A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Some members of the church would feel uncomfortable being
referred to as a priest.
1. They associate the word "priest" with the priesthoods of
various denominational churches.
2. All to often, we allow denominational doctrines to influence
our thinking.
3. According to the Word of God, there is absolute nothing
wrong with referring to Christians as priests.
a. As a matter of fact, they should be so designated.
I. PRIESTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
A. The New Testament plainly reveals that all Christians are
priests. 1 Pet. 2:5
1. Thus, all Christians are of that holy priesthood and can
offer up spiritual sacrifices to God.
a. All have the right to go directly to God through Jesus
Christ, our great High Priest. Heb. 4:14-16
2. Peter continued - 1 Pet. 2:9. Also, Rev. 1:5-6.
a. Thus, the New Testament repeatedly teaches that all
Christians are priests.
b. When one obeys the gospel of Christ, he is added to the
body of Christ and is thereby part of God's holy
priesthood.
c. As priests, all can offer up spiritual sacrifices and
draw nigh to God through the mediatorship of Jesus.
II. PRIESTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
A. Modern denominations' priesthoods are patterned much like the
Levitical priesthood of the O.T.
B. A sacrificing priesthood of men was indeed appointed under the
law of Moses.
1. All sacrifices had to be taken to the priests. Lev. 2:1-2;
3:5
2. Also, there was the High Priest who went into the Most Holy
Place once a year to offer the blood of animals. Heb. 9:6-8
3. The animal sacrifices offered by the priests of the Old
Testament were mere types and shadows of the one sacrifice
made by Christ. Heb. 9:11-12
C. By the one sacrifice made by Jesus, He put an end both to the
Levitical priesthood and the Old Testament law. Heb. 7:22-25;
Col. 2:14-17
1. Jesus is now at the right hand of God and ever lives to make
intercession for His people. Heb. 7:25; 9:24
2. Through the one sacrifice of Himself, He became the sole
mediator through which men have access to God. 1 Tim. 2:5;
Heb. 7:26-27; 9:24-28; Eph. 2:18
a. He is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey
Him. Heb. 5:8-9
III. CAN THE SO-CALLED PRIESTS OF TODAY FORGIVE SINS?
A. Catholic officials claim that the Catholic priests have
inherited from the apostles the power to forgive penitent
sinners. Notice the following:
"Christ conferred upon the Apostles the power to forgive sins:
'Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven.' (John
20:23). St. Paul mirrors the faith of the Apostolic Church when
he writes: 'God hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation' (II Cor. 5:18).
"As the inheritors of the power and authority of the Apostles,
the priest of the Catholic Church exercises the ministry of
reconciliation, forgiving penitent sinners in the name of Jesus
Christ." (The Faith of Millions, pp. 71-72).
B. The Catholic priests are claiming a power which the apostles
did not possess or exercise. Jesus said to the apostles.
1. John 20:22-23 - This appears to be John's account of the
great commission which prefigured the giving of the Holy
Spirit which was to be given on the day of Pentecost.
a. Please notice that only by the possession of the Holy
Spirit would the apostles have the authority to forgive
and retain sins.
b. As the Holy Spirit guided them in their preaching and
writing, they delivered God's plan for forgiving and
retaining sins. Luke 24:45-49; Acts 2:38
c. This alone was their "power to forgive sins" and how it
was exercised.
C. On one occasion the Scribes and Pharisees reasoned in their
hearts concerning Jesus, - Luke 5:21
1. Their error was in their failure to recognize that Jesus was
God in the flesh.
2. If Jesus was not God, they would have been correct in their
accusation. Isa. 43:25
3. Jesus did not deny that it was blasphemous for a man to
presume to forgive sins.
a. If the Jews had been right in their premise (that Christ
was only a man), they would have been correct in their
conclusion.
4. If Catholic priests have the power to grant absolution from
sin, why don't they also possess the power to work miracles?
a. Jesus said it was just as easy for Him to say, "Arise,
and walk," as to say, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." Luke
5:23-24
b. Why can't the Catholic priests do the same? Since they
cannot, we must conclude they do not have authority to
forgive sins.
c. The Catholic priests literally assume the prerogatives of
God when they presume to forgive sins.
IV. WHAT ARE OUR DUTIES AS PRIESTS?
A. We have established that all N.T. Christians are priests and
they are to offer up spiritual sacrifices. 1 Pet. 2:5 Let's
consider now what those spiritual sacrifices are.
1. Actually, all the good works that we do as Christians are
our spiritual sacrifices that offer up to God.
B. We present our bodies as living sacrifices. Rom. 12:1-2
1. "A living sacrifice" - There were dead sacrifices in the
O.T. (dead animals).
a. In the N.T. we give our living, breathing bodies. We
keep our bodies pure (free from sin) and we give bodies
in service (wholly committed to the Lord).
C. We offer the sacrifice of praise. Heb. 13:15
1. We do this both by prayers and singing. Eph. 5:19-20
2. We don't offer a literal thanksgiving sacrifice. Lev. 7:12
3. Even the Israelites were commanded to offer a verbal
sacrifice of praise. Hos. 14:2
D. All sharing with the needy is a spiritual sacrifice. Heb. 13:16
1. This sharing is laying up treasures in heaven, laying up in
store a good foundation against the time to come, which
God never forgets. Heb. 6:10
E. Support of preachers, which includes giving on the Lord's day,
is a spiritual sacrifice. Phil. 4:15-18
1. The term "sweet smelling savor" was used often in the O.T.
regarding the various literal sacrifices, but in the N.T. it
is applied to the spiritual sacrifices.
F. By diffusing the knowledge of God (teaching), Paul and other
teachers were a sweet savor to their hearers. 2 Cor. 2:14-17
1. Paul's ministry to the Gentiles was an offering to God. Rom.
15:16
2. One of our duties as priests is to proclaim the praises of
Him who called us out of darkness. 1 Pet. 2:9
G. Paul's imprisonment and suffering for Christ was as a
sacrifice. Phil. 2:17
1. He looked upon his death as a sacrifice. 2 Tim. 4:6
H. As we mentioned, all the good works that we do as Christians
become our spiritual sacrifices which we offer up to God. All
of them are in the Scriptures. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
1. There are many so-called good works which men devise
which are not in the Scriptures, which cannot be spiritual
sacrifices.
2. For example, I heard of a woman who had cancer and was
having a lot of physical pain. She said that she wanted to
offer it up to God.
3. Many of the self-imposed sacrifices, severe treatment of the
body, and the like, are nothing but commandments and
doctrines of men. Col. 2:22-23
Concl.
A. Anyone who obeys the gospel becomes a priest.
1. The priesthood of God, as ordained in the N.T., is not
restricted as the ones in various denominational churches.
B. All Christians are of that royal priesthood which was ordained
by God, and have one great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
1. All of us can enter the Most Holy Place (heaven) through the
mediatorship of Jesus. Heb. 10:19-22
2. All of us, as priests, have a right to continually offer up
spiritual sacrifices.
3. All of us, as priests, can boldly approach the throne of
God, and obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of
need.