BAPTIST DISTINCTIVE #3 PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (KJV) INTRODUCTION: When we Baptists use the term Priesthood of the Believer it sounds strange. But it is an accurate term and also biblical. Each of us are priests. In the O.T. priests offered the sacrifices and performed all ceremonial acts of worship. They were keepers of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. They would burn the incense and sprinkle the blood of the sacrifices upon the altar. But now, because of the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, we can go directly to God as a result of our right standing before Him. All of this was provided through Jesus Christ. I. WHAT DOES PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER MEAN? Priest is defined as “one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God.” Every believer today is a priest of God and may enter into His presence in prayer directly through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. No other mediator is needed between God and people. As priests, we can study God’s Word, pray for others, and offer spiritual worship to God. We all have equal access to God whether we are a preacher or not. 1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (KJV) The High Priest, the head priest, was the only one, however, allowed to enter the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple. This especially sacred place was separated from the rest of the temple and from the other priests and worshippers by a great curtain or veil. With the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, all of this changed. No longer was the sacrifice of animals appropriate, because Christ, the Lamb of God, had given himself as a sacrifice for sin. This was a once-and-for-all act. No longer were priests of the Old Testament variety needed. Indeed, all who believe in Jesus become priests with direct access to God. Human mediators are no longer needed. Mediator? 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (KJV) We don’t need a man with a white robe, and a stiff collar with a bonnet on his head to be our mediator - we can go directly to God in prayer, confession, praise and worship. What an opportunity! II. COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE O.T. AND N. T. PRIEST The Old Testament Priest must be without blemish – Lev. 21:17-21. Le 21:17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, 19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, 20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; 21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. (KJV) The New Testament Priest has no blemish. Eph. 5:25-27. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (KJV) The Old Testament required proof of genealogy. Ezra 2:62. Ezr 2:62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. (KJV) The New Testament requires proof of genealogy. John 1:12. Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (KJV) The Old Testament required special garments. Exodus 28:40-41. Ex 28:40 And for Aarons sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. 41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priests office. (KJV) The New Testament requires special garments. Rev. 19:8. Re 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (KJV) The Old Testament required purifying by the blood of the sacrifice. Exodus 29:21. Ex 29:21 And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons garments with him. (KJV) The New Testament requires purifying by the blood. 1 Peter 1:19. 1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (KJV) Baptists have insisted that every person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ has access directly to God. Each is directly responsible to God. Scripture proof - Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (KJV) The O.T. people couldn’t possible do this without death coming to them. III. WHAT PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER GRANTS THE BELIEVER The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers has two implications: A. There Is No Need For A Mediating Priest To Stand Between The Believer And God. In Numbers 16 we see an example of the need for a human mediator to stand between the people and the consuming hand of God. (Read and relate the events of Chap. 16.) Read Num 16:1-2 Nu 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: (KJV) Tell the remainder of the event in Num 16. Read Vs. 45-46 - Nu 16:45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. 46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. (KJV) Aaron was the only one who could perform this atoning act. At the resurrection of Jesus, the great veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” indicating that Jesus, the great High Priest, now mediated between God and humankind. Mt 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (KJV) God has accepted that act of sacrifice of Christ as a “once and for all” offering. That veil was a wall of partition between the Holy of Holies and the rest of the Tabernacle. Only the high priest could enter through that veil after he had been cleansed. That veil was rent when Jesus Christ died on the cross, and not all who believe and are cleansed from their sins by the blood of the Sacrifice Lamb can enter into the Holy of Holies where the Lord Jehovah waits. There is no requirement for one to go in our place – He has done that once and for all. Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (KJV) Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (KJV) Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. (KJV) I feel sorry for those who have to have a human priest to attempt to grant redemption for their souls. B. No One Person Has Any Special Claim On Spirituality Or Access To God. Aaron and his descendents had been appointed as the High Priests for Israel. Only they were permitted to render the priestly duties. Aaron was a type of Christ. He was anointed the high priest by Moses under God’s instructions. Ex 29:7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him. (KJV) Jesus is our High Priest - Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (KJV) Ac 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (KJV) It was God that made Jesus Christ Lord and Christ. In so doing He made Him to be the High Priest. Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (KJV) Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (KJV) This anointing included not only His ministry as Priest, but as Prophet and King. No certain Christian has any more claim to the access to God than you or I have. Aaron ceased to be a priest when he died. Christ became a priest only after He died. Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. (KJV) The Apostle is quoting from the 2nd Psalm. Ac 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (KJV) Each of us have become priests after our death to the old life and being resurrected to new life in Jesus Christ, and now we can come individually unto God for forgiveness of our sins. Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (KJV) III. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BELIEVER PRIEST Each believer is responsible for his/her own actions. Individual believers can go directly to God without the aid of any intermediary. Individuals can and should read and interpret the Bible for themselves without religious officials dictating to them what to believe. Each believer has the responsibility to be committed to Christ and to share Christ through word and deed. Peter stated it in 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (KJV) Each believer is to keep himself in fellowship to all others in the church. He does that through a godly life and walking in the light of the word of God, and by a compassionate spirit toward other believers.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 07:22:57 +0000
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