S HOPE, GLORY, AND JOY

   A. WE READ OF HIS DESIRE TO SEE THEM...
      1. He had been "taken away" from them - 1Th 2:17
         a. He is referring to his necessary departure - Ac 17:10
         b. He uses a word that implies a painful bereavement, like a 
            child taken away from his or her parents (Barnes)
      2. He had been away from their presence only "a short time" 
         - 1Th 2:17
         a. Exactly how long, we do not know
         b. Probably no more than a year, if not months
      3. He "endeavored more eagerly" to see them "with great desire" 
         - 1Th 2:17
         a. Note the repeated emphasis of his longing to see them
         b. His desire likely heightened by the manner in which he had
            to leave them

   B. WE LEARN WHAT PREVENTED HIM...
      1. He wanted to come to them "time and again" - 1Th 2:18
         a. Either from Berea or Athens
         b. But he was hindered 
      2. It was Satan who hindered him - 1Th 2:18
         a. He attributes the persecution by his fellow Jews to Satan
            1) It was the unbelieving Jews who were hounding him
            2) They were following him from place to place - Ac 17:5,13; cf. Ac 14:19
            3) They were possibly his "thorn in the flesh", "the 
               messenger of Satan" alluded to in another epistle - cf.
               2Co 12:7-10
         b. Satan was the ultimate source behind the persecution 
            suffered by the early church - cf. 1Pe 5:8-9; Re 2:10

   C. WE DISCOVER PAUL'S HOPE, GLORY, AND JOY...
      1. The Thessalonians were Paul's "hope", because he hoped to see
         them at the coming of the Lord - 1Th 2:19
      2. They were his "joy" or "crown of rejoicing", in anticipation
         of seeing them in the presence of Jesus - 1Th 2:19
      3. They were his "glory" and "joy" - not just in the future, but
         in the present as well - 1Th 2:20 ("you are our glory and 
         joy")

[Paul's hope, glory, and joy were his brethren in Christ, especially
those he had taught and brought to the Lord.  Not just the
Thessalonians, but others as well (cf. Php 4:1).  

And it works both ways:  At the coming of Christ, Paul would be the
source of joy for those he taught (cf. 2Co 1:14).  Now let's consider
what ought to be...]

II. OUR HOPE, GLORY, AND JOY

   A. FOR SOME CHRISTIANS, IT MAY BE...
      1. Their possessions
         a. Their hope is in the acquisition of material things
         b. Their glory (pride) is in what they have obtained
         c. Their joy (happiness) is in the pleasure such things give 
            them
         -- But such things are perishable and susceptible to theft, 
            they draw us away from God; therefore it is folly to have 
            them as our hope, glory and joy - cf. Mt 6:19-21,24; 1Jn 2:15-17
      2. Their jobs
         a. Their hope is in the advancement of their careers
         b. The glory (pride) is in how far they have come
         c. Their joy (happiness) is in the money, power, or prestige 
            they have obtained
         -- But our jobs and all that they bring can be fleeting 
            (especially in today's job market, with frequent downsizing
            and lack of company loyalty to employees); they shall one 
            day come to nought - cf. 2Pe 3:10
      3. Their families
         a. Their hope is what their families may become
         b. Their glory (pride) is what their families have become
         c. Their joy (happiness) is in the relationship they enjoy 
            with their families
         -- While certainly more noble (and rewarding) than possessions 
            or jobs, even our families are limited in the joys and 
            glory they can bring; death ends our relationship as 
            family, and if they are not Christians, what does that do 
            for our hope?  Cf. Mt 10:37; 12:46-50

   B. FOR ALL CHRISTIANS, WHAT IT SHOULD BE...
      1. Our hope should be to see each other in heaven!
         a. To see each other with Jesus in the presence of the Lord at 
            His coming
         b. What a wonderful occasion, what a glorious reunion!
      2. Our glory should be seeing each other in the presence of the 
         Lord!
         a. Serving the Lord faithfully now
         b. Being glorified together with Jesus when He comes - cf. 
            2Th 1:10-12
      3. Our joy should be the happiness coming from our working 
         together in the Lord!
         a. The joy experienced by John when he saw others walking in 
            the truth - 2Jn 4; 3Jn 3-4
         b. The joy Paul experienced when told of the faithfulness of 
            the Thessalonians - 1Th 3:6-9

CONCLUSION

1. Our hope, glory, and joy should be in that which is eternal...
   a. Otherwise we are setting ourselves up for eventual disappointment
   b. Our possessions, jobs, even families cannot provide true hope,
      glory and joy
      1) At best, what they offer is temporary
      2) At worst, they provide much disappointment, and draw us away 
         from God

2. Since much of our hope, glory, and joy, both now and in eternity, is
   through our brethren... 
   a. It is important that we nurture and strengthen our relationships
   b. It is imperative that we seek to bring others to Christ, 
      including those in our physical families
   -- Such effort not only brings us closer to each other, but to God,
      and produces that which lasts for eternity!

