#198 What is the Priesthood of All Believers?
The Priesthood of all believers
Table of Contents
The Priesthood of all believers
What is the Priesthood of All Believers?
Denominational Distinctives on the Priesthood of All Believers
Christ is the Great High Priest
V. Gifts Given to Every Believer
How the Offices relate to the Priesthood of all Believers
What is the Priesthood of All Believers?
Simply put the priesthood of all believers is the idea that all Christians have direct access to God. This belief is widely accepted within the Christian church. But the specifics of what exactly this means and how it affects other doctrines is widely disputed.
Denominational Distinctives on the Priesthood of All Believers
While virtually all Christians today except the idea of the priesthood of all believers the specifics are different across each denomination. For example, many Roman Catholics distinguish between common priesthood of all baptized Christians from the ministerial priesthood of ordained priests. Anglican on the other hand, Affirm, the priesthood of all believers while maintaining a distinct ordained priesthood. The Presbyterians believe that every believer has direct access to God and offers spiritual sacrifices, but there is some ordained elders who have unique governing and teaching offices. Generally speaking Baptist strongly affirmed the priesthood of all believers, with the belief that pastors are leaders, not mediating priests. More charismatic Christians affirm the priesthood of all believers, emphasizing that ministry is through the Holy Spirit with the use of spiritual gifts.
The Covenant Offer
One of the main texts to consider is Exodus 19:5–6, “Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” In these verses, we see Israel collectively called priests. And this provides a foundation for what Peter later writes. Something to consider here though is that in order for Israel to become a nation of priests they must first obey God’s voice and keep His commandments. This is something that Israel repeatedly failed to do. And we could even go as far as saying that it was not possible for anyone in Israel to fully obey God’s word except for Christ. The only way for Israel or any other nation or people to be priests in this sense is for them to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. We might further question whether or not this applies only to Israel or to the whole world today. Looking back from our present vintage point we can recognize that this text means one of three things. Either that Israel was supposed to become a kingdom of priests but could not because of their failure to obey God’s Word, that Israel will one day obey God’s Word and become a kingdom of priests, or that Christians being redeemed by Christ will become part of God’s kingdom.
It Is possible that all three of those views progressively are correct in time. Firstly Exodus 19:5–6 is laid out with conditional language indicating that this is a genuine covenant offer from God. That Israel at the time was incapable of living up to. We can see that Israel did not live up to this covenant offer in Exodus 32:7–8, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” Or in Judges 2:11–13 and Jeremiah 2:11–13. Because Israel is a whole failed this covenant was not realized at the time.
The second view is that Israel will one day obey out where to become a kingdom of priests. Some people believe that while Israel failed to live up to this covenant under the mosaic that God will ultimately restore his people and help them to fulfill this covenant. I do not know for certain one way or another if this will occur. Verses like Isaiah 61:6 speak about Zion seem to support this claim. Isaiah 61:6 reads, “But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast.” And again, in Isaiah 62:2, “The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will designate.”
The other view that most Christians today support is that redeemed Christians become part of God’s kingdom and therefore are all priests. This view is easy to support as Peter directly references the Exodus covenant in 1 Peter 2:9. The argument here is not that people become priest because of their ethnic origins or perfect obedience, but rather through the sacrifice of Christ and his perfect obedience. As Paul confirms in Romans 5:19, “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” He is saying here that all people are God’s people, and all became sinners through Adam and Eve. Yet we can all be made righteous through one man that is Jesus Christ. This is echoed again in Hebrews 10:10, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” We can recognize this sanctification as closeness to God and God likeness. Such that all who are saved through Christ are close to him and can go to God directly.
Looking back at Isaiah 61:6 we recognize that all who are saved, become priests of the Lord. As Isaiah looked forward to the messianic age. Considering 1 Peter 2:4–10 we see Jesus as the cornerstone as well as in 1 Peter 2:5 that “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Therefore, in some sense, we are a holy priesthood. And that as priests, we are to give spiritual sacrifices to God.
What Christ Said
Looking at Isaiah 61 we see that Jesus took claim of this passage and its implications in Luke 4:18-19. Then the passage goes on to say in Luke 4:20–21, “And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”” The first two verses of Isaiah 61:1–2 read, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn.” It may be easily accepted that Christ has fulfilled these verses. When John the Baptist sent his followers to question, Christ Jesus responded in Matthew 11:2–6 that the blind are receiving sight, and the lame are walking, even the dead are being raised. Also saying that the poor have the gospel preached to them.
