The Church as a Priesthood

The church is a gathering of individual Christians into a special community of faith. Each and every believer is a part of Christ's church, and every believer has the distinct privilege of going directly to God through Jesus Christ. The fact that we can each approach God directly, rather than through some human go between, is called the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer.

In Old Testament times, the nation of Israel had a high priest who represented the nation before God. In addition, there were many priests who carried out the work of representing individuals to God through the Temple rituals. That ancient priesthood was a high privilege and was limited to certain individuals.

In the New Testament we discover that God now looks at every believer in Jesus Christ as a priest. First Peter 2.5 says that God has made us to be “a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Then in verse 9 Peter writes, “But you are a chosen people,  a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we immediately become priests in God’s sight.

Like the priests of ancient times, we, as believer-priests,can enter into the very presence of God. We can offer sacrifices, not animal sacrifices, but sacrifices of time, talent, resources, and praise. Romans 12.1 says to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship.” In addition to offering sacrifices, we can intercede for others through prayer. We have the distinct privilege of access to Almighty God! Hebrews 4.16 invites us to take advantage of our priestly privilege, saying, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” As believer-priests, we can enter God’s presence at any moment through prayer.

As individuals priests, together we from a single priesthood called the church. We serve under our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4.14-15 tells us, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet was without sin.” Jesus is pure and holy. He resisted every temptation, offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, and grants us access to the Father in heaven. As priests serving under Jesus Christ, we have the amazing privilege of approaching God directly and confidently. As a priesthood, the church of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity of representing God to the world around us. What a privilege it is to be a part of the church of Jesus Christ.