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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Three Separations of the Royal Priesthood
I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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. (Romans 12:1,2)
There actually are two issues presented in the New Testament writings, although they are not emphasized as such, and the terms involved cannot be stressed so as to create a doctrine that holds the two issues apart that we may select one or the other.
It is clear, nevertheless, that there are two issues. It is of practical help to the saint to understand the two issues or he may come short of the Glory of God.
One issue is that of being "saved," of not being cast away from the Presence of God in the Day of the Lord.
The other issue is that of attaining membership in the royal priesthood, of participating in the first resurrection from among the dead.
In order to be saved from Divine wrath we must believe in the Lord Jesus, repent of our ungodly behavior, and be baptized in water.
In order to attain membership in the royal priesthood we must overcome our love for the world, for sin, for all that is of Satan. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow the Lord Jesus every day. We must be crucified with Christ so He may live in us.
The Apostle Paul, toward the end of his life, still was seeking to attain that to which he had been called. Paul was not pressing toward the mark of being saved, of not being cast into the Lake of Fire (Philippians 3:8-12). Paul was seeking to attain the first resurrection, the resurrection of the royal priesthood.
All of us indeed must press diligently into whatever truth is given to us or face the consequences of having neglected our salvation.
There is no doubt that today's standard for being a Christian comes woefully short of the declarations of Scripture. However Paul's "mark" toward which he was pressing so determinedly may be something beyond what we customarily associate with being "saved" (Philippians 3:8-15).
To participate in the parousia, to appear with Christ at His coming, to attain the first resurrection—the resurrection of the royal priesthood (Revelation 20:4-6), to be a king and priest of God, may require far more than merely believing in the Lord Jesus and being baptized in water.
Believing and being baptized in water are sufficient for the obtaining of salvation (Mark 16:16) but they are only the beginning of our entrance into the royal priesthood, only the first step in becoming a member of the Body of Christ.
Being a king and priest of God is not handed to the believer by imputation (ascribed righteousness). Becoming a part of the eternal Tabernacle of God (Revelation 21:3), the new Jerusalem, requires a severe training—a training that numerous believers of our day may not be willing to undergo.
To be continued.