Could someone please explain and comment on 'Priesthood of all believers'?

Answer 1

I just simply means with the advent of Christ everyone can go to God through him without having to go through a priest. Priests in the Old Testament Law were the ones who mediated between the people and their God. Christ gave this right to all people and now the New Testament declares that all believers are a royal Priesthood and all are Ministers.
BB

Answer 2

Martin Luther, the ex-Catholic monk said 'I will admit no meddling priest to come between me and my God'.

That's what a priest does: he comes where he shouldn't do, between you and your God and he meddles. Ever since the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom and Jesus came into the Holy of Holies before God for us, the way is open for all who are bloodwashed to follow him and approach with reverence the Most High.

After that, just to show that the old system was abolished, God allowed the Temple to be destroyed, and with it the whole priestly and sacrificial system. The old had passed away and, for us, all things have become new.

Read the book of Acts and the Letters and see the picture of the Early Church which emerges. It is non-hierarchical. Not 'top-down' but 'grass roots up'. That is the essence of Protestantism, too. It is essentially non-hierarchical (though you wouldn't think it looking at most churches today), based on every person studying the Word for himself, making his own decisions based on that Word and his conscience and being a holy saint, a priest and a king before God. It's so simple, so free and so lovely. Serving the Body, not the Institution; the Organism, not the Organisation.

The Word says that we have one that teaches us - the anointing (the Holy Spirit) teaches us, and will lead us into all truth, and we have no need that any man should teach us, people who are lead of God and not of man.

This is the holy Priesthood of all believers. Every true believer has a right to exercise this ministry, because the Word says so.

Answer 3

The Israelites had to go to a priest and sacrifice an animal or whatever, if they were to be acceptable to God. Priests were people who offered sacrifices, and knew how to do it in the correct way. There are no priests to make sacrifices now, because Jesus sacrificed himself, taking the blame for our wickedness. His sacrifice on the cross is made available simply by knowing about it, nothing more.

The 'priesthood of all believers' does not mean that anyone offers sacrifices. It means that all who trust in Christ for their salvation have direct access to him, and have no need of any human priest or intermediary. Jesus said he was a brother to Christians, and one does not go to one's brother through anyone else. So 'priesthood of all believers' actually means 'priesthood of no believers', because there is no longer any sacrifice to be made, can be made, because Jesus has done everything necessary. The saint is reckoned as having the righteousness of Christ, and you can't improve on that.

But there are some people who think that you can improve on the righteousness of God. They are people who claim that they re-enact the sacrifice of the cross through a process they call transubstantiation. This 're-enactment' takes away faith in Jesus' sacrifice, because it says that Jesus has not really paid for our sins, and one must go to them, self-appointed priests, for a regular weekly top-up. But it's just superstitious nonsense, from control freaks who want to turn the clock back to before the crucifixion, and control people's minds.
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Answer 4

The Apostle Peter said to Christians, 'Coming to [Christ] as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ... But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.' (1 Pet 2:4-10)

So all Christians are priests, whether they realise it or not, but those who are in a system that trains special people for the priesthood and ordains them as such are less likely to enter into this immense privilege that God opens up to all believers.

Answer 5

It does what it says, all believers are priests. Here is a link for a full explanation.

Answer 6

Hello there:)
This is a very good question that you posted here. You said here " Priesthood of all believers"
This thought ties in with a verse in 1Peter 2:9
" But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people aquired for a possession so that you may tell out the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light"
Wow.. what a verse!

The priesthood in this verse is not an individual one but one made up of all the believers in Christ. We may have the title of priest in the sight of God but carrying it out in our day to day lives is another matter all together right:)

There is a cross reference to his verse in the Book of Exodos when God spoke to the Children of Israel. His intention was to have a Nation of Priests but because of the situation with the golden calf the tribe of Levi stood for the Lord and what should have been a Nation of Priests became a Tribe of Priests.

Exodos 19:6
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of Priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Children of Israel.

