“you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).

“I’ve always wanted to be somebody,” Lily Tomlin said, “but I see now I should have been more specific.” The Bible has a lot to say about who you are — your new identity in Christ. You are somebody new through Christ’s saving and sanctifying work, and with your new identity comes a new vocation, a work he’s called you to do. If we sit with our saved brethren like a bump on a pew rejoicing in God’s grace, we’ve missed the rest of the story — the ministry God planned for us! You now find your identity in God’s presence, God’s service, and God’s glory. Peter repeatedly uses the word “you” in First Peter 2, hammering home the message that they are now someone new. He describes all Christians collectively as God’s living temple (1 Pet. 2:5), his special nation of people (1 Pet. 2:9), and his holy, royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5,9).

You Are God’s People & His Temple

God made Israel holy so he could dwell among them in the temple. Today, God takes a step closer to His people, eliminating the temple’s walls and making us — his church — the temple. Anyone who “comes to him“— Christ the “cornerstone” — becomes a “living stone” being built up as a “spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:4-5).

You Are God’s Priest

God set apart one Israelite family, the sons of Aaron, to come near His presence and serve in the temple. But in the new covenant, all of God’s people “draw near” (Heb. 10:19ff; James 4:8) as priests (1 Pet. 2:5,9). Peter emphasizes two functions we serve: offering spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet. 2:5) and proclaiming “the excellencies of him who called” us (1 Pet. 2:9).

A priest’s two primary purposes were serving before God on behalf of all the people and standing before the people as representatives of God.

Old Testament priests had many different functions, from judging disputes (Deut. 17:9; 19:17) to blowing the battle trumpets (Num. 10:8; Josh. 6:4; 2 Chron. 13:12). But their two primary purposes were serving before God on behalf of all the people and standing before the people as representatives of God. To stand between God and the people is a heavy responsibility. Here are five ways Christians today serve that same purpose, mirroring the Levitical priests.

1. Administering the sanctuary where God and man meet. In the Old Testament, it included access to the holy things (Num. 4:5), tending the sanctuary lampstand (Exod. 27:21), ministering to God at the table of showbread (Ezek. 44:16), and carrying the ark (Deut. 31:9; Josh. 3:8,15,17). In the New Testament, God’s presence abides with us and within us (1 Pet. 2:4-5, 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19-20). The church worships and lives before God.

2. Teaching the people about the Lord (Ezek. 44:23; Deut. 31:9-13; Mal. 2:1,6-9). As Christ’s disciples, this priestly responsibility is also our job (2 Cor. 5:20, Acts 8:4, 1 Thes. 1:8, Matt. 28:19-20).

3. Modeling a life of exceptional holiness. God wanted Levitical priests to stand “in awe” of him, walking with him “in peace and uprightness” and turning “many from iniquity” (Mal 2:6; cf. Hos. 4:6-9; Lev. 21:1-22:33; Ezek. 22:26; 44:23-24; Lam. 4:13). We, too, strive for “the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14; cf. 1 Pet 1:15, Heb. 10:10).

4. Interceding for people and speaking God’s blessing upon them. Old Testament priests interceded before the Lord and pleaded for mercy upon the people (Joel 2:17). God also commanded them to “bless in the name of the Lord” (Deut. 21:5), putting God’s name upon the people with a word of grace and peace that became the basis of the standard Christian greeting (Num. 6:23-27; cf. 1 Cor. 1:3). The prayers of saints are like the incense from the altar at the veil of the sanctuary, ever offered into God’s presence to please him (Rev. 5:8,10; cf. 1 Tim. 2:1; Rom. 12:14; 1 Pet. 3:9).

5. Offering Sacrifices. This was the daily work of many priests because only they could administer the offerings that let people have forgiveness (Lev. 1:5,8; 2:2; 1 Chron 9:30). Priests in the Old Testament offered animal sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense. The New Testament calls Christians “a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).

Here are seven kinds of spiritual sacrifice specified in the New Testament: 1) Our bodies (Romans 12:1). 2) Our praise (Hebrews 13:15). 3) Our good works and shared possessions (Hebrews 13:16). 4) Our converts (Romans 15:16). 5) Our service (Phil. 2:17). 6) Our financial support of gospel preaching (Phil. 4:18). 7) Our prayers (Revelation 8:3-4).