The Priesthood of the Christian
By Christopher Hendrix
Every culture bows its knee to a religion. Every religion influences customs and activities in culture. Holidays, traditions, acceptable speech, the clothing of a society, and many more outward elements point to the inward truths that society functions under. Because religion and culture are married, each society has a select group of priests and priestesses that point people to the religion. Think of the Greco-Roman religious system, tribal worship, and Islam. Even in Atheism and Statism there are certain people (usually the rich, famous, and elites) who function in a priestly role. They are the ones who loudly proclaim the ways of the religion (God is a myth, the State has your best interest, etc.) and demand you follow. They pose as the intercessors to connect the people to the object of worship.
Yet, in the Triune God’s infinite wisdom, Christianity does not jump on this bandwagon. There is a select group of priests and priestesses, and the Bible refers to them as Christians. But, within Christianity, all people are priests/priestesses. From the sermon recently on 1 Peter 2:4–6, we saw a revolutionary truth that every Christian is a part of the priesthood. A holy priesthood that is being built into a spiritual house. Every Christian is a priest/priestess, not just a select few. And every Christian is called to perform the duties of the priesthood.
Before looking at a few of these duties, it’s important to note how we have come into the priesthood. The priesthood of the believer was established by each member of the Trinity at work in the covenant of redemption. Before entering into the covenant, aka becoming a Christian, we were far off (Eph. 2:13). We were dead in our sins (Eph 2.1). We weren’t even close to being qualified for the priesthood. We were as far as Aaron Avouris was from winning the 2020 Presidential election. Scratch that, we were farther from being qualified for the priesthood!
Yet, in the Triune God’s love and mercy, the covenant of redemption was crafted and enacted. The Father sent the Son to atone for our sin. The Son willingly came, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again. The Spirit strengthened the Son during His ministry on Earth and applied the atoning work of Christ to His children. Read and meditate on the wonderful truth Hebrews 7:20–25 states, “This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. This grand and beautiful work is comprehendible in meaning, but incomprehensible in depth. O, what great love of God!
We are in the priesthood because of Christ’s work. Every Christian is a priest/priestess. So then, every Christian is called to spiritually sacrifice. Yet, these do not take place in our strength, but the work of Christ. Our spiritual sacrifices we give stem from his work. This pops up in the context of Hebrews 13:15–16. The spiritual sacrifices in this passage include praise from our lips and doing good to others by sharing what we have. Yet, this is situated in the context of Christ’s sacrifice. Likewise, in Romans 12:1–2, we are called to give our bodies as a spiritual sacrifice. Our energy, mind, heart, and will should all be used for the glory of God. This means, our resources, conversations, and actions ought to be filled with the Gospel and proclamation of God. Yet, it’s based in the work of Christ, His salvation, and His authority that came prior to chapter 12 in Romans.
So then, the Triune God’s priesthood is a select group of people called Christians. Yet, every believer belongs to the priesthood. Every Christian, no matter what your job or place in life is, you’re called to go and offer spiritual sacrifices to God through your thoughts, words, and actions. Give each day to the Lord, for it belongs to Him. Give each activity to the Lord, for He completed the greatest activity of all found in the Gospel.
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
1 Peter 2:4-6
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”