You Are a Royal Priesthood: Discover Your God-Given Identity and Purpose
Regan Yoakam |
May 7, 2025
Are you longing for a life filled with meaning, connection, and real purpose? The good news is—you were made for more. Through Jesus Christ, you’ve been invited into something extraordinary: to live as part of a royal priesthood, reflecting the goodness of God every single day.
This truth is at the heart of Vineyard Cincinnati Church’s teaching series, “Living Hope.” In this message, we’ll explore how your identity in Christ shapes not only who you are but how you live, love, serve, and bring hope to the world.
What Does It Mean That You Are a Royal Priesthood?
Let’s be honest—one of the biggest questions we all wrestle with is, “Who am I, really?”
The world may tell you to define yourself by your career, status, or social following. But Scripture offers a deeper truth. In 1 Peter 2:9, you’re called:
“A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
This isn’t just poetic language—it’s a reality about you. As part of God’s spiritual house, you're not alone. You’re a living stone, built together with others, called to reflect God’s mercy, grace, and love to a world desperate for hope.
Step Into Your True Identity in Christ
In 1 Peter 2:4–5, we’re reminded that Jesus is the living stone, and you—yes, you—are being built into a spiritual house with a holy calling.
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood...”
In the Old Testament, priests were the only ones who could stand before God on behalf of the people. But now, because of Jesus, you have direct access to God. You're called to reflect His heart and serve as a priest—not in a robe or temple, but in everyday life.
Being a royal priest means:
- Living differently from the world.
- Carrying God's compassion into every relationship.
- Serving others in love, just as Jesus served you.
Living Hope Isn’t a Theory—It’s Your Daily Mission
Hope isn’t just wishful thinking. In Jesus, it’s alive, unshakable, and deeply personal.
You carry a living hope—a hope that gives courage in crisis, purpose in pain, and light in the darkest places. And it comes with a mission: to declare God's goodness and help others find their way to Him.
Your role in God’s kingdom isn’t passive. You’re not meant to sit on the sidelines. You're chosen to step in and speak up—to be a priest, a bridge, a beacon of hope.
The Real Enemy: A Life Focused on “Me”
Let’s get real—our culture loves self-focus: self-help, self-improvement, self-care. While some of that can be healthy, it becomes dangerous when it drowns out your calling.
Your identity as a royal priest is about living beyond yourself. When your life is all about “me,” your mission shrinks. But when your life becomes about Jesus and others, it expands in ways you never imagined.
Living hope = Dying to self + Loving sacrificially.
That’s not always easy, but it’s where true freedom and purpose are found.
The Church Is More Than a Building—It’s You
You are the church. Not a service or a seat on Sunday. You are part of a spiritual house made up of people actively bringing God’s love into the world.
Early Christians lived this out in “circles, not rows”—sharing meals, prayers, and their lives. They didn’t just invite people to church. They brought the church to people.
You can do the same:
- Invite someone into your story.
- Listen, love, and serve with intentionality.
- Use your gifts, whatever they are, to bless others.
Your Role in a Hurting World
As a royal priesthood, your influence stretches far beyond your neighborhood. God has positioned you to care for:
- The hurting and marginalized.
- Widows, orphans, and the unborn.
- The lost—across the street and around the world.
From Haiti to your local community, stories of hope are unfolding—and you’re invited to be part of them.
Communion: A Personal Commitment to Live Hope
Every time you take communion, you remember that Jesus is your cornerstone—and you recommit to your identity as a priest in His kingdom.
You’re not just remembering. You’re realigning your heart, confessing your dependence on God, and joining others in a sacred mission to live hope every day.
So… Who Are You, Really?
You are chosen.
You are set apart.
You are a living stone, part of a spiritual house.
You are a royal priest, called to carry the presence of God into every space you walk into.
This is your identity. This is your purpose. And this is your invitation—to live with bold, living hope.
Start Today: 3 Simple Ways to Live as a Royal Priest
- Reflect God’s character—be gracious, generous, and kind.
- Run toward the lost—look for ways to serve and share hope.
- Engage in community—you’re not meant to do this alone.