Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Priesthood of the Believer
(I Peter 2:1-10)
The Lord’s true church makes no distinction between clergy and laity. Of course, we recognize the offices of the local church, Pastors and Deacons; but we do not believe religious leaders have any “edge” spiritually over members of the congregation. In other words, all have equal access to God.
The priesthood of the believer is both simple and profound. Its simplicity lies in the basic concept of individual approach to God. Some churches claim that man must approach God corporately—as part of the group. The group must approach God through human mediation—a priest, pope, bishop, or canonized saint. The individual must never assay to approach God without human, church-ordained mediation. Even his most secret sins must be whispered into the ears of a prying priest in order to be forgiven. The Bible, however, knows no such system. In Christ, every believer is his own priest (5, 9). Every believer can approach God through Christ for himself and on his own behalf (I John 1:9).
The priesthood of the believer is profound in that it is a marked change from the Old Testament economy. The believer’s priesthood allows him unlimited access to the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16). Indeed, the believer enjoys a personal relationship with the only Mediator, Jesus Christ (I Tim. 2:5). And Christ, as our High Priest, intercedes continually on our behalf (Heb. 8:1-6). All the legalism—sacrifice, ritual, ceremony, and temple—is both fulfilled and expired in Christ. The darkness of legalistic religion has been driven away by the marvelous light of Jesus Christ. And we, His followers, are a kingdom of individual priests before Him (9).
