五、君尊的祭司体系（彼前2:9）
族类、祭司体系、国度和子民都是集合名词，指集体的信徒。作族类，信徒已经蒙拣选；作祭司体系，祭司团，我们是君尊的；作国度，我们是圣别的；作子民，我们是神的产业，是神特别买来并据有，作祂奇珍的产业。
蒙拣选的族类，指我们是源于神的；君尊的祭司体系，指我们是事奉神的；圣别的国度，指我们是为着神一同生活的团体；买来作产业的子民，指我们对神是宝贵的。这些都有团体之意，因此我们需要建造在一起。
君尊，指我们祭司的身分是君尊的，就如麦基洗德所预表我们的大祭司，君王基督的身分（来七1-2，26，创十四18）。
首先，我们必须重生，并在生命里长大，然后被建造，且团体的事奉；现今我们需要往外宣报、宣扬。团体的事奉是献上基督作属灵的祭物，使神满足；宣扬是往外宣报那召我们出黑暗、入祂奇妙之光者的美德作福音，使人得益处。
黑暗是撒但在死亡里的彰显和范围；光是神在生命里的彰显和范围。神已经呼召我们，拯救我们脱离撒但黑暗的死亡范围，进入神光的生命范围（徒二六18，西一13）。
美德，指优越并荣美的美德，指神之所是并所有，以及神那在祂的荣耀中达到终极之奇妙的光。神用祂的荣耀和美德呼召我们，并且呼召我们到祂的荣耀和美德（彼后一3）。
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Melchizedek as a Type of Christ as the Great High Priest (6) — 1 Pet. 2:9
V. A Royal Priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9)
Race, priesthood, nation and people are all collective nouns referring to the believers corporately. As a race, the believers have been chosen; as a priesthood — a priestly body — we are royal; as a nation, we are holy; as a people, we are God’s possession — specially purchased and possessed by God as His treasured inheritance.
A chosen race indicates that we originate from God; a royal priesthood indicates that we serve God; a holy nation indicates that we are the community living together for God; a people for God’s own possession indicates that we are precious to God. All of these carry a corporate significance, and therefore we need to be built together.
“Royal” indicates that the standing of our priesthood is royal — typified by Melchizedek, who portrays our great High Priest in the identity of Christ the King (Heb. 7:1-2, 26; Gen. 14:18).
First, we must be regenerated and grow in life, then be built up and serve corporately; now we need to go out to proclaim and declare. The corporate service is the offering of Christ as spiritual sacrifices to satisfy God; the proclamation is the going out to declare the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light as the gospel, for the benefit of others.
Darkness is the expression and realm of Satan in death; light is the expression and realm of God in life. God has called us, saving us out of the death realm of Satan’s darkness and into the life realm of God’s light (Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13).
“Excellencies” refers to surpassing and glorious virtues — what God is and has, and the wondrous light that reaches its ultimate in His glory. God calls us by His glory and virtue, and calls us to His glory and virtue (2 Pet. 1:3).