CHAPTER ONE

THE INITIAL STEP
IN FULFILLING THE MINISTRY
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT PRIESTS
OF THE GOSPEL

Scripture Reading: Matt. 3:1-6; 1 Tim. 1:16; 1 Pet. 2:9; Rom. 15:16; 12:1; Col. 1:28-29; 1 Pet. 2:5; Luke 10:1-6; John 15:16

OUTLINE

1. The turn from the Old Testament priestly service to the New Testament priestly service:
   1. Beginning with John the Baptist:
      1. Although he can be considered the last priest of the Old Testament, he rejected that service and turned to another service—Matt. 3:1-4.
      2. He turned to become the first priest of the gospel in the New Testament:
         1. Not offering bulls and goats as sacrifices.
         2. But offering as sacrifices the sinners gained through his preaching of the baptism of repentance—vv. 5-6.
   2. With the gospel-preaching apostles as a pattern—1 Tim. 1:16:
      1. Preaching the gospel extensively to save people and offer them to God as sacrifices—1 Pet. 2:9; Rom. 15:16.
      2. Leading the saints under their care to present themselves to God as living sacrifices—12:1.
      3. In all wisdom, presenting the saints full-grown in Christ to God—Col. 1:28-29.
2. The initial step for the believers to minister as the New Testament priests of the gospel:
   1. Being the universal priesthood, not the priesthood of a few people—1 Pet. 2:5.
   2. Visiting people for the preaching of the gospel to save sinners and offer them as sacrifices to God according to God’s ordination—Luke 10:1-6.
   3. To thus personally visit people for the preaching of the gospel being to go forth and bear fruit according to God’s appointing—John 15:16.