Lesson 026 Sons of God − A Royal Priesthood

Sons of God − A Royal Priesthood

(Romans 6:1-13; 1Corinthians 6:19; Romans 12:1-2)

The presentation of the glorified resurrected body of Life eternal out from the dead is the begotten Son offered for God that He might be all in all and fulfill that which He purposed in eternity – a kingdom of sons of God, a holy priesthood. 

What is the office of a priest? 

A priest is a mediator between God and man, the intercessor or arbitrator for God on man’s behalf.  The priest is a peacemaker that attends or ministers the spiritual sacrifices pertaining to God. 

What is the significance that the begotten and not the birthed Son is priest? 

The Levitical priesthood was ordained in the tribe of Levi and the Levitical sacrifices could not permanently take away sin; they were temporary in their expiatory power.  The Son of the covenant as priest could not obtain the priesthood while on earth as the birthed son because Jesus was from the tribe of Judah (the kings’ line).  

Are all sons of God part of the royal priesthood? 

No, the priesthood of the Son of the covenant comes out of His death as the begotten Son; the priesthood is collective – it is an assembly of sons of God that has been born again of the incorruptible Seed of the Word of God, the Spirit of Life.  This assembly or body of sons is a priesthood that will become a bride.  

What makes the priesthood holy? 

Consecration for the priesthood is different from sanctification of the priesthood; Aaron and his sons were consecrated as holy, the priesthood of the Son of the covenant born of His Seed is holy (1John 3:9).  This week we will consider what it means to be part of a royal, holy priesthood and answer the five questions we left unanswered last week.  

What does it mean to be a part of the priesthood? 

1Corinthians 12:12-14:  “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:  so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  For the body is not one member, but many.”  

By using the title Christ, Paul emphasizes the office, the work of Christ – the anointed Son of the covenant.  The work of the Anointed One was the establishment of a kingdom of sons of God and a royal priesthood. 

Anointed for ministry by the Spirit, the priesthood represents the Son of the covenant before God and enlightens the eyes of men to their redemption in the offering of the spiritual sacrifice of the Son of the covenant.  The Son of the covenant is our propitiation, justification, sanctification and redemption – the hope of life everlasting. 

Now let’s consider the five questions we left unanswered last week. 

(1)  What does it mean to be given a body to present as a living sacrifice? 

(2)  What is a living sacrifice? 

(3)  How is it possible for a sacrifice to be living? 

(4)  How does one do that? 

(5)  Does the living sacrifice relate to the spiritual sacrifices?  

We will answer our questions in two sections; in part one, we will discuss God’s design of two creations involving two men; and in part two we will discuss the body given, the living sacrifice. 

Part One – The Two Creations

First, what does it mean to be given a body to present a living sacrifice? 

In God’s Eternal Covenant, God’s design involves two men from two creations with sons born to each creation.  God loves the individual personal beings but relates to mankind in terms of a collective whole, in terms of creations.  The birth of the son – from the seed of his father identifies the family − the creation to which the son is subject.  

The First Creation

Mankind has its family ties to one father.  The first creation of sons comes from the first man – Adam.  The first man is of the earth, earthy.  The first man Adam was made a living soul; a soul of spirit life − life eternal.  A soul of spirit life breathed into a body of flesh (Genesis 2:7). 

This first creation, the collective whole of sons of humanity is an assembly of personal beings – souls of spirit life, who take their residence in a natural body of flesh; this creation of sons of humanity is sons in the flesh.  The flesh body that mankind dwells in was not given to him.  Where did the body come from?  The body of flesh is the seed of his father placed in the womb of his mother; that which is born of the flesh is flesh (the flesh reproduces flesh).  The body of flesh − of the earth earthy is the habitat of the personal being of spirit life of an earthly creation.  The body of flesh is a natural body.  The body of flesh is dead because of sin and the personal being (the soul of spirit life) is a transgressor of trespasses and sins.  The creation is dead and perishing. 

The Second Creation

Before the foundation of the world, the Servant of Jehovah (God) offered Himself the lamb slain.  The incorruptible Seed, the Word of God came in the likeness of man that He might take the first creation into death with Him.  In the one offering and sacrifice of the body prepared for Him of the seed of the woman in the likeness of man, God reconciled man to Himself; His body was a living sacrifice unto God. 

On his body, the Son of the covenant in the crucifixion put to death the body of sin and “burnt out” the lawlessness of mankind once for all time and for all eternity. 

The body of the sin – the flesh body of humanity was put to death, and the lawlessness, the pride of man’s self-will, was put away (“burnt out”); the Son of Man offered Himself without spot to God through the Eternal Spirit that He might purge [His sons] from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). 

The second creation of sons comes from the second man, the Lord from heaven − the last Adam.  The second man is a Life-giving spirit.  A soul of spirit Life clothed in the likeness of man – a body of flesh.  The Lord from heaven is Life eternal.  The creation of the sons of the second man comes from His Seed; the second creation comes from the Lord of heaven. 

This second creation is sons of God – personal beings alive unto God in the Spirit; this creation of sons of God is not in the flesh, but [sons] in the spirit (1Corinthians 15, Romans 8). 

John 3:16:  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son [first born Son of God out from the dead], that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

For as many as received (believed) Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God, to them that believe on His name (John 1:12).  Sons of God have by faith germinated the incorruptible word of the Seed planted in the heart; thus, God’s creation of sons is man in His image and after His likeness. 

His priesthood of sons of God is complete as God purposed.  Alive unto God from the dead (the creation of Adam) having received the Life Eternal offered, each member of the priesthood of the Son of the covenant has been clothed with “coats of skin” − given a body – that the body presented might be a living sacrifice.  

The body of a son of God has purpose for God.  The body is a living sacrifice that God uses as a channel to reconcile men unto Himself. 

What body has God given the members of the priesthood?  The body of sons of God is a flesh and bone body of the Life Eternal of the Spirit.  The body comes from the Seed of his Father and identifies the man with the family of the creation in which the son is born.  

Alive unto God from the Seed of the begotten Son, the son of God is identified with the family of God and subject to the creation of which he now is.  Old things have passed away.  The priesthood of the Son of the covenant is born of His Seed (1John 3:9).  Sons of God are not an earthy creation; they are heavenly, a spiritual creation.  They are other than that which they once were − natural.  The body God gives His sons is a body of flesh and bone, a body of Life Eternal, spirit Life, a body of glory. 

The person (spirit being) who has united himself in death with Christ is a new creation of God.  He has received the spirit of Life Eternal (the Seed).  He is now alive unto God, a son of God.  Dwelling in the mortal body or habitat is the Holy Spirit who lives with him (soul of spirit being).  With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the mortal body, the body is sealed for redemption; the sealing of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the redemption of the body (Ephesians 4:30). 

He who is, has done, it is finished; it is done!  Both the being in the body and the body are a creation of God.  In God’s eyes not a stain of guilt, not a spot of contamination remains. 

The Son of His Love has secured for God a sanctified people suited to Himself − His sons are set apart in the will of God and according to His pleasure from everything that they were naturally; such is the effectiveness and such is the result of the death of the Son of His Love.  

Dead in Adam, alive unto God – this is God’s perspective on His accomplished work.  What shall we say then?  

Romans 6:1-2:  “What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” 

God forbid, God forbid, God forbid!!! 

At the heart of the letter to the Romans is the heart of God and the freedom that is in the Son of the covenant. 

In the letter Paul declares that God made Himself known in the luminaries and that no difference exists between the Jews and Gentiles – all have sinned and come short of the glory of God – all are born sons of humanity (Romans 3:23). 

Made safe from the condemnation of death, made secure from the wrath to come and sanctified alive unto God, “how shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2). 

Romans 6:3-5:  “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” 

This newness of life is the true testimony of a new creation, the true testimony of a son of God. 

Romans 6:6-7:  “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  For he that is dead is freed from sin.” 

“Our old man” literally in the Greek reads “the old man of us” and refers to the first creation, and it is crucified.  There is only one old man of all of us.  There is not your old man and my old man; the old man of the first creation is the old man of all of us.  Likewise, there is not my new man and your new man, but the new man of a new creation – the Son of the covenant – Christ Jesus.  Those who believe in Jesus are of his Seed.  

The body of flesh was crucified that the body of sin might be done away with.  The phrase “done away with” means “rendered inoperative or powerless.”  The idea is of a complete termination, end, not a partial or temporary stay. 

Death causes a complete severance – as a new creation, we are completely severed from the creation in Adam; the deliverance from the body of the sin and the lawlessness of the pride of man’s self-will is final.  A son of God cannot be other than he is; likewise, a son of humanity cannot be other than he is.  They are two separate creations.  A son of God is a son of God and a son of humanity a son of humanity.  

For a son of God to conduct his manner of living as though he were a son of humanity is contrary to his being; that manner of behavior, living as a son of humanity, is antagonistic, self-willed, selfish, and self-serving; it is enmity against God. 

Part Two – The Body Given − the Living Sacrifice

The question “What does it mean to present the body a living sacrifice” also involves the questions, “What is a living sacrifice, how is it possible for a sacrifice to be living and how is it done?” 

Before we answer those questions, consider what there is to present to God as living before receiving the spirit of Life eternal for the body. 

Nothing − because the creation of Adam is dead.  Receiving the Life eternal – at the cross is the presentation of the body given as a living sacrifice.  The Spirit of the Life eternal in the body is the new creation that is alive unto God.  

The body given and the presentation of that body as a living sacrifice is the work of God through the Son of the covenant, the apostle and high priest of our faith.  That is how it is possible for a sacrifice to be living and that is “how” one does it; they don’t; God does it all. 

That is Paul’s point in Romans 12:  God has done it all; He has performed, accomplished and finished that which He has purposed − therefore!  All things considered, what is more reasonable than the presentation of the body given by the mercies of God as the ransom or payment of his redemption − a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God. 

Paul begins his beseeching exhortation with the word “therefore.” “Therefore” is the logical conclusion connecting these verses to the entire framework of the previous verses in the letter.  “Therefore” is the sensible, rational and practical end of a new beginning for the son of God in Christ considering all that God has done based on the Son of His covenant. 

Romans 12:1-2:  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, 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.”  

The language of the Greek word “present” is used in the Septuagint when a priest places an offering upon an altar and speaks of a onetime presentation.  “Sacrifice” ordinarily refers to an animal whose blood has been shed in death as the offering. 

“Holy” in this context indicates that the offering is consecrated – dedicated to God and implies that the offering is perfect and without blemish.  “Acceptable” indicates that the offering is right in the eyes of God − that He recognizes and receives it.  Finally, “service” specifically means “divine service,” referring to an act of worship. 

As a son of God, he is a living sacrifice; the apostle and high priest of his confession has made it so.  The son of God is holy; he is perfect – complete without spot or blemish.  As a living sacrifice, he is acceptable in the eyes of God – fit for service. 

In Romans 12:1, 2 the appeal of Paul is not that the son of God should present (requiring action on our part), but rather the exhortation is to remember the presentation (already accomplished).  

The son of God is exhorted to live what he is – live as a son of God.  He is to recognize that the place of his dwelling, his body, is not his own, but God’s.  As a son of God, the body is a temple of God − a sanctuary.  The body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body.  The body is the meeting place to lead God forth.  It is a vessel of honor for the Lord and His purposes. 

The body is the meeting place of worship and therefore it is holy.  The presentation of the body in sacrifice is acknowledged consequently as a one-time presentation.  Thus as a living sacrifice to God his reasonable worship is to be not conformed to the world because there has been the transfer of ownership of the dead body out of the creation of Adam to Life Eternal – God, Spirit Being of Deity. 

For he that is dead is freed from sin.  He is alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11). 

The man of God is to live what he is – a son of God, and as such, he is not to be conformed to the world; he is not to live as a son of humanity, he is other!  As a son of humanity, he was lawless in his manner of being, living for self, minding self, being selfish. 

Now as a son of God, having become the righteousness of God in Christ he is exhorted to be transformed by the renewing of the mind in order to prove what the good and pleasing will of God is.  God has done it all; He accomplished the propitiation, justification, sanctification, redemption and glorification − even the transformation, but the one thing God cannot do is the renewing of the mind for the son of God.  

Transformation is not a behavior change.  So often one sets out to change the behavior, thinking a change of behavior is a transformation of the person.  Transformation of the person will indeed change the behavior, but a behavior change is not a transformation of the person; it is an attempt to transform without the power or ability to do so. 

God has the power of transforming; God also will do the transformation.  The renewing of the mind is a freedom given to the sons of God to mind the things of the Spirit.  The transformation of the person is the result of thinking God’s thoughts after Him. 

By minding God, thinking His thoughts after him, we may “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).  A son of God is free from thinking independently of God.  Accepting this responsibility in submission to Love brings glory to God as His sons; faith “works” by love.  A son of God knows his freedom and joy is in walking with God depending on God (Isaiah 30:21). 

As a priesthood of sons of God – the words of Jesus are spirit and life – life to the very being of our soul (John 6:63).  The words of Jesus are life of spiritual realities understood in the very spirit life of our “being.”  They are spirit and life to see God as He really is; to worship Him in spirit and in truth and not as we see him according to the flesh through our own reasoning of the facts – likening Him to be such a One as we are (John 4:24).  He is other.  We, are now other (1Peter 1:16). 

God has done it; it is finished; it is done and the son of God reckons on that truth! 

Next week we will consider the living sacrifice as it relates to the spiritual sacrifice seen in Romans 8, the law of the Spirit of Life.  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

No Glossary for Sons of God − A Royal Priesthood