With this context looking at Isaiah 61:6 we can see that while it is talking about the Jewish people Isaiah 56:6-7 gives additional context, that foreigners will be made part of the house of God, and that whoever Christ brings to God will become part of his kingdom.
Old Covenant vs New Covenant
The old covenant is the Abrahamic covenant while the new covenant is the Mosaic covenant. The Abrahamic covenant what is the covenant between God and Abraham that extended to the Jewish people. In Genesis 12, 15, 17, God makes promises of land, offspring, and blessings to all nations. Paul in the New Testament addresses the old covenant in Galatians 3:17, “What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.” Paul is saying that the new covenant does not cancel out the old covenant. Paul then proceeds to make an argument that the old covenant is based on promise not on law. The laws that came out of the old covenant were based on our sin nature and were meant to be a guide or tutor to us. Saying in Galatians 3:24, “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” The promise of the old covenant is fulfilled by the new covenant. This does not cancel out the old covenant, but rather makes it irrelevant. As we are no longer under the law. The old covenant is further not applicable to even those who do not accept the new covenant. Because the old covenant is based on a promise and that promise has been fulfilled.
A key Issue historically and presently is whether or not the Mosaic covenant continues today in the form of the nation of Israel. The author of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 8:13, “When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.” Therefore, the first covenant is obsolete. We see this sentiment expressed in several other places as well. Paul writes in Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” That is when Christ came the law ended, and the new covenant was fulfilled. And again in Ephesians 2:14–15 Christ abolished, the law of commandments, expressed and ordinances, allowing for the reunification of both Jews and gentiles.
The Spiritual Sacrifices
Another key issue to consider is what the spiritual sacrifices are that Peter talks about in 1 Peter 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Under the old covenant physical/animal sacrifices were normal. Yet physical sacrifices have come to an end through Christ as the final and best sacrifice. In Hebrews 10:10, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” The offering of Christ act as the final sacrifice fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant and making the Mosaic covenant possible.
There are several sacrifices that all Christians as the priesthood of believers make to God. Our sacrifice reflects the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. So foremost among our sacrifices is the sacrifice of our whole lives unto God. As it says in Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Other sacrifices that we make include, praise and worship Hebrews 13:15, good works Hebrews 13:16, generous giving Philippians 4:18, prayer Revelation 5:8; 8:3–4; Psalm 141:2, evangelism Romans 15:16, obedience Philippians 2:17, and anything else that might be described as acts of love and service Ephesians 5:2.
Priests in Revelation
In so much as the book of Revelation comes at the end of our Bibles and describes the end times it further discusses the idea of priest and lends helpful insights. In his introduction to the book of Revelation, John writes in Revelation 1:6, “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” This directly alludes to the Mosaic covenant. Giving further support to the idea that Christians and all times and places have become this kingdom of priests. Further clarifying that this priesthood is not to each other, but in service to God. Well, the book of Revelation has often baffled me Revelation 5:9–10 repeat the idea of Revelation 1:6 speaking of a kingdom of priests. That these priests of God will reign on earth. Finally in Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” Thus all who become priests in the kingdom of God will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Christ is the Great High Priest
Other issues that must be cleared up is who is the high priest, are all Christians priests or just some, and what are our responsibilities.
Christ is our high priest Hebrews: 2:17. He had to become human like us in order to be a merciful and faithful high priest. No other high priest could be perfect like He is. Furthermore, since Christ was tempted in the same way, as we are commonly tempted as our high priest, he can come to our aid Hebrews: 2:18.
Christ was faithful to the God who appointed him as priest. He was like Moses, but worthy of more glory Hebrews 3:3. Unlike the previous high priests Christ has not passed away, and therefore continues to be our one and only high priest.
We get to participate in the same covering of the offering of Christ like our high priest. This means that we can have confidence in direct access to God and drawing near to holy places. As it says in Hebrews10:19, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus.”
Direct Access to God
The most important aspect of the theological principle of the priesthood of all believers is our direct access to God. This is a principle that has been given varying weight throughout Christian history and denied by some of the medieval Catholic Church. And even today is denied by the Catholic Church in the sense that Roman Catholics do not believe you can go directly to God for grace. One of the most important aspects of Old Testament priest is that they were the person who mediated between God and His people. As a kingdom of priests we each go to God directly.
