Please turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Peter 2:5-10. We studied verse 5 this morning, but our text tonight demands we read it again.

1 Peter 2:5-10 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

The Devil Loves To Twist God’s Word

The devil loves to twist words. He started out in the Garden of Eden and, twisting God’s Word, questioned God’s Word. “Has God really said you shall not eat of every fruit of the Garden?” (Genesis 3:1). When Eve replied, Satan said “You will not surely die! God knows the day you eat of this fruit, you will be like Him, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5).

Though Satan did not say the word, he implied his favorite four letter word, tempting Adam to forsake the Kingdom of God. Lucifer loves this four letter word. He uses it frequently when tempting us to sin. The four letter word I’m referring to begins with the letter “F”, and in a short while I’m going to have to say this word – forgive me!

Illustrate: I saw the word used on a commercial just last night. A company called Experian® said they were giving away something, and they used that dreaded “F” word. Are you ready? They said that if you went to their website, they would give you a … here it comes … FREE credit report! That’s what you all thought I was going to say, wasn’t it? That’s the devil’s favorite word. F-R-E-E. Anytime I see the word F-R-E-E I ask myself to mind the fine print, or the other shoe dropping. What Experian® is actually doing is trying to get you to sign up for one of their credit cards. Having been hurt by the credit card business myself, I highly recommend that you DO NOT get a credit card for ANYTHING except an emergency. Credit cards will put you – if you’re not very careful – in a financial hole that will enslave you and your paycheck and your family for a long, long time.

That old serpent was telling Adam, “Go ahead, eat! It’s FREE. There’s no strings attached.” Yet God had told Adam the truth, and there were strings attached. With one bite, our forefather Adam sold all his children – that’s us – into the slavery of sin and death.

Praise God that Jesus came along! Praise God that the Father sent the Son to give Himself for our sins. Praise God that the Holy Spirit comes to the seeking sinner, and causes that person to be born again. Praise God for this!

Salvation is a FREE GIFT from God. I agree with this statement. It is supported by the Scripture. The words “FREE GIFT” are only found together in these texts:

Romans 5:14-18 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Salvation is a FREE GIFT from God. It is purchased by Jesus, delivered by the Holy Spirit, and planned by God the Father. However, we need to be careful that we are defining the word “FREE” as GOD DEFINES “FREE”, and NOT as SATAN DEFINES “FREE”.

When Satan says something is “FREE”, he means,
“absolutely without consequence”

Illustrate: Yet Satan’s “FREE” is often a lie. The other day, I was leaving a discount market and heard that there was a large box of FREE items at the front door. I, like everyone else, loves FREE stuff. So I went out front and, accompanied by a mother and her daughter, went through that box. I found what I expected – junk! But I picked up a few things. I picked up a set of coasters with my “preferred pronouns” on it. My “preferred pronouns” are “He/ Him”. Now, I didn’t need this set of coasters to tell me what my pronouns are. I know what I am. I am what I was born to be, a man. But there are many in our world today who are confused over who they are. We have men who identify as women, women who identify as man, and people of either physical gender that identify as bi-sexual or both. The devil has told them “It’s your choice. You are FREE to choose what you will be sexually. Your body is a canvas – you’re the artist – there is no god – just do it!” So people make decisions because it is “FREE” or “without consequence”.

The young person goes to a party, and someone offers them a “FREE” pill. They are told, “Just try it, it will make you feel so good!”. So they try the “FREE” thing, and then they are enslaved by what they try.

A person feels broken, or out of place as they are. They do not go to God through Jesus Christ to seek healing, but go to a college class, or talk to an elite. “Have you ever tried same sex love? Try it. It’s FREE.” So they try it. And after trying it, the excitement of doing something different gives them a euphoria, and they try it again. Satan gets national advertisements and support from large corporations to endorse this “FREE” love movement. In time the broken still feel broken, more confused than ever. It did not bring perfect happiness, but enslavement to their bodies, enslavement to an unScriptural movement.

The devil’s definition of “FREE” has crept into the Church, and into the Gospel message. For years many preachers have stood up and preached Romans 5:14-18 and said,

“See, salvation is a FREE GIFT. We are told this THREE TIMES in this text. It’s a FREE GIFT, something you cannot earn nor deserve.”