And then we shall truly be able to say to each other, "For you are our
glory and joy."  Can we say that now...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... Written on the heart means what?

Written on the heart means what?

It's often said that the difference between the New covenant and the Old is that the Old was written on stone tablets and that the New is written on human hearts. That'll hardly do! Was the Mosaic covenant written only on stones or was it written on human hearts also? The notion of words written on stone slabs seems simple enough. There are the stone tables and there are the letters carved out on them. Was the Mosaic covenant such that it could never be other than words written on stone slabs? On the occasion of restoring the 10 commandments God says this in Deuteronomy 11:18, "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…" (see 10:16 and 11:13). This appears to say the words on the stone could be recorded on their hearts. The psalmist (37:30-31) was sure this was true of a righteous man, "The law of his God is in his heart" and in fact one psalmist thought the law of God was in his own heart (40:8). In Isaiah 51:7 God speaks to those among his people "who have my law in your hearts."

The image of people having words written on their hearts was so commonplace that it was a part of proverbial speech. Proverbs 3:3 urges the son to keep love and faithfulness always present and "write them on the tablet of your heart." The same is said of the teaching of the teacher in 7:3 so having something written on the heart was a common experience, however "mysterious" such things always are. So when Jeremiah (31:33) mentions this as part of the future blessing in the days of a new covenant he hasn't said anything new in using the expression.

The promise that God would write his laws on the hearts under the new covenant is no new thing either. The ancients knew very well who it was that worked good things in the hearts of sinners. David begged, "Create in me a clean heart, O God" (Psalm 51:10). Another (86:11) pleaded, "Unite my heart to fear thy name." Another begged (119:36), "Turn my heart toward your statutes." He insists that he will run (not walk) in the paths of God commandments when God has enlarged or set his heart free (119:32). In fact, when Israel proved herself to be a rebellious nation Moses saw their self-chosen condition as the absence of God's blessing. Here's how he puts it in Deuteronomy 29:4, "But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind [heart] that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear." But see Deuteronomy 5:28-29, which makes it clear that Israel is answerable.

We often hear that the difference between the Old Covenant and New is that God didn't give Israel the heart to keep the Old Covenant but that he does give the NT church the Spirit so they can keep the New Covenant. This won't do. As we can see from the texts above, God's blessing of a heart that loves and keeps his commandments is no exclusive eschatological gift confined to the New Covenant arrangement. It has always been and will remain true that the gifts of God are precisely that—gifts, that people can refuse.

We know that God hardens the heart and we also know that the sinner hardens his own heart. We know that God writes his laws on our hearts and we also know that we write his laws on our hearts. Ezekiel 18:30-31 says this: "Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get ["make"] a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?" God here insists that they get [make] a new heart but he also insists that he is the one that gives a new heart and spirit (11:19-21 and 36:26-27). In 11:17-20 God speaks of the restoration of his people and their obedience from the heart that he generates in them but we need to note 11:21 which shows that some in the restored people don't offer the new heart response. This should make us careful in our use of texts because on the surface it looks like everyone who is restored from captivity is given the new heart, which isn't true, as 11:21 shows. We need to recognize "community" language and take it seriously.

So what does it mean to have something "written on the heart"? It surely means that what might have been external to begin with has been internalized and become part of the inner structure of the person. It means we have "taken it to heart." There's nothing especially difficult about the expression. If something is done from the heart it means that that behavior expresses the inner structure of the one doing it. It isn't mere conformity to some external requirement. If something is written on the heart it means that wherever else it is written it has become part of the person on whose heart it is written. See this from a negative angle in Jeremiah 17:1 where Judah's sin is said to be written on the tablets of their heart. Jeremiah 24:7 and 32:39 give God the credit for the good heart that "takes to heart" what he has to offer. The expression "tables of the heart" suggests what had been merely external is now internalized; that is, in contrast to what was written on some other tables (stone or whatever).

We hear of Gentiles who had the torah's requirements "written on their hearts" (Romans 2:15). They didn't have the torah codified and external to them in the way Israel did, but their lives showed they had the torah internally. It's a bit of a stretch to think that Gentiles who didn't have the torah delivered to them could have the torah's requirements written on their hearts while the Jews to whom the torah was revealed couldn't have them written on their hearts. That doesn't make sense. While the tables of stone were in the Ark of the Covenant there were many in Israel that had the covenant written on their hearts. There was nothing about the Mosaic covenant that meant it couldn't be written there.

So what about Paul's comments in 2 Corinthians 3 where he contrasts the Mosaic covenant with the New covenant, saying that one was written on stone and the other on hearts? SEE

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.