First Peter 2:5 says, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Peter was writing to Christians to encourage them to remain strong in the faith, even through persecution (1 Peter 1:6). He reminded them that they were highly significant in the sight of God and urged them to live holy lives (verses 15–16).

Under the New Covenant, every believer in Jesus Christ is a holy priest. As priests, they offer spiritual sacrifices “through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Spiritual sacrifices replace the material sacrifices of the Old Covenant (Exodus 29:36). No longer are priests a separate class, and no longer do they offer bulls, goats, and lambs on the altar (Hebrews 10:1–11). Not only do believers constitute the new priesthood, but they are the “living stones” forming the spiritual temple of God (1 Peter 2:5). Our worship today involves the offering of spiritual sacrifices.