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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Three Separations of the Royal Priesthood, #2
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ before the world began, (II Timothy 1:9)
Let us emphasize that by separating the training of the royal priesthood from the position of being spared destruction in the day of God's wrath, we are not suggesting that one may choose to settle for basic salvation and not press forward to the attaining of glory. God always will judge us in terms of our individual calling.
The members of the royal priesthood were selected before the world was brought into being.
God is not willing that a person, who has been chosen from the creation of the world to be a member of the Body of Christ, decide to believe in Christ, be baptized in water, and then neglect to pursue the heavenly calling that rests on him. To neglect our individual calling is to invite God's anger. We shall be punished for our disobedience. Neglecting to use one's Kingdom talents can result in dismissal to outer darkness (Matthew 25:30). We are "unprofitable" servants at our peril.
The purpose of making a distinction between basic salvation and membership in the royal priesthood is to enable the saint to understand the reason for the seemingly endless dealings of the Lord with him. It may help the believer to realize he is not merely being harassed by the devil while he is waiting to go to Heaven. Rather, he is being separated unto God so he may be able to serve in the role of a king and priest of God.
Do we suppose we will be invited to ascend the most powerful throne of the universe without the most severe, strenuous preparation? Even the Lord Jesus Himself learned obedience through the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).
There are three separations that must be experienced by every member of the royal priesthood, of the Body of Christ:
Separation from the world.
Separation from sin.
Separation from self-rule.
Separation from the World
The saved peoples of the earth will be divided into two groups: one, the members of Israel, of the Body of Christ; and two, the remainder of mankind. During the present era, the Church Age, those who are saved are added to the Church. When the Lord returns there will be multitudes who will be saved into the Kingdom of God but who will not become a part of the Church, the Bride of the Lamb.
The division between the Church and the world began when Abram was called out from Ur of the Chaldees. Abraham's Seed is Christ and all who are members of Christ.
And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. (Genesis 11:31)
To be continued.