You Were Made For This: An Introduction to the Priesthood (Genesis 2:4–25)

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.
— 1 Peter 2:9 —

From Genesis to Revelation, the themes of priesthood and kingship overlap and intertwine in the history of redemption. In this new sermon series we are examining how royal priesthood applies to Jesus, the church, and our identity in Christ.

In this first sermon, we consider how Adam and Eve were created in God’s image to be royal priests serving and worshiping in the Garden of Eden. You can read about the background to this sermon series here and listen to the sermon online here. Response questions and Additional Resources can be found below.

Response Questions

1. What comes to mind when you hear the word “priest,” “priesthood,” “royal priesthood”?
2. As you have read about priests and Levites in the Bible, what have you thought? How does it apply today?
3. How have you understood Genesis 1–2? How do these chapters inform your worldview? Self-perception? Hope and need for salvation?
4. How would the original audience understand the meaning of “image of God?” How does being an image-bearer impact your daily life?
5. Read Psalm 115. How does your worship impact your living? What are you worshiping? What do you do to grow in your worship of God?
6. Read Romans 5:12–21. What do we learn about Adam and Jesus? What does Genesis 1–2 teach us about Adam? How does that enhance your understanding of or devotion to Christ?
7. What other questions come to mind from Genesis 1–2? What are ways that priesthood applies to your life today?

Additional Resources

On the Priesthood and the Image of God

• You Were Made for This: An Introduction to the Priesthood (and Yourself)
• Starting with Adam: Seeing How the Priesthood Begins in Genesis 1–2
• Adam as Prophet, Priest and King, and the Bible as the Story of ‘Three Sons’
• The Priestly Aspect of the Imago Dei
• The Image of God: A Covenantal Proposal

On Genesis 1–2

• Somewhere Between History and Fantasy: Read(ing) Genesis 1–11 Theologically
• Six Biblical Evidences for a Covenant in Creation
• Be Fruitful and Multiply: A Canonical Reading
• The Garden of Eden: A Biblical-Theological Framework

Books on the Priesthood

• Representing Christ: A Vision for the Priesthood of All Believers by Uche Anizor and Hank Voss
• Prophet, Priest, and King: The Roles of Christ in the Bible and Our Roles Today by Richard P. Belcher, Jr.
• “Priests and Priesthood” The Southern Baptist Theological Journal 22.2 (Summer 2018) — In particular, G. K. Beale’s article “Adam as the First Priest in Eden as the Garden Temple” contains a list of reasons for seeing Adam as the first priest in the Bible. For those questioning this interpretation of Genesis 1–2, this is a helpful article.

Finally, here is a compelling video/song that captures the truth of Romans 5:12–21, which gives important commentary on Genesis 1–3.

Soli Deo Gloria, ds