First of all, where or not all are priests or not, the only way to go to the Father is through the Son John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” The question becomes can anything come between you and the Son? It seems clear to me that the answer is we all have direct access to Christ. In Ephesians, Paul quotes Isaiah 57:19, “Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,” Says the LORD, “and I will heal him.”” This indicates to me that regardless of our physical location in proximity or distance from any of God’s priests we have access to God. Furthermore, God is the one who decides healing and grace not His people. Through Christ, we all in the same spirit have access to the Father see Ephesians 2:18. This means that there is no difference between one believer and another as far as access to God. We are all fellow citizens and a part of God’s household Ephesians 2:19. Paul even goes on to say in Ephesians 3:12 of Christ, “in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”
This seems to all come together in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Which is to say that as Christians, we do not need to go to a priest to mediate between us and God rather we simply go to our high priest that is Christ.
V. Gifts Given to Every Believer
The priesthood of all believers is often confused with ministry. While this idea of priesthood is mainly focused on identity, purpose, and your relationship to God. Ministry has to deal with the individual gifts bestowed upon Christians by God and they’re calling to serve God and the Church.
What are the passages that sheds light on these issues as Romans 12. In verse 1 Paul writes, “therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” The ability to present anything before God has to do with our priestly nature as Christians. And then presenting our bodies as a sacrifice to God is a sacrifice to Him. This might be termed, the common priestly obligation of Christians.
Then in verses 3-5 Paul shifts the conversation to about the body of believers and how there are different functions and giftings. We are one body in Christ and each Christian is a member of one another. Yet the gifting between one part of this body and another vary. Some of the gifting that Paul Lee here are prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and mercy. Then Paul goes on to explain some of the more specific characteristics, each gifting and characteristics that should define us as Christians in ministry. This passage lays the groundwork for there being a difference between simply being a priest and the specific ministry of the individual. But this does not set up any specific offices of the church. Therefore, according to this passage, it would seem that individuals may experience multiple gifting or seasons, within one area of ministry or another.
Well, Romans 12 seems more concerned with ministries 1 Corinthians 12 speaks of spiritual gifts. These spiritual gifts may give indication to what Christian ministries are most important to a given individual as the Holy Spirit prepares and guides. This distinction can be seen in verses 4 and 5, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.” And again in verse six, it becomes clear that God works through all persons. The gifting is listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation of tongues. Regardless of your opinion on these and other spiritual gifts. They are spiritual in the sense that they come from the Holy Spirit and are in-service to the church as it says in 1 Corinthians 12:11. Again in verses 12 onwards, it becomes clear that individual gifting help helped clarify the ministry purpose of individual Christians.
Again, it becomes clear in 1 Peter 4:10 that spiritual gifts are to be employed in the service of the church, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” This may be taking a step further to say if you call yourself a Christian, you must be serving in some way using the gifts that God has given you. As Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:14a “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you.” Furthermore, in verse 15, even if God gives you a spiritual gift it does not mean that it arrives fully formed. We must continue to grow into the gifts that God has given us.
Finally, even if at this point in your Christian walk, you only have one or another gifting. The Bible encourages us to pursue more and greater gifting still. As it says in 1 Corinthians 14:12, “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.” Therefore, if any of us belong to serve God in one way or another, let us ask of the God who gives generously and he will bestow the gifts necessary to that ministry upon us if it is within His will
How the Offices relate to the Priesthood of all Believers
After considering how all Christians have certain gifts and certain ministries, it may be asked if there are also certain gifts or ministries that that might be set apart for those ordained by God. Or as popularly called Offices of the church. There are several passages that speak to different offices of the church, and it will not be argued here one way or another for those offices. These include deacons, elders, overseers, and shepherds. The idea of a pastor may fit into one or more of these broad categories.
It Is the role of pastors or those of similar title or purpose to serve in a particular role in the church. I believe this set apart, some ministries in the category of offices. Particularly that of teaching. As we see in 1 Timothy 3. Even though some person may have the spiritual gift of teaching that does not mean they ought to be a pastor. Furthermore, they might have the ministry of teaching, but not necessarily in the office of pastor. As there are additional requirements beyond spiritual gifting and ministerial calling or inclination.
The office of Pastor does not set certain ministries or spiritual gifts apart as necessarily better than other callings. But on the other hand, James 3:1 suggest that the office of teacher or pastor is a ministry with necessarily higher consequences, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”
