Christian Priests

"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—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." (I Peter 2: 4, 5 NIV)

This is one of the main verses in the New Testament that teach the priesthood of all believers in Jesus. Peter addressed all the Christians, all the "elect," and spoke of them all as being kings and priests. It shows that priesthood is not restricted to just a few in the church. Every believer is a spiritual stone in the spiritual temple of the Lord. In that temple every believer functions as a priest in things pertaining to God. The words of Peter also show how the believer is presently functioning as a priest, and now offers "spiritual sacrifices."

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." (Revelation 1: 6 NIV)

"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (Revelation 5: 10 NIV)

"Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20: 6 NIV)

These verses again assert the uinversal priesthood of believers. They do, however, seem to affirm that both the kingship and priesthood of believers will not be experienced and practiced fully until they are living in the world to come. The Christian priest functions now, but the fulness of his office will not be worked out until the Millenial age.

In the Old Testament Lord God had said to his chosen people, to the Israelites:

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Exodus 19:5-6 KJV)

No doubt the apostle Peter had this verse in mind when he penned his words to the "elect," to believers in Jesus. They were addressed as the spiritual Israel, as those who were "Jews inwardly," as opposed to being Jewish only outwardly in the flesh. (See Romans 2: 28, 29)

In becoming a Christian one becomes part of spiritual Israel, and becomes a member of the "kingdom of priests," of the "holy nation," of Lord God's "pecualiar treasure."

What does it mean to be a "priest" unto God? How does a Christian fulfill or perform his office of priest in his Christian life and service? Paul speaks summarily of the work of the Christian priest in saying that it consists in "offering up spiritual sacrifices."

"Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest." (Hebrews 5: 1-5 NIV)

Though this passage describes the duties and work of the "high priest," yet they also describe the duties of priests in general. The high priest had unique functions that lessor priests did not share. Jesus Christ is the "high priest" in the spiritual priesthood of the spiritual temple.

From the above scriptures, the work of a priest consists in offering sacrifices, and in presenting offerings and gifts to the Lord upon the altar. The priest was also chosen and appointed to his office and place in the temple priesthood. The office and work of a priest is highly "honorable" in the sight of God. The priest also acts as a "mediator" between God and men, in representing God to men and men to God. In his representation to men he is involved in teaching them divine truth, or about "matters related to God" and service to him. In his representation to God he is involved in offering prayers and praise to God on behalf of men.

So too do Christians become priests unto God because they have been "chosen" and "appointed" to it. (See II Thessalonians 2:13) They also become priests through their being "called" by the gospel. (vs. 14)

"He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness."

So too are Christians able to deal gently with sinners and those who are lost and wayward. They do this with humility for they realize that they too were once ignorant of Christ and the way of salvation.

"I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15: 15, 16 NIV)

Paul speaks of the preaching of the gospel to sinners as a "priestly duty." Surely this duty and privilege is not limited to only a few Christians, but of them all. They all are called upon to be priests in this regard, to communicate to men the things of God. When sinners hear and are converted by the teaching and preaching of these Christian priests they become "acceptable offerings" to the Lord.

Parents, especially the male head of the home, are priests of the family, and have the responsibility of representing God to their children and of communicating to them the "oracles of God," of which, as priests, they are responsible as caretakers.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12: 1 KJV)

This shows that every believer is a priest under Jesus the great High Priest. They are commanded to do priestly service in offering their "bodies" as "living sacrifices" upon the Christian "altar." (See Hebrews 13: 10)

"I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." (Philippians 4: 18 NIV)

The money that Christians give in support of the ministries of the church are viewed by Paul as "fragrant offerings" and as "acceptable sacrifices," and the Christian, as a priest, brings these gifts to the "altar."

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (Hebrews 13: 15, 16 KJV)

These words would not make sense were all Christians NOT priests. When a Christian offers up prayers and praises to God, he is officiating as a spiritual priest in the spiritual temple.

"But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." (Philippians 2: 17 NIV)

So too when Christians are persecuted and martyred, their deaths become sacrificial, their lives being offered upon the Christian altar.

"Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?" (I Corinthians 10: 18 KJV)

We already have called attention to the fact that there is a spiritual Israel, an Israel "after the Spirit" rather than "after the flesh." And, being true Israelites in heart they have right to eat of the sacrificial altar.

"We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." (Hebrews 13: 10 KJV)

But, the Christian does not serve in the Old Testament Tabernacle, but in the antitypical tabernacle, in the spiritual Christian temple.

"A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." (Hebrews 8: 2 KJV)

It is in this New Covenant sanctuary and tabernacle that the Christian serves and officiates as a royal priest of the most High God. Oh what an eternal "honor" is it to be a priest of God!