you also,as livingstones,are being builtup as a spiritualhousefor a holypriesthood,to offerup spiritualsacrificesacceptableto GodthroughJesusChrist.
And abovewere costlystones,stonecutaccording to measure,and cedar.
May my prayerbe countedas incensebeforeYou; The liftingup of my handsas the eveningoffering.
"Offerto Goda sacrificeof thanksgivingAnd payyour vowsto the MostHigh;
"He who offersa sacrificeof thanksgivinghonorsMe; And to him who orders[his] way[aright] I shall showthe salvationof God."
and you shall be to Me a kingdomof priestsand a holynation.'Theseare the wordsthat you shall speakto the sonsof Israel."
Wisdomhas builther house,She has hewnout her sevenpillars;
But you will be calledthe priestsof the LORD;You will be spokenof [as] ministersof our God.You will eatthe wealthof nations,And in their richesyou will boast.
"I will alsotakesomeof them for priests[and] for Levites,"saysthe LORD.
Takewordswith you and returnto the LORD.Sayto Him, "Takeaway alliniquityAnd receive[us] graciously,That we may presentthe fruitof our lips.
"For from the risingof the sunevento its setting,My name[will be] greatamong the nations,and in everyplaceincenseis going to be offeredto My name,and a grain offering[that is] pure;for My name[will be] greatamong the nations,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
ThereforeI urgeyou, brethren,by the merciesof God,to presentyour bodiesa livingand holysacrifice,acceptableto God,[which is] your spiritualservice of worship.
to be a ministerof ChristJesusto the Gentiles,ministering as a priestthe gospelof God,sothat [my] offeringof the Gentilesmay becomeacceptable,sanctifiedby the HolySpirit.
Do you not knowthat you are a templeof Godand [that] the Spiritof Goddwellsin you?
For we are God'sfellow workers;you are God'sfield,God'sbuilding.
Ordo you not knowthat your bodyis a templeof the HolySpiritwho is in you, whomyou havefrom God,and that you are not your own?
Orwhatagreementhas the templeof Godwith idols?For we are the templeof the livingGod;justas Godsaid,"I WILL DWELLIN THEM AND WALK AMONGTHEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
So then,whilewe haveopportunity,let us dogoodto all people,and especiallyto thosewho are of the householdof the faith.
"They shall havenoinheritanceamongtheir countrymen;the LORDis their inheritance,as He promisedthem.
having been filledwith the fruitof righteousnesswhich [comes] throughJesusChrist,to the gloryand praiseof God.
But evenifI am being poured out as a drink offeringupon the sacrificeand serviceof your faith,I rejoiceand share my joywith you all.
But I have receivedeverythingin fulland have an abundance;I am amply supplied,having receivedfrom Epaphrodituswhat you have sent,a fragrantaroma,an acceptablesacrifice,well-pleasingto God.
Whateveryou doin wordordeed,[do] allin the nameof the LordJesus,giving thanksthroughHim to Godthe Father.
but in caseI am delayed,[I write] sothat you will knowhowone oughtto conducthimself in the householdof God,whichis the churchof the livingGod,the pillarand supportof the truth.
but Christ[was faithful] as a SonoverHis house--whosehousewe are, ifwe hold fastour confidenceand the boastof our hopefirmuntilthe end.
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
Whoeverspeaks,[is to do so] as onewho is speakingthe utterancesof God;whoeverserves[is to do] [so] as onewho is servingby the strengthwhichGodsupplies;sothat in all thingsGodmay be glorifiedthroughJesusChrist,to whombelongsthe gloryand dominionforeverand ever.Amen.
For [it is] timefor judgmentto beginwith the householdof God;and if[it] [begins] with us first,what[will be] the outcomefor thosewho do not obeythe gospelof God?
and He has madeus [to be] a kingdom,prieststo His Godand Father--to Him [be] the gloryand the dominionforever and ever.Amen.
Blessedand holyis the one who hasa partin the firstresurrection;overthesethe seconddeathhasnopower,but they will be priestsof Godand of Christand will reignwith Him for a thousandyears.
He who overcomes,I will makehim a pillarin the templeof My God,and he will not goout from it anymore;and I will writeon him the nameof My God,and the nameof the cityof My God,the newJerusalem,which comes downout of heavenfrom My God,and My newname.
"You have madethem [to be] a kingdomand prieststo our God;and they will reignupon the earth."
