Who Are You?

1 Peter 2:9-12

1. A Royal Priesthood

You have open access to God for daily fellowship and communion for all eternity.

a. We Will Serve.

Revelation 1:6 This verse says we are priests TO HIM forever.  

Let’s be clear, God WANTS you to find Him and know Him!  (Jeremiah 29:13) If you and I are serious about discovering what God wants, we must eliminate the barriers of discovery.  But how?  

Re-igniting our love for God which comes by 

• repenting of any unconfessed sin and intentional sinful behavior. 
• Actively seeking Him through prayer and His Word. And…
• DOING what He says.

b. We Will Wage War

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Being a royal priesthood is not a stroll in the park!  We are engaging in battle as soldiers of the Lord. Against what?

We wage war against evil and demolish strongholds with God’s ability. 

How might that look?

We intentionally make EVERY thought obedient to Christ! Why? Because we love Him and our minds are bent toward disobedience.

As we grow to love Him more, We will align our desires with His, which alters our motivation, resulting in transformation, where God is glorified through our lives.

2. A Holy Nation

God is building a new nation of holy people.  

For any person WHO IS WILLING to separate himself from the sin and evil of this world and set his life apart unto God through Jesus Christ – God makes that person a citizen of His holy nation.

This reiterates the fact that it takes more than a verbal agreement, or more than repeating a prayer  – your confession must be coupled with a heart commitment!

What are our responsibilities as a holy nation?

1. We Will Serve – Luke 1:74  says we have been enabled to serve him without fear.   

Serving is our measure of gratitude offered back to Him. 

b. We Will Obey – Isaiah 35:8

Since it is His nation and His kingdom and we have willingly become His citizens, we are privileged to follow His commands. 

As a citizen of a holy nation, God has given us the means to obey Him through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  

c. We Will Be Loyal – If we carry dual citizenship, where does our allegiance lie?  (Revelation 3:16 addresses the idea of dual citizenship.)

Attempting to walk the line between this world and Heaven declares your loyalty to self instead of the Lord. Why are we loyal to the Lord?  Because we LOVE HIM above all!

d. We Will Speak Up.  We are prepared to give an answer for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15).  The purpose? So others may know the love of God.  

Know there is a reason for hope. 

Know there is salvation, peace, mercy and forgiveness in Jesus.

3. A People Belonging to God

God chose you to come to repentance.  No matter what you think about yourself.  No matter what the whispers of this world say about you.  No matter the deep hurt you have experienced.

The value placed upon you, by your Creator, is the life of His Son, Jesus.

4. A People with a Responsibility

1. We Will Declare the praises of Him!  

Don’t forget, we used to NOT be His people, but are now counted as His people!  This is the basis for our love in action.  (Romans 10:14-15)  

b. We Will Abstain

2 Corinthians 7:1 As we understand who we are in Christ, we must distance ourselves from sinful behavior.  Why? 

It wages war internally! 

If we allow the war to rage on after surrender has been declared – we do not fully grasp what happened at the cross and through the resurrection.  Further, we do not take seriously the identity we have in Christ.

c. We Will Live to glorify God in such a way that even the non-believers will glorify God when He returns.  

First, they will hear our testimony because we have been obedient. 

Second, they will see real change because we have been transformed.

When they find themselves on their knees confessing Jesus as Lord, they will come to the realization they have chosen poorly.  Sadly, it will be too late to change their eternal destination.

If you are holding out on becoming a full-fledged, God honoring, citizen of Heaven, let me ask you one question.  

When will you take your last breath here?

Your last breath is your last opportunity repent and confess Jesus as Lord - and you do not know when that will be.  There will be no do-overs. You are either a child of the king on this side of Death or you will NEVER BE.

That is a mistake that has eternal implications.

If we are a Royal Priesthood, then let us serve.

If we are a Holy Nation, then let us obey the laws of our new citizenship.

If we belong to God, then let us live in His provision, security and protection.

Let us be responsible by declaring His praises, abstaining from sinful behavior and living lives that bring glory to God.

If we love God, let’s live for Him!