Holy Priesthood

Every Christian is a priest, having equal and immediate access to God.

Peter is alluding to the types from the previous system. God called His people a nation of priests.

All born-again Christians are priests, but there is the growing process from born-again, to baby, to wean, to elder.

PS. No NT distinction between the priesthood of believer and so-called ministerial priests like one might find in various denominations like RC, EO, etc.

All faithful believers are anointed priests, having full access to the High Priest (Messiah) after the tearing of the veil covering the Holy Place.

Standing Up said:

All born-again Christians are priests, but there is the growing process from born-again, to baby, to wean, to elder.

PS. No NT distinction between the priesthood of believer and so-called ministerial priests like one might find in various denominations like RC, EO, etc.

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netzarim said:

All faithful believers are anointed priests, having full access to the High Priest (Messiah) after the tearing of the veil covering the Holy Place.

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Should we go out and buy priest clothes?

http://www.christianforums.com/t4633867/
Melchizedek Connection, Royal Priesthood

http://www.kingdombiblestudies.org/priest/RP24.htm

One of the most intriguing descriptions of the unique character of the High Priesthood of Jesus is found in Heb. 7:17 wherein it is stated,

"Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

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This one grand statement shows that Jesus is not like any of the other priests who the people of Israel knew so much about. The entire seventh chapter of Hebrews is about THE MELCHIZEDEK CONNECTION,
In the Genesis story Melchizedek is a strange and mysterious figure. He flashes across the scene like a meteor. There is no heralding of his appearance, nor any mention of its results. He arrives out of the blue; there is no account of his family; there is nothing about his birth, his descent, his life, his work, or his death. He simply arrives.

Hebrews 7:1
For this, the Melchisedek/melcisedek <3198>, King of Salem/salhm <4532>, Priest/iereuV of the God of the Most High/uyistou <5310>, the together-joining Abraham turning-back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless him
2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness,
and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life,
but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.

Genesis 14:18
And Malkiy-Tsedeq, king of Shalem brought forth bread and wine and He a Priest of 'El-Most-High/'Elyown.
19 and he blessing him and he is saying, "being blessed Abram of 'El-most-high/'Elyown possessor of heavens and land" [Hebrew 7:1]


.

every christian is in Christ

being the body of Christ, we are called to be priest, prophet, and king

as priests, we are called to have a personal relationship with God and go to Him in prayer
as prophet, there are some truths that only we can say, and we are called to speak the truth in the name of the Lord
as king, we have sovereignty over our own actions, and we are called to take responsibility for what we do and work to spread the Kingdom of God

(this was taken almost word for word in what the old priest at my parish used to say during baptisms)

there is a prayer in my faith tradition called the Divine Mercy Chaplet
it is kind of like the Rosary, you pray for the mercy of God

here is one of the prayers
"Eternal Father, I offer you the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, In atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world"

how can WE offer the sacrifice of the cross to God?
is that not presumptuous?
as being united to the priesthood of Christ, we can speak such bold words

not sure if that is counted as a duty, just saying something on this topic

Hi, Sunlover..

The passage, which is similar to the other one that's more often quoted from Corinthians (the "priesthood of all believers"), refers to two important points about the new faith in Christ--


1. There is no longer a special tribe or class of people--like the Hebrews had in the Levites--who alone were permitted to be the sacrifice-offering priests in the temple. ALL BELIEVERS share in the "priesthood" now.

This does NOT mean, however, that everyone is a minister or clergyman or pastor.

This New Testament concept means that all have a "stake" in the functioning of the church, that all are a part of the body of Christ and part of the household of God which elsewhere was described in scripture as the "pillar and foundation" of the new church.

The way that this most often is exercised is in the congregation calling its own pastor rather than having some church bigshot impose one upon them, voting on the financial and administrative affairs of the church, either as a congregation (which is what some churches do), or through a regional assembly, elected delegates, or something else like that (which most denominations do).



2. After Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, there are no more literal sacrifices. No animals are to be killed as offerings, etc. BUT we continue to offer spiritual sacrifices (described in some church services as "sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving" or, at other times, as sacrifices of ourselves).

There are no re-sacrificings of Jesus on an altar, presenting the sacrifice of Christ again in order to put away God's wrath as an OT sacrifice would do, nothing of that sort.

Albion,it's important to point out how the Catholic notion of the Mass as a "re-presentation" of the one sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is rooted in our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Catholic Answers has a good article that discusses this connection.

barryatlake said:

Albion,it's important to point out how the Catholic notion of the Mass as a "re-presentation" of the one sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.

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Under fire from critics, the church has turned to using that way of explaining its belief, that's right. Until fairly recently, the church said without any vagueness that this was the "unbloody sacrifice" of the Mass--no "re-presentation" or other equivocations there.

Beyond that, both ways of describing it amount to a sacrifice because it is believed that the Mass is effective in putting away God's wrath or in earning merit for the worshipper. That's what the OT sacrifices were intended to do, not just worship God.

For example, it is believed