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.
O miracle of grace! Christ "hath made us kings and priests." 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 of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life, by ONE Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:17. O believer, do you forget your regal dignity? Then you do not honor as you ought 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? "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.
"Hath made us 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," 1 Pet. 2:5, even those of "a broken-heart and contrite spirit:" our bodies and souls, time and talents, prayers and praises, yea, to sacrifice ourselves, our love of the world, our 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 up 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 demean himself as to be the companion and gratify the wishes of traitors and rebels? Will any christian priest-sacrifice to heathen idols? O, when thy sins rebel 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 honor and glory.
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