Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/92

Contributor - Art VanderMeulen

Title - Practising The Priesthood of Believers

Topic - Priesthood of Believers

My neighbour calls me "Padre." In the tradition he grew up in, priests were not called by their given names, so they were called "padre," which means "priest."

That's okay with me. I am a priest. I am a priest in the church of Jesus Christ as I suspect most of you are who are reading this. Keep on reading as we review the biblical teaching, and the implications of being a priest.

Priesthood in the Old Testament

The Old Testament concept of priesthood was based on two foundational principles. The priests were set apart by God to serve as mediators between God and his people. During the time when the people of Israel were being formed into a nation, God made it very clear that only the sons and descendants of Aaron could serve as priests (Numbers 3:10). No one else was allowed to serve in that capacity, although the other men of the tribe of Levi were called to be assistants to the priests.

The priests were given the responsibility and privilege to remain ceremonially pure and holy (Leviticus 21), so that they could carry out their function to serve as mediators between God and the people. They performed the ritual ceremonies of worship and sacrifices for the people of Israel (Luke 1:8,9). They alone were permitted to enter the holy place of the tabernacle, and later the temple, and handle the vessels that were used in worship (Numbers 4:1-20).

Their place in the corporate religious life of the nation was to mediate the fulfilment of the ceremonial/worship law. Their task was to keep themselves and the nation, right with God.

Priesthood of all Believers: Personal

In the New Testament, the letter to the Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the only one who makes anyone right with God. He is our High Priest, and He sacrificed himself on our behalf. Through Him alone we are forgiven of our sins by God. The author declares that the Old Testament priesthood pointed forward to Jesus Christ but did not remove sin. Now that Jesus has done that, the Old Testament priesthood is obsolete.

The other letters in the New Testament take that concept of priesthood and transform and apply it to the Christian church and individual Christians.

The basic principle of priesthood in the Christian Church is that all believers are priests. Every one who believes in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord is a priest in the New Covenant people of God. The priesthood is not reserved for a select group of individuals. , In I Peter 1:5, we are called a holy priesthood." We are called and set apart by God to be his holy people. We are not the church by chance. God has brought us into his kingdom because he wants us to be here. He has chosen us, and he has given Jesus to be our Christ. He wants us to be holy, and has made us so through Jesus Christ.

By ourselves we are not holy or pure. Through Jesus Christ, God forgives us of our impurities and imperfections (sin), and declares that in Jesus we are holy and pure. Then, as people made right with God, we are called to be priests.

As priests, we are not kept busy remaining pure, so that we can offer sacrifices and lead others in worship. Rather, we are called to do two things: offer spiritual sacrifices to God (I Peter 2:5), and be witnesses for him (v. 9).

Romans 12:1 says that we have to "present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Hebrews 12:15,16 says, "Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

The sacrifice I have to offer is my life. I need to give up myself totally to God, to live for him. I must treat my life, my body, and everything I have, as gifts from God. He calls me to use these gifts for him.

As a priest, it is my heart's desire that every thought, every word, every action, every motive, every attitude, would ascend to the throne of God as an act of worship. I am not trying to stay right with God so that he will accept me, or even use me. I want to live in this way to show thanks and give praise to God for what He has done for me through the great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

Priesthood of all Believers: Universal

I am also called to "declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness in his marvellous light." As a priest, I have to be a witness for God to those who are still in the darkness of sin. God wants me to tell my friend, my neighhour, the person I work with, or go to school with, or hang around with, and everyone who is part of my life, that Jesus died for their sins -too.

To be a witness is to give testimony of something that I know to be true. I know that God loves all people. I know' that Jesus died so that through him God could forgive sins. I know that God forgives the sins of those who ask him. I know that God gives eternal life to those whose sins he forgives. I know that God gives his own Spirit to those same people.

As a witness, I not only need to tell other people that I know all this to be true, but that they also can know, and have these gifts of grace.

In a sense, we continue the mediatorial work of the priesthood. As Christians, we stand between God and the world. We do not provide a way for them to know God, but we are on the side of humanity, being used by God to bring them to himself.

The job description for all believers, as priests, is two-fold: To live all of life as worship, and to be a witness for God to others.

The implications of this for the individual Christian, and the church, are two. First of all, that we ought to never let a day go by without having intentionally lived in all things for the glory of God. This means that in our personal lives, and in the church, we must realize in which ways we are not living for God, and take whatever steps are necessary to eliminate those things. This will take some honest soul searching for many people, and many churches.

Second, we ought never to let a day go by without having intentionally witnessed for God. This means that in our lives, and in the church, we must use every possible opportunity, and even create opportunities, to tell others about what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. The church needs, as we all need, a plan for active witnessing.

So you see, I am a priest! So are you, if you believe in, and have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

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