Also coming out of that situation in the Book of Exodos.. the Kingship was passed onto the Tribe of Judah.

The title " Royal Priesthood " shows not just the Priesthood but the Kingship.
Who is Brother Peter addressing this book to?
Who are these chosen ones.
Lets look at 1 Peter 1:2

" Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in the Sanctification of the Spirit unto the obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus CHrist. Grace be to you and peace be multiplied"

Those chosen are God's elect, His Household. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile. But we are all the One New Man.
Ephesians 2:15

Abolishing in His flesh the law and the commandments in ordinances that He might CREATE the Two in Himself INTO ONE NEW MAN so, making peace"

When God looks on the earth He does not see different men.. He sees One Man.. This One NEW man as the Church is the Royal Priesthood.

What is so special about this Royal Priesthood made up of all the believers?
Being Royal denotes the status of our Priesthood, which is Kingly, like that of Christ the King, our High Priest, typified by Melchisedec. The Order of Melchisedec is higher than the order of Aaron. The order of Aaron was for the priesthood that was only in humanity, whereas the order of Melchisedec is for the priesthood that is in both humanity and divinity. We have this Priest and King, the Lord Jesus Christ indwelling us as believers. Today He is in the Heavens carrying out His Heavenly Priestly ministry and today we are on the earth as His body practically carrying it out. As Christ ministers to us whatever we need and as He saves us to the uttermost, we are those carrying out this royal priesthood, ministering Christ to others.. A priest does not only draw men to God, but he draws God to men. He first draws neigh to God, having a prayer life at the incense alter each day. Lifting those that the Lord has placed on his heart for the gospel, or those who are struggling in sin or in some kind of hardship, those that are bearing the brunt of the enemy's assault in the frontlines.. one who lives before the Throne of Grace praying, supplicating,and petitioning on behalf of all the dear ones that are on Christ's heart.

Today we can be such a Royal Priesthood to God. Not just ministering to men but ministering to God.
In the Book of Revelation we see something amazing.
Revelation 5:8
And when He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell before the Lamb, each one having a harp and golden bowls FULL of Incense, which bowls are the Prayers of the saints"

IS this not precious? Full of the Prayers of the saints. We are those saints.
On the earth today Prayer is what gives the Lord a way to move. Our Lord is carrying out this Ministry as our High Priest in the Heavens. He intercedes and knows the real state of all the situations not just in our lives but in the lives of everyone. But He does not desire to work and do all on His own. As His Body on the earth We work together with Him as the One New Man.. He is the Head, but We as the Body carry His Will out... through the Priesthood.
The Priesthood gives a way for God to unlock and release His Will in the Heavens on the Earth. I just feel so burdened that this matter is so clear to all of us. Our prayer is so necessary. May we be such prayer warriors, so sensitive and open to hear what the Lord wants. To pray whats on His heart. So often we pray for whats on our own agenda and forget about God's desire. He desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. Who cooperates in Prayer to do this on the earth? YES.. the Royal Priesthood.
May we all be so willing and giving of ourselves to truly LIVE OUT the Priesthood. Have a life of " praying unceasingly' for the carrying out of God's Purpose and Desire on the earth.

Great Q dear one
your sister
sandy

Answer 7

Jesus is the King of Kings.His true followers are His Bride.

Answer 8

Here is a link to the information you seek;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priesthood_of_all_believers

Answer 9

all believers have the potential to preach. we are all equal preists have to special place before God.

Answer 10

God's Children, a priesthood of believers.

All true servants of the LORD Jesus Christ are designated as priests. A true priest is not some designated class as the Roman Catholic church falsely teaches:

"Hence infer how childish is the folly of the Papists, who abuse this passage to prove their priesthood; for the Pope and his lackeys ordain priests to sacrifice Christ, not to teach the people. But Christ offered himself “by eternal redemption,” (Hebrews 9:12) and he alone has once exercised this priesthood, and commands that the priest of the sacrifice shall be offered to us by the doctrine of the Gospel. Those persons, therefore, who usurp this office, and wish to repeat what he has completed, are guilty of sacrilege." - John Calvin, commentary on Isaiah 61:6.

