Priesthood of the Believer
When a person receives Christ as their personal savior, over forty things occur at that moment or in that instance. One of those is that they become a priest. We call this the priesthood of the believer.
1 Peter 2:5 states Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament God choose the Levites, a particular tribe, to represent him, and be the mediator between himself and his people. God primarily used sacrifices as a means for people to have their sins forgiven, praise him, worship him, or even just acknowledge him. Every year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would offer a blood sacrifice in order to make at one (or atone) the division of the people of Israel and their God. But in the new testament, Christ is our high priest, and we are priests. That provides us with three unique traits that we possess.
As a born-again believer, that has accepted Christ, you no longer need to go through a man, group, church, or organization to have access to God. Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
You have a unique privilege to communicate directly with the God of the Universe. We just need to have the boldness to approach unto Him. Many feel the need / pressure to go through someone. But the veil has been rent, unveiling the mystery, freely open to all. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Benny Beckum, been taught the need for fervent praying during his wife’s sickness and death, Dr. Beckum was given the burden and ministry of calling the local Church back to genuine prayer He opens every service, by asking the audience, “ Have you talked to the Father today?”. God is ready to hear, we just need to approach him.
2) Offering spiritual sacrifices
Peter not only states that we are priests, but like those Old Testament priests, we are also to offer sacrifices. But spiritual sacrifices. God doesn’t want a bull or goat, he wants a spiritual (something that you can touch) sacrifice (something that costs you). Below are a couple of spiritual sacrifices that we as believers can offer to God:
When the Old Testament priests would offer sacrifices, it really did not benefit them. Yes they were fulfilling God’s will for their lives, but the true cost came from the sacrificer, the person giving the possession that is going to be sacrificed. The sacrificer could not make the sacrifice for himself, he had to go through a priest ( As Saul demonstrated in 1 Sam 13). The same is true for us.
Part of our spiritual priesthood role, is to intercede for the benefit of others. Romans 12:1-3 states, We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (2) Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. (3) For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
The strong should help bear the week. That can be done through prayer, giving, physical support, lending a helping hand, offering a listening ear, provide a consoling smile, and many other ways. As priests, we should edify and supply for others, saved or lost.
Thank you for taking the time to visit Online Bible Teaching, where I’m striving to focus on teaching the Biblical truths of the scriptures to enhance your personal and spiritual life. Have any questions about the Bible? Please feel free to leave a comment below or contact me, and I’ll do my best to help.
http://onlinebibleteaching.com/priesthood-of-the-believer/
1 Peter 2:5 states Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament God choose the Levites, a particular tribe, to represent him, and be the mediator between himself and his people. God primarily used sacrifices as a means for people to have their sins forgiven, praise him, worship him, or even just acknowledge him. Every year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would offer a blood sacrifice in order to make at one (or atone) the division of the people of Israel and their God. But in the new testament, Christ is our high priest, and we are priests. That provides us with three unique traits that we possess.
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1) Direct Access to GodAs a born-again believer, that has accepted Christ, you no longer need to go through a man, group, church, or organization to have access to God. Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
You have a unique privilege to communicate directly with the God of the Universe. We just need to have the boldness to approach unto Him. Many feel the need / pressure to go through someone. But the veil has been rent, unveiling the mystery, freely open to all. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Benny Beckum, been taught the need for fervent praying during his wife’s sickness and death, Dr. Beckum was given the burden and ministry of calling the local Church back to genuine prayer He opens every service, by asking the audience, “ Have you talked to the Father today?”. God is ready to hear, we just need to approach him.
2) Offering spiritual sacrifices
Peter not only states that we are priests, but like those Old Testament priests, we are also to offer sacrifices. But spiritual sacrifices. God doesn’t want a bull or goat, he wants a spiritual (something that you can touch) sacrifice (something that costs you). Below are a couple of spiritual sacrifices that we as believers can offer to God:
- To love him – Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
- Present our bodies holy – Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
- To walk in Love – Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
- To supply the needs of others – Philippians 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
- Praise to God, give thanks, do good and give – Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
When the Old Testament priests would offer sacrifices, it really did not benefit them. Yes they were fulfilling God’s will for their lives, but the true cost came from the sacrificer, the person giving the possession that is going to be sacrificed. The sacrificer could not make the sacrifice for himself, he had to go through a priest ( As Saul demonstrated in 1 Sam 13). The same is true for us.
Part of our spiritual priesthood role, is to intercede for the benefit of others. Romans 12:1-3 states, We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (2) Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. (3) For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
The strong should help bear the week. That can be done through prayer, giving, physical support, lending a helping hand, offering a listening ear, provide a consoling smile, and many other ways. As priests, we should edify and supply for others, saved or lost.
Thank you for taking the time to visit Online Bible Teaching, where I’m striving to focus on teaching the Biblical truths of the scriptures to enhance your personal and spiritual life. Have any questions about the Bible? Please feel free to leave a comment below or contact me, and I’ll do my best to help.
http://onlinebibleteaching.com/priesthood-of-the-believer/
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