When Jesus died on the cross we are told that the veil tore in two. I have always been taught and believe that this means we can go directly to God. That there was no longer a need for a priest. In Hebrews 4:16 we are told we can go boldly before the throne of grace. In 1 Peter 2:9 we see that all believers are declared to be a royal priesthood. So my question is with all the above why is there a need for priests now? Why would God tear the veil symbolizing we can come to Him without priests and then reinstate priests who we have to go to Him through? Isn't it just possible that the office of priest is not needed anymore?
2007-11-15 15:02:55 · 6 answers · asked by Bible warrior 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
fireball - the veil of the temple that was torn when Jesus died. It separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple.
2007-11-15 16:11:32 · update #1
You are correct. There is not a need now for the "office" of priests.
There is one main passage that deals with the priesthood of all believers. It is as follows: "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 generation, 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 Peter 2:5-9).
Old Testament priests were chosen by God, not self-appointed; and they were chosen for a purpose: to serve God with their lives by offering up sacrifices. The priesthood served as a picture or "type" of the coming ministry of Jesus Christ...a picture that was then no longer needed once His sacrifice on the cross was completed. When the thick temple veil that covered the doorway to the Holy of Holies was torn in two by God at the time of Christ's death (Matthew 27:51), God was indicating that the Old Testament priesthood was no longer necessary. Now people could come directly to God through the great High Priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16). There are now no earthly mediators between God and man as existed in the Old Testament priesthood (1 Timothy 2:5).
2007-11-16 02:40:52 · answer #1 · answered by Freedom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of priest is for the intercession between man and God. Just because he died and the spirit entered man does not break the need for priest. Do you not know that today, it is harder to serve the Lord because sin nature has overtaken the Word.
The priest's job is to make us tolerable before his sight. If they cannot or will not do it, who will. The one thing about the bible is God has not changed. He still demands the same things from us. He still demands that a people completely and wholly rely on him.
There is no question about your doctrine but it does not cover a multitude of sins. He needs someone who will sit closer to him than a brother, and that is what a priest is supposed to be. Without a priest in this world; the book states that he will not intercede with his people.
The place where you do have utterance is when his word is butchered to the glorification of his people and priest in the forgiveness of sins. They were given utterance because they had established themselves exclusively whole with God. Is that not the purpose of our prayer, the difference is they are tied by their promise to God.
Even though he said "little gods", no man can do that but Christ. Those who are tied to the Order of Melechizedek, there word is as established as any prophet before God. The thing is, our faith comes in order of its members, and his priest come first in that order. Otherwise, there would be no correction in the church, remember God changed the establishment because even his people could not bare the weight of its covenant.
2007-11-16 08:17:09 · answer #2 · answered by GodCares 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nowhere after Jesus is there a "reinstatement of priests" that we have to go through. God did not do one thing and then say another. The Great Commission that Jesus gives the disciples is an entirely different thing then the law and regulations concerning the priesthood. All of the things you mentioned raise the issue as far as Catholics are concerned. They still revere priests as the one's we take our sins to and they in turn take them to God. They also have Mary and numerous saints as mediators despite what is said in Hebrews 4 and in Ephesians 3.
2007-11-16 03:08:44 · answer #3 · answered by Kuulio 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your assumption is correct. We can go directly to God.
2007-11-15 23:06:43 · answer #4 · answered by L.C. 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
your correct...
preist/preachers/pastors are mearly meant to spread the word
to those whom have never heard it before...they are also
meant to be encouragment and help along the way...
everything is one on one with God/Christ and the Holy spirit...
2007-11-15 23:06:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
what veil? he had a robe..
2007-11-15 23:50:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