Forty-Six Sermons in Vol II of the Works - Edwards - XL - Sermon XIII of 'Seventeen Occasional Sermons'

--> Required reading
Forty-Six Sermons in Volume II of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon XIII from the section entitled 'Seventeen Occasional Sermons'.

My summary
This week Edwards preaches a sermon from 1 Peter ii. 9. 'But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.'

Firstly Edwards teaches us that if Christians are a chosen generation then that implies that Christians are:
(i) chosen by God from the rest of the world to be his;
(ii) a peculiar descent and pedigree different from all the world besides.

Secondly Edwards explains that if Christians are a royal priesthood then Christians are:
(i) kings;
(ii) priests of God.

Thirdly Edwards shows us that if Christians are a holy nation then they are:
(i) a distinct nation;
(ii) holy.

Fourthly Edwards says that if Christians are God's peculiar people then they are peculiar with respect to the:
(i) value which he sets upon them;
(ii) mercy that he bestows upon them;
(iii) interest which he has in them;
(iv) complacence which he hath in them.

What grabbed me
I liked Edwards point that it is an honour that all Christians are priests: 'It is a great honour to be priests of God. It was a great honour of old to be a priest under the law; it was a greater in some respects than to he a king; because they were nearer to God, and they in their work were more immediately concerned with him; it was a more holy and divine office. But more honourable is it to be of the spiritual priesthood. The access to God is nearer, and an infinitely greater privilege. Especially is the access to God which they will have in another world, where they shall see God, and shall converse with Christ as a man with his friend. If ever a king was ambitious of the honour of the legal priesthood, surely you may well desire the spiritual, which is an eternal priesthood.'

Being a king is one thing, being a priest is a whole other privilege!

Next week's reading
Read Sermon XIV from the section entitled 'Seventeen Occasional Sermons'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.