The true priesthood is holy because they are the elect of God, chosen and authorized to worship God in Spirit and truth. Through their imputed goodness from God, His children evidence their salvation first by the way they serve their King, God and how they treat their neighbor; in a spiritual sense, offering spiritual sacrifices:

"Then laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil words, as newborn babes desire the pure soul-nourishing milk, that you may grow by it; if indeed you "tasted" "that the Lord is good;" to whom having drawn near, a living Stone, indeed having been rejected by men, but chosen by God, precious; you also as living stones are being built a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Because of this, it is also contained in the Scripture: "Behold," I lay in Zion" an elect, "precious Stone," "a Corner-foundation;" "and the one believing in Him shall not be ashamed, never!" Then to you who believe belongs the preciousness. But to disobeying ones, He is the "Stone which those building rejected; this One became the Head of the Corner," and a Stone-of-stumbling, and a Rock-of-offense" to the ones stumbling, being disobedient to the Word, to which they were also appointed. But you are "an elect race," "a royal priesthood," "a holy nation," "a people for possession," so that "you may openly speak of the virtues" of the One who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; you who then were "not a people, but now are the people" of God; "the one not pitied then but now pitied."" - 1 Peter 2:1-10 LITV.

This truth from God's Word was also predicted in prophecy.

"And they shall build old ruins; they shall raise up former desolations; and they shall restore the waste cities, ruins of generations and generations. And foreigners shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of strangers shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be called, Priests of Jehovah; it will be said of you, Ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and you shall revel in their glory. Instead of your shame and disgrace, double. They rejoice in their portion; for they shall possess a second time in their land; everlasting joy shall be theirs." - Isaiah 61:4-7 LITV.

This priesthood includes all true believers:

"Blessed is the one reading, and those hearing the Words of this prophecy, and keeping the things having been written; for the time is near. John to the seven assemblies in Asia: Grace to you, and peace, from the One who is, and who was, and who is coming, and from the seven spirits which are before His throne; even from Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness, the First-born out of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him loving us and washing us from our sins by His blood, and made us kings and priests to God, even His Father. To Him is the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen." - Revelation 1:3-6 LITV.

Being a child of God is a simile of being a king or a priest, it is the highest dignity that can be bestowed upon a man. Under the Old Covenant, a priest was a designation given to a specific person whose duty it was to make atonemnet between an individual or the community or Israel and God. Now, there is no "clergy" to be elevated above the "laiety". Every true believer is a saint and a priest. Under the New Covenant, no man, system, or Roman Catholic priesthood can do this, every child of God has immediate and direct access to God the Father through the LORD Jesus Christ:

"For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." - Ephesians 2:18 LITV.

As priests, we are instructed to present our bodies as a living sacrifice:

"Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:1,2 LITV.

This includes praise and good works; without works ones faith is NOT imputed the faith of Christ, but rather their own dead "faith":

"Then through Him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God always, that is, the fruit of the lips, confessing to His name. But do not be forgetful of doing good and sharing, for God is well pleased with such sacrifices." - Hebrews 13:15,16 LITV.

The royal priest of Christ will delight in sharing God's provisons:

"And I know to be humbled, and I know to abound; in everything, and in all things, I am taught both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound, and to lack. I have strength for all things in Christ the One strengthening me. Yet you did well in sharing my troubles. And you know, too, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I went out from Macedonia, not one assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only. Because truly in Thessalonica you sent to my need, both once and twice. Not that I seek a gift, but I seek the fruit multiplying to your account. But I have all things and more than enough; I have been filled, receiving from Epaphroditus the things from you, an odor of sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will fill your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now may glory be to our God and Father forever and ever. Amen." - Philippians 4:12-20 LITV.