CHRIST HAS DONE A GREAT WORK FOR US

"...and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father." -Revelation 1:6 [KJV]

Christ has done a great work for us. But does He only call us to believe it, and then leave us just as we were, under the dominion of sin, Satan, and the world? No. He not only washes us from our sins, which He hates, in His blood, but He also dignifies our person, which He loves, by His power. Hail Jesus, lavish of strange gifts to man! Thine all the glory; man’s the boundless bliss. O miracle of grace! Christ hath made us kings and priests. 

(1st.) Kings to rule over sin, the world, death, and hell. Sin brought death into the world. Death reigned over all that sinned. “But they who receive abundance of grace, and the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life, by one Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17.) O believer, do not you too often forget your real dignity? Then you do not honour your King of kings. Consider, you are made a king to reign in life. A spiritual life, over all that is earthly, sensual, and devilish. Do you say, how can I reign over sin: who am the subject of sin? but you are not a subject to sin. 

“Sin shall not have dominion over you, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14.) An earthly monarch may have many treacherous and rebellious subjects, who envy him, and would dethrone him: still in spite of all he may keep his throne. So do you over all rebel lusts, and traitorous dispositions. For, Christ is King over you. You reign by His power. You are a king unto God. You reign to His glory. 

(2d.) Priests. The priest under the law, offered gifts and sacrifices according to the law. Under the gospel, we are, “A holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (I Peter 2:5.) Even those of a broken heart and contrite spirit, our bodies and souls, time and talents, prayer and praises, yea to sacrifice our lusts, our sinful selves, our love of the world, our free-will pride, all our carnal reason, and self-righteousness, all and every thing which is contrary to our Lord’s will and glory. 

For as Christ our high-priest has offered Himself to God for us, so we are to offer up ourselves to God by Him. O believer, study more and more your regal dignity, and royal priesthood. Will an earthly monarch so degrade and bemean himself, as to be the companion, and gratify the humours of traitors and rebels? Will any Christian priest sacrifice to heathen idols? O when lusts present, and Satan tempts, consider, Christ hath made me a king to reign over them. When worldly vanities allure, remember, Christ hath made me a priest, to sacrifice them to His honour and glory.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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