Is this true? Yes. It is a “FREE GIFT”. But what is the GIFT that the Bible talks about in this particular text? Read with me:

Romans 5:17 if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ

In the context where we are exposed to the words “FREE GIFT” we see that this “Free Gift” is two things:

“abundance of grace”
“the gift of righteousness”

This is NOT a “FREE GIFT” to go to Heaven, but a “FREE GIFT” of GRACE and RIGHTEOUSNESS. This text has NOTHING to do with Heaven, and everything to do with HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE. You shall “reign in life by one, Jesus Christ”

Salvation is not a “FREE GIFT” without consequence, but it is a “FREE GIFT” with consequences. It is “FREE” in the sense that you can neither earn it nor deserve it. It is free in the sense of

Titus 3:3-7 For we ourselves also were {at one time} foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Christian is someone who was “{once} foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another”. That’s how you WERE. You were unloving. You were hateful, and hate filled. But then you received the “FREE GIFT” of salvation. This gift was received “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us”. Were there consequences? Absolutely! We read on, “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior”. You are WASHED. You are REGENERATED, that is, “born again”. You are changed from what you WERE, to what you are NOW, a Child of God. And your activities are changed. As Children of God we have an inheritance. We belong to God. We are not as we were, but are changing day by day.

Yes, Salvation Is “Free”, But There Are
Consequences To Being Saved

Though salvation is a “FREE GIFT”, it is free in the sense that you cannot purchase it. But once saved, there are consequences of salvation. Saved, you become a priest unto God.

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Every Christian – male or female – is a part of a “holy priesthood”. When I looked up the word “Priest” in the dictionary, it says

“an ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church having the authority to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments”.

That is man’s definition of “Priest”. But God’s definition is different. If you are saved by faith in Christ, you are a priest unto God. A priest is someone who represents God to man, and man to God. In the Old Testament the “Priests” were supposed to be ALL of the nation of Israel. In Exodus 14 God saved Israel from Egyptian bondage by carrying them through the Red Sea as if on dry land. Israel was saved, and Egypt destroyed.

Salvation Is A Free Gift WITH Consequences

God told Israel in Exodus 19:4-6, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”

God called Israel as a nation to be a “kingdom of priests, and an holy nation”. They were saved with a consequence. Israel told God:

Exodus 19:8 … All that the Lord hath spoken we will do

And yet, Israel did not. While Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God, Israel commissioned Aaron to make a golden calf (see Exodus 32:8-10). God told Moses, “Let Me alone, and I will destroy Israel, and make of you, Moses, a mighty nation” (Exodus 32:10). But Moses – acting like a Priest should act – interceded for Israel and God. Moses asked the Lord not to destroy Israel for the Lord’s sake, lest His glory be diminished (see Exodus 32:11-13). God answered Moses’ prayer, and did not destroy Israel. When Moses came down the mountain he cried out:

Exodus 32:26 … “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.”

Who, then, is the Priest. It is the One Who “is on the Lord’s side”. The Priest is not the person with the funny collar, or the fancy title of “Doctor” or “Father”. The Priest is the one “on the Lord’s side”. We who are Christ’s children by faith are:

1 Peter 2:5 … an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Word Study: The word rendered “holy” is the Greek ἅγιος hágios, {pronounced hag’-ee-os}, which means “to be consecrated, set apart”. If you are saved, you are saved because you called upon the Name of Jesus, and the Holy Ghost came upon you to make you born again. What did Jesus say?

John 3:3, 5 … Except a {person} be born again, {they} cannot see the kingdom of God. … 5 … Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, repenting of your sins and turning solely to Him, He sends the Holy Spirit to your life. You are born again, born into the Family of God. You are made priests unto God. Unlike the Levitical Priests of the Old Covenant (and of the Tribe of Levi), you offer up “spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”.

The Priests Always Offer Up Sacrifices To God

Under the Old Covenant the Levitical Priests offered up animal sacrifices to temporarily cover the sins of the people of Israel (Leviticus 17:11). In Leviticus chapters 1-7 there were five types of offerings:

1. Sin offerings, where blood from the male animal covered unintentional sins against God
3. Burnt offerings, where blood from the male animal was sprinkled on intentional sinners to cover their sins
5. Peace offerings, where a male or female animal was offered in thanksgiving to God
7. Trespass offerings, where a male ram was sacrificed for unintentional sins in fraudulent transactions. Money was also repaid to the victim.
9. Grain offerings, which symbolized gratitude for God’s bounty and blessing

If animals were sacrificed, they were animals that had neither spot nor blemish, the finest of the flock or herd. Impoverished Israelis could offer turtledoves if that was all they could afford. The Priests under the Old Covenant were only males from the Tribe of Levi. The High Priests came from the lineage of Aaron, Moses’ brother. The Old Covenant sacrifices are a shadow of a better Covenant, one in which Jesus Christ is the Centerpiece. You are

1 Peter 2:5 … an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

First, our High Priest is not some earthly person, but it is Jesus Christ Himself. When Abraham returned from battle a mysterious man met him:

Genesis 14:18 … Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God

We are never told who this Melchizedek is in the Old Testament. Yet in the New Testament we are told that Jesus Christ is …

Hebrews 5:10 … Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

As our High Priest, Jesus did not offer turtledoves, rams, sheep, bulls, or grain to cover our sins. Jesus Christ offered HIMSELF. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 7:24-28 this man {Jesus}, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

The Old Covenant High Priest made animal sacrifices, first for himself, then for the people. But Jesus Christ offered Himself, eternal God and sinless Man, for our sins. He is “consecrated for evermore”. As our High Priest Jesus is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens”. The Old Covenant gave us a Law that gave us a High Priest who could fail. But under the New Covenant Jesus Christ is our High Priest. As our High Priest He offered Himself “once, when he offered up himself”. It was ONE AND DONE for Jesus! What does the Bible say?

Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

As Priests, We Live By A Divine “F” Word

1 Peter 2:7-8Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

If you are saved, your lifestyle will show it. You will live so as to honor the Lord Jesus Christ as your High Priest, and to obediently FOLLOW our God. This is clearly taught throughout the Scripture. The consequence of salvation is:

You become a Child of God
You gain the mind of Christ
You seek to follow God

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 … if One died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Jesus died for all so we would not live for ourselves, but for Him. Because we are God’s Children (this is the consequence of salvation) we are Priests, representatives of God to this world. We are under the command:

Romans 6:13 (ESV) Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Romans 6:16 (ESV) Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Romans 6:18 (ESV) {and you} having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Romans 6:19 (ESV) I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

1 Timothy 6:11 (ESV) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

If you are a Child of God by faith in Christ, you are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are not what you were. Beloved, your salvation – though free – has consequences that cannot be escaped.

You now belong to God. You do not belong to Satan, nor do you belong to Sin or this world. You belong to God. “You are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Following Him, We PRAY To God For Ourselves And Others

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

What are the “spiritual sacrifices” we offer up to God as His Priests?

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) Pray without ceasing.

Prayer is one of the things a Priest must do. Though we cannot pray all the time (for that is mentally impossible), we should be in a stage of life where we CAN pray at a moment’s notice. In the Old Testament Temple, incense was burned on an altar (Exodus 30:2) each morning and at twilight (Exodus 30:7-8) as a REGULAR OFFERING to the Lord. This symbolized the prayers of God’s people going up to Him. King David prayed:

Psalm 141:2 (ESV) Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

When John the Revelator looked into Heaven he saw:

Revelation 5:8 … golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

We are to be a PRAYING people, constantly seeking God’s will both for ourselves and others. Jesus told us in Luke 18:1 (ESV) that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart.”

Following Him, We Offer Up PRAISE Unto Our God

We are told in:

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore.

Not just in the good times, but we rejoice in the bad. We who are saved belong to God, not to sickness, nor sin, nor Satan, nor anything or anyone else. We praise Him!

Hebrews 13:15 … Through {Jesus} then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

We praise God for the good times, but we also praise God for the seemingly bad times. Why? Because we know that “all things work together for good to those who love the Lord” (Romans 8:58). All things may not be good, but they “work together for good”.

Though Daniel did not understand why he and his friends were in captivity, he loved and praised God anyway – and was blessed beyond measure.

Though Joseph did not understand why his brothers sold him into slavery, he held on to the great truth that:

Genesis 50:20 As for you {dear brothers}, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive …

Though Job was told by his wife to “curse God and die”(Job 2:9), Job kept his eyes on the Lord. “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive the bad?” God loves us. We are to trust that His love endures no matter what might come our way.

1 Peter 2:9-10 … ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light

Praise Him, Praise Him! Jesus our Blessed Redeemer!

We Who Are Saved Love The “F” Word

We love to follow Jesus!

1 Peter 2:7-10 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Here is where the rubber meets the road. If you believe – that is, have a faith in Christ that saves your soul – then “he is precious”. You value Jesus. You want to hear of Jesus. You desire His Word, and seek to please Him with your life. But look what the Bible says next:

“unto them which be disobedient”

If Jesus means nothing to your life – if you will not follow Him, and do as He says (for Jesus has said “If you love Me, you WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS” (John 14:15; 15:10). The Priest follows the High Priest. The Priest follows God. This “Free Gift” of salvation was given so that “ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”. If you will not follow God, if you will not heed this Scripture we call “The Bible”, if you will not honor Him Who saved you, then dear friend

… you are NOT saved!

Salvation has its consequence. You are called to follow the Lord Jesus. Not this world, not social media, not a group, a denomination, a politician, nor any other thing. You are a believer Priest, and YOU belong to God. May God the Holy Spirit touch your hearts with this His Word! Amen and Amen.