Scripture: Exodus 19:1-6 | John 14:15-17
I. You are saved to be God’s treasured possession.
A. In Exodus 19 God reminds Israel that he had already saved them in the past. Notice the tense of vs. 4. It is the past tense: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians.” Israel was to obey God’s Law after they were saved so that they might enjoy the benefits and privileges of God’s people. God sees not just Israel but you in the church as His treasured possession.
B. Peter writes to the church in 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” When God looks at the church, He sees a treasure! He sees royal property. Isn’t that incredible? God saved you so that you could be God’s prized treasure.
II. You are saved to be a kingdom of priests.
A. God is making an incredible promise to Israel. Every Israelite is to have a royal status. And every Israelite is to have a priestly status (vs. 6). As kings, Israel would take on the role that God gave to Adam and Eve to exercise dominion over the earth. And as priests, every Israelite would have access to God. And as a kingdom of priests, Israel was supposed to represent God to the world through mission. The world was supposed to be able to see the glory of God in Israel.
B. Jesus said in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” We enjoy communion with God only by keeping His commandments. This is not a legalistic way to earn your salvation. Keeping God’s commandments is the grace of God at work in your life, making you holy and happy in God. And it is the Holy Spirit that Jesus speaks about in John 14:17 who gives you both the willingness to obey God’s commands and the power to obey those commands.
III. You are saved to be God’s holy nation.
A. Israel is supposed to be holy like God is holy (vs. 6). Revelation 5:9-10: “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Jesus died for you so that through His death the people of every tribe and language and people and nation might know that God is the LORD. Jesus saved us from the nations for the sake of the nations who still need Jesus.
Application:
Let’s be witnesses of our holy God to the nations in the days to come.
Sources:
The Bible
Commentaries by T.D. Alexander, D. A. Carson, J.A. Motyer, and Tim Chester. “The Lamb of God” by Nancy Guthrie.
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) How did Israel experience being God’s treasured possession? What has God done in your life to show you that you are God’s treasured possession?
2) What does the reference in 1 Peter 2 to Exodus 19 tell you about the connection between Israel and the church? And how does the reference to Exodus 19 in Revelation 5 help you understand what it means that the church is a royal priesthood?
3) Why did God save you? What does God want you to do now that you have already been saved? Do we have to do those things in order to be saved?