Priesthood of Believers

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In order to metaphorically describe what the nature of the church’s relationship to God resembles, we will be exploring the subject of the Priesthood of Believers. For us to accurately approach this teaching about the Priesthood of Believers, it is important to first have a basic understanding of what a priest is.

William Vine explains that a priest in the Old Testament was “an authorized minister of deity who officiates at the altar and in other cultic rites. A priest performs sacrificial, ritualistic, and mediatorial duties; he represents the people before God” (Vines, 188), and God before the people. It was the priests’ duty to lead the people into the worship of YHWH. The first time we read about a priest of God in the Bible, is when Melchizedek the “Priest of God Most High,” comes to Abraham in order to bless him on behalf of God (Genesis 14:18-19), and also to bless God Himself (Genesis 14:20). This would have to be the overarching theme of the priesthood, to be a blessing to others on behalf of God, and to be a blessing to God on behalf of others (Hebrews 5:1-2). A priest of God can therefore be seen as a bridge builder between God’s throne in heaven, and His footstool on earth (Isaiah 66:1). He brings God to people and people to God.

God established the priestly office in the days of Moses following the exodus, however, priestly functions were performed in pre-Mosaic times by the head of the family, such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Job (Vines, 188). When looking at the book of Exodus, it appears that it was God’s original intention to have the Israelites become a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” to Him (Exodus 19:6). However, through their continued national apostasy and rejection of God, they forfeited their right to be God’s representatives (cf. Isaiah 65:1-14).

The Bible clearly states that the New Testament church of God, which is every individual that makes up the church, are now God’s new representatives to the world. In fact the Bible says that we are “Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20), who are the “royal priesthood” of God (1 Peter 2:9), and it is our responsibility to now offer up a new kind of sacrifice to God. It could be said that we as the Priesthood of Believers, offer up a variety of “spiritual sacrifices” in order to bring people to Christ, who then mediates on their behalf to His Father (1 Timothy 2:5).

In his book entitled, Partners in Ministry, author and Pastor, Jim Garlow points out:

The New Testament does not end sacrifices, but it surely changes the nature of the sacrifices. The sacrifice called for in the New Testament is ourselves. Paul says that we give our bodies, meaning all our activities, everything we have, as a sacrifice for Him (Jim Garlow, Partners in Ministry: Laity and Pastors Working Together, 27).

As Garlow points out, sacrifices have not ended, but they have definitely changed. Our spiritual act of worship no longer involves the killing of animals, but in daily living our lives for God. Garlow explains what this new nature of the sacrifices is when he says:

Our sacrifices may include such things as praise and thanksgiving, personal confession, loving service, or deeds done in the spirit of love. All of these comprise ministry. That is what is called for from us as priests. We are to make sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God (ibid).

Garlow’s idea of these acceptable and pleasing sacrifices to God that are described in the New Testament, are definitely different in nature than the sacrifices we read about in the Old Testament, and can be fully supported by Scripture.

For example, as the Priesthood of Believers we are called to offer up our lives to God (Romans 12:1a), continual praises from our lips (Hebrews 13:15a), as well as our good works (Hebrews 13:16a), resources for those in need (Philippians 4:18a), and even the very souls of those we lead to faith in Christ (Romans 15:16). These are the spiritual sacrifices that the Priesthood of Believers are called to make for God. By doing so, we will truly “worship Him” the way He intended us to (Romans 12:1b). We will also be proclaiming our allegiance to His name (Hebrews 13:15b), giving “the sacrifices that please God” (Hebrews 13:16b), and are “sweet-smelling” (Philippians 4:18b), “acceptable” and “made holy by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:16b). The above-mentioned spiritual sacrifices are all evidences of the church obeying the Great Commandment given by Christ (Matthew 22:37-39).

We can plainly see how fitting the metaphorical title of Priesthood of Believers is to us in describing our position and responsibility as followers of Jesus. We have been called by God to offer our entire lives to God on a continual basis.

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