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The Spiritual House: Building a Holy Priesthood

Explore the concept of the spiritual house as described in 1 Peter and Ephesians. Learn how believers are living stones, being built into a holy priesthood, and offering spiritual sacrifices to God.

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The Spiritual House: Building a Holy Priesthood

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  1. Session 4: The House Today

  2. A spiritual house “having been born again…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious… …Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 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.” 1 Peter 1:23; 2:2-5

  3. A spiritual house Peter wrote in his 1st epistle to disciples in various regions. He described how they had first been born again… …then how, as disciples, they had come to Christ to be built into God’s spiritual house. This house (of people) constituted a holy priesthood - to offer up spiritual sacrifices of worship to God. 

  4. Corner-stone...foundation...stones • “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, • having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” “you also, as living stones” Ephesians 2:19-20; 1 Peter 2:5

  5. Corner-stone...foundation...stones Solomon’s temple was constructed of physical (dead) stones; this spiritual house is constructed of spiritual (living) stones -made alive by God. Christ has been laid by God as its corner-stone, on His ascension to heaven. The apostles & New Testament prophets laid the foundation teaching of Christ on earth; those who responded to it continued to be built into the house. 

  6. Two Descriptions of the House A Temple “You are a temple of God “We are the temple of the living God” A Structure ”You…are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22

  7. Two Descriptions of the House Two metaphors are used for the house of God - a place to live & a structure. It is called a “temple” - a place where God dwells; it is therefore holy. It is described as being built up by living stones (1 Peter 2:5) on a foundation (Christ in heaven). The church in Ephesus was told by Paul they were part of it, a habitation of God in the person of the Holy Spirit. 

  8. A kingdom of priests • “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession” “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6

  9. A kingdom of priests • Those in the house were: • a “holy priesthood” (offering service to God alone) • a “royal priesthood” (proclaiming Him to others). • “Royal priesthood” is equivalent to “kingdom of priests” (compare Israel at Sinai - Ex.19:6). • Those disciples who unitedly adhered to the apostles’ teaching were the kingdom of God on earth, and were God’s house on earth.

  10. A holy priesthood “Bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me” “Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near” Aaron Exodus 28:1; Hebrews 10:21

  11. A holy priesthood In Israel, Aaron was the first high priest; he represented the people before God; without him the people could not have approached God. Christ is our high priest in heaven, and enables us as God’s people to approach God. 

  12. Christ - our high priest • “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.” “Every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God…no one takes the honor to himself… He…said to him “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 8:3;5:1-6

  13. Christ - our high priest Christ had to be a man to be a high priest to God for men and women. He was appointed permanently by God after His work on earth; He will never be replaced. He takes the offerings of the holy priesthood and presents them to His God and Father. He makes them acceptable.

  14. Our access to the holies • “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, • let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” Hebrews 10:19-22

  15. Our access to the holies Christ is in the presence of God, in His resurrected body (“His flesh”). He has gone in as our fore-runner, for us to follow. Because of His sacrifice for our sins (“His blood”), there is no longer any barrier to our entrance there in spirit.  He is there as our high priest, as a minister of the true sanctuary. Through Him we as God’s people now have access in our worship.

  16. Reaching for the Summit Session 4: The House of God Today

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