9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, 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. What Characterizes Royal Priesthood? What Type Of Character Royal Priests Have? What Are Royal Priest' Duties? 1. What Characterizes Royal Priesthood? It's free, unhindered entry to God's Presence. “Come to Him.” (vs 4) For a priest to have an access to the presence of God he had to be appropriately dressed. Christians are royal priests. We go to; the ultimate place, ultimate party and to the ultimate inner circle. Human problem is that; spiritually, emotionally, socially, politically we sense we are outsiders. We sense we are not with the right people, in right places and not at the right parties. We feel pushed out. Our most esential problem in knowing that we are on the outside and that we cant get in is because the door of the Garden of Eden is . What do we typically do as a consequence? We We compensate psychologically. We have to rub shoulders with important people. We must attend important parties. We must be part of an inner circle We compensate Politically What is the solution? Jesus is our and when we accept Him we become . OT shows us that if you were a; foreigner, leper, physically blemished you could not get into the sanctuary. In fact, because you were a sinner you could not get into the sanctuary. David in Ps. 15 posses the question, 'who may dwell in your sanctuary?' Following from there he gives lofty moral standard to be kept in order for someone to get in. But who can ever reach that standard. There was only One. Jesus did it. 1. He went in and cleansed the sanctuary/earth by His blood. 2. Anyone who accepts Him becomes a priest like Him. 3. Now, god looks at you the way He looks at Jesus You are clothed in Christ and you are insider. 2. What is the Character of a Priest? There are two major characteristics of royal priesthood: Spirit of Praise and not of Irritation. Spirit of Repentance and not of Defensiveness 1. Spirit of Praise and Not of Irritation A priest has been so freed of fear for being criticized that he/she loses the criticizing spirit. 2. Spirit of Repentance and Not of Defensiveness So when someone criticizes you you don't get irritated, angry, defensive. You sense you don't have to keep posturing or keep impressing anyone. 3. What is Our Priestly Duty? “… you are holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God thorough Jesus Christ…” (vs. 5) What were the sacrifices in OT? What are the sacrifices in NT? “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Heb. 13:15.16) OT Priests had two major jobs. They were: Advocates Led in Worship