Why do Mormons think they are of the Aaronic and Melchezedek (know I spelled that wrong) priesthoods? What is the premise?
Why do Mormons think they are of the Aaronic and Melchezedek (know I spelled that wrong) priesthoods? What is the premise?
In the Bible, Jesus is the High Priest and the other priesthoods were only temporary in that they existed until Jesus death, for temporary atonement of sin. I think we talked about this in depth on another thread. That blood sacrifices needed to be made for temporary atonement of sin in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant.It is the priesthood of Christ, given to His church.
I feel like I'm not understanding your question. Does you think there isn't any priesthood on this Earth? What do your priests hold then?
In the Bible, Jesus is the High Priest and the other priesthoods were only temporary in that they existed until Jesus death, for temporary atonement of sin.
Peter says "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 2:9)Does you think there isn't any priesthood on this Earth?
The premise is this:Why do Mormons think they are of the Aaronic and Melchezedek (know I spelled that wrong) priesthoods? What is the premise?
The premise is this:
JS and his friend Oliver Cowdrey were translating the BOM. At one point in the translation, JS translated an event in which men were baptizing people into the church of God. He was suddenly caught up with the thought that he will be baptizing people into the church of God, but he had never been given the right or authority to baptize.
So with that thought in their minds they went into a wooded area and knelt down to pray about what authority was needed to baptize. At that time an angel came to them and he said that his name was John the Baptist, the same John that ministered and baptized the Savior. He was sent from the presence of God to Joseph and Oliver to restore the Aaronic priesthood again to the earth. So he laid his hands on their heads and bestowed the Aaronic priesthood to them and with that authority, they were now authorized by the Lord to baptize people into the church of God.
Some months later, JS and Oliver were again praying to the Lord, and He sent Peter, James, and John to them, who were apostles of Jesus Christ. They too, laid their hands on their heads and bestowed the Melchisedec priesthood to them, which gave them the power and authority of the Melchisedec priesthood, which is the power and authority to preside over all the affairs of the church.
So the premise is that priesthood power was given to JS by heavenly messangers sent from God and JS now had the power and authority to do what was necessary to operate the church according to the will of God.
If JS does not recieve priesthood authority it is all over.
What is odd though is that the need for the priesthood ended with Jesus death. The priesthood existed to temporarily atone for sin until the Messiah came, Jesus Christ. Then all sins were forgiven through Christ's blood and death on the cross. No more need for priests or temporary atonement for sin.
This is what Jesus Himself said, that ALL go and baptize and share the gospel. No one needed the priesthood. Jesus is the High Priest.
Matthew 28
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Every Christian and follower of Jesus Christ has the power to baptize and spread the gospel. That would include you.
That is not what the priesthood is.TBL says:
What is odd though is that the need for the priesthood ended with Jesus death.
I doubt you can find a scripture that says, "the need for the priesthhod ended with Jesus's death.
On the otherhand I can find plenty of scriptures that would clearly state that the priesthood is necessary, especially with Jesus in heaven. And that incudes the Melchisedec priesthood and the Aaronic priesthood. The simplest definition of priesthood is: the power and authority given to men to act in the name of God.
But notice carefully. That it is spiritual, not physical.Does this sound familiar to 1 Peter 2:5 and 1 Peter 2:9 (1400 years later)
5 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.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknessinto his marvellous light:
Every person saved by the blood of Jesus Christ is part of the church of Christ. The entire church, everyone (you and me and Jane) is the priesthood in Christ.I doubt you can find a scripture that says, "the need for the priesthhod ended with Jesus's death.
So no more Hebrew priests (Aaronic priests) because we are ALL in the priesthood of Christ.
So no more Hebrew priests (Melchezedek priests) because we are ALL in the priesthood of Christ.
There is no physical Hebrew priesthood (men designated as a spiritual "go between") between sinful mankind and the perfect God.TBL,
You say "there is no priesthood anymore" and then say "we are all in the priesthood". Are these not contradictory statements?
[/QUOTE]There is no physical Hebrew priesthood (men designated as a spiritual "go between") between sinful mankind and the perfect God.
Because Christ died for all sin, conquered sin and justifies us (makes us not sinful) we no longer need a spiritual "go between" between our sins (mankind) and perfect God, because Christ gives us His perfection and forgives our sins, making us as perfect as He is.
Where there use to be a wall between mankind and God called "sin". Jesus gave us forgiveness of all sin, so in Him we are perfect and there is no wall there. Jesus tore down the wall when He conquered sin on the cross.
So now the Holy Spirit indwells us because that wall is no longer there. Because we have God Himself indwelling us, and we are heirs of Christ, we are called the royal priesthood and Jesus our Only High Priest.
Because ONLY with Him making us heirs of His glory are we even able to commune again with God.
Does that make sense?
Or I could describe it like this as an alternate explanation.
God the Father will give to His perfect Only Begotten Son anything He desires because the Son is in the same will (wanting 100% the SAME EXACT THING) as the Father.
So, the Son decides to die as a man and conquer sin, so He can give each one of us His perfection, like we never sinned.
The Father is fine with that.
So, we are heirs of Christ Jesus and co-heirs to the Father, through Christ.
When the Father see's us, He see's His perfect Only Begotten Son and He is pleased and glorifies His Son with all that He has.
This 2 minute video explains it
I was explaining specifically why no physical Hebrew priesthood is needed between man and God.Do you realize that LDS do not see a wall between us and God? But rather, encourage everyone to go directly to God and His wisdom?
It's only your faith that claims they are part of this non-existant for 2,000 years priesthood and that they are still needed.
Please prove that with documentation.Actually, vast majority of Christians believe that a priesthood is still needed (though disagreements on who/what it entails). Churches which teach this include the Catholic Churches and Orthodox Churches.
I do not know any Christian church (and I'm including the LDS here) whom view the priesthood as some replacement for Christ or replace/supplement His atonement. Rather the common view (including LDS) is that priests are servants of Christ.
Do I really need to document that Catholics and Orthodox have priesthood? I think this is kind of obvious...Please prove that with documentation.
Could you post one or two specific here. Sorry, I found your earlier post hard to follow.Well I'll go get you quotes from the LDS website that says different. I just wrote this out.
Could you post one or two specific here. Sorry, I found your earlier post hard to follow.
You're mixing up bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost, and bestowing the Holy Ghost itself. This will help explain the difference: https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-21-the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost?lang=engFirst of all, only Jesus can send the Holy Spirit just as Jesus only can forgive sin, so this is blasphemy.
During the appearance of John called the Baptist, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were informed that the Melchizedek Priesthood, with its power to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, “would in due time be conferred on us” (JS—H 1:72).
God took the gospel and salvation from the world because of the Apostasy and gave the gospel and the power to preach it only to JS and the Mormons.
https://www.lds.org/topics/melchizedek-priesthood?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1985/11/the-oath-and-covenant-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng