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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Royal Priesthood, #8
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (John 17:6)
The members of the royal priesthood have belonged to God from the beginning of time. God gives them to Christ. The elect keep God's word by following the Lord Jesus.
Notice the distinction between the world and the royal priesthood, those who belong to God in this special manner.
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (John 17:9)
Again, the distinction between the people of the world and those whom God has given to the Lord Jesus.
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:14)
When we truly are living a holy life unto the Lord the people of the world will hate us. We are not to seek the friendship of the world. Whoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)
James, the Jew, was speaking to God's Israel!
The members of the royal priesthood are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Our task is to represent God, to bear witness both of the goodness and the severity of God. We are to inform the world of the soon coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth. We are to announce that God has appointed a day in which He will judge all of mankind by the Man whom He has raised from the dead, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:14)
The world hates them because the Word of God is a rebuke and warning to the people of the world.
The royal priesthood is not a part of the world system, of the secular nations of the earth.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16)
The royal priesthood has been chosen from among the members of the human race and no longer is part of the nations.
We are emphasizing the separation of the royal priesthood because the concept of being a chosen nation has often been offensive to Jews and Christians alike. This distaste is proof of the spirit of rebellion in us.
We prefer to be part of the human race rather than accept the fact that God has drawn us to Himself so we may live a holy life and praise Him continually, at the same time revealing His Person and will to the peoples of the earth.
To be continued.