A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Some members of the church would feel uncomfortable being
      referred to as a priest.
      1. They associate the word "priest" with the priesthoods of
         various denominational churches.
      2. All to often, we allow denominational doctrines to influence
         our thinking.
      3. According to the Word of God, there is absolute nothing
         wrong with referring to Christians as priests.
         a. As a matter of fact, they should be so designated.

I. PRIESTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
   A. The New Testament plainly reveals that all Christians are      
      priests. 1 Pet. 2:5
      1. Thus, all Christians are of that holy priesthood and can    
         offer up spiritual sacrifices to God.
         a. All have the right to go directly to God through Jesus
            Christ, our great High Priest. Heb. 4:14-16
      2. Peter continued - 1 Pet. 2:9. Also, Rev. 1:5-6.
         a. Thus, the New Testament repeatedly teaches that all
            Christians are priests. 
         b. When one obeys the gospel of Christ, he is added to the
            body of Christ and is thereby part of God's holy
            priesthood.
         c. As priests, all can offer up spiritual sacrifices and    
            draw nigh to God through the mediatorship of Jesus.

II. PRIESTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
   A. Modern denominations' priesthoods are patterned much like the
      Levitical priesthood of the O.T.
   B. A sacrificing priesthood of men was indeed appointed under the
      law of Moses.
      1. All sacrifices had to be taken to the priests. Lev. 2:1-2;  
         3:5
      2. Also, there was the High Priest who went into the Most Holy
         Place once a year to offer the blood of animals. Heb. 9:6-8
      3. The animal sacrifices offered by the priests of the Old
         Testament were mere types and shadows of the one sacrifice
         made by Christ. Heb. 9:11-12
   C. By the one sacrifice made by Jesus, He put an end both to the
      Levitical priesthood and the Old Testament law. Heb. 7:22-25;
      Col. 2:14-17
      1. Jesus is now at the right hand of God and ever lives to make
         intercession for His people. Heb. 7:25; 9:24
      2. Through the one sacrifice of Himself, He became the sole
         mediator through which men have access to God. 1 Tim. 2:5;
         Heb. 7:26-27; 9:24-28; Eph. 2:18
         a. He is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey
            Him. Heb. 5:8-9

III. CAN THE SO-CALLED PRIESTS OF TODAY FORGIVE SINS?
   A. Catholic officials claim that the Catholic priests have        
      inherited from the apostles the power to forgive penitent      
      sinners. Notice the following:
      
      "Christ conferred upon the Apostles the power to forgive sins:
      'Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven.' (John       
      20:23). St. Paul mirrors the faith of the Apostolic Church when
      he writes: 'God hath given to us the ministry of               
      reconciliation' (II Cor. 5:18).
      "As the inheritors of the power and authority of the Apostles, 
      the priest of the Catholic Church exercises the ministry of
      reconciliation, forgiving penitent sinners in the name of Jesus
      Christ." (The Faith of Millions, pp. 71-72).

   B. The Catholic priests are claiming a power which the apostles   
      did not possess or exercise. Jesus said to the apostles.
      1. John 20:22-23 - This appears to be John's account of the
         great commission which prefigured the giving of the Holy
         Spirit which was to be given on the day of Pentecost.
         a. Please notice that only by the possession of the Holy
            Spirit would the apostles have the authority to forgive
            and retain sins.
         b. As the Holy Spirit guided them in their preaching and
            writing, they delivered God's plan for forgiving and
            retaining sins. Luke 24:45-49; Acts 2:38
         c. This alone was their "power to forgive sins" and how it
            was exercised.
   C. On one occasion the Scribes and Pharisees reasoned in their
      hearts concerning Jesus, - Luke 5:21
      1. Their error was in their failure to recognize that Jesus was
         God in the flesh.
      2. If Jesus was not God, they would have been correct in their
         accusation. Isa. 43:25
      3. Jesus did not deny that it was blasphemous for a man to
         presume to forgive sins.
         a. If the Jews had been right in their premise (that Christ
            was only a man), they would have been correct in their
            conclusion.
      4. If Catholic priests have the power to grant absolution from
         sin, why don't they also possess the power to work miracles?
         a. Jesus said it was just as easy for Him to say, "Arise,   
            and walk," as to say, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." Luke
            5:23-24
         b. Why can't the Catholic priests do the same? Since they
            cannot, we must conclude they do not have authority to
            forgive sins.
         c. The Catholic priests literally assume the prerogatives of
            God when they presume to forgive sins.

IV. WHAT ARE OUR DUTIES AS PRIESTS?
   A. We have established that all N.T. Christians are priests and   
      they are to offer up spiritual sacrifices. 1 Pet. 2:5 Let's    
      consider now what those spiritual sacrifices are.
      1. Actually, all the good works that we do as Christians are   
         our spiritual sacrifices that offer up to God.
   B. We present our bodies as living sacrifices. Rom. 12:1-2
      1. "A living sacrifice" - There were dead sacrifices in the    
         O.T. (dead animals).
         a. In the N.T. we give our living, breathing bodies. We
            keep our bodies pure (free from sin) and we give bodies
            in service (wholly committed to the Lord).
   C. We offer the sacrifice of praise. Heb. 13:15
      1. We do this both by prayers and singing. Eph. 5:19-20
      2. We don't offer a literal thanksgiving sacrifice. Lev. 7:12
      3. Even the Israelites were commanded to offer a verbal
         sacrifice of praise. Hos. 14:2
   D. All sharing with the needy is a spiritual sacrifice. Heb. 13:16
      1. This sharing is laying up treasures in heaven, laying up in
         store a good foundation against the time to come, which
         God never forgets. Heb. 6:10
   E. Support of preachers, which includes giving on the Lord's day, 
      is a spiritual sacrifice. Phil. 4:15-18
      1. The term "sweet smelling savor" was used often in the O.T.
         regarding the various literal sacrifices, but in the N.T. it
         is applied to the spiritual sacrifices.
   F.  By diffusing the knowledge of God (teaching), Paul and other
      teachers were a sweet savor to their hearers. 2 Cor. 2:14-17
      1. Paul's ministry to the Gentiles was an offering to God. Rom.
         15:16
      2. One of our duties as priests is to proclaim the praises of  
         Him who called us out of darkness. 1 Pet. 2:9
   G. Paul's imprisonment and suffering for Christ was as a          
      sacrifice. Phil. 2:17
      1. He looked upon his death as a sacrifice. 2 Tim. 4:6
   H. As we mentioned, all the good works that we do as Christians
      become our spiritual sacrifices which we offer up to God. All  
      of them are in the Scriptures. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
      1. There are many so-called good works which men devise
         which are not in the Scriptures, which cannot be spiritual
         sacrifices.   
      2. For example, I heard of a woman who had cancer and was
         having a lot of physical pain. She said that she wanted to
         offer it up to God.
      3. Many of the self-imposed sacrifices, severe treatment of the
         body, and the like, are nothing but commandments and
         doctrines of men. Col. 2:22-23

Concl.
   A. Anyone who obeys the gospel becomes a priest.
      1. The priesthood of God, as ordained in the N.T., is not
         restricted as the ones in various denominational churches.
   B. All Christians are of that royal priesthood which was ordained 
      by God, and have one great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
      1. All of us can enter the Most Holy Place (heaven) through the
         mediatorship of Jesus. Heb. 10:19-22
      2. All of us, as priests, have a right to continually offer up
         spiritual sacrifices.
      3. All of us, as priests, can boldly approach the throne of    
         God, and obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of     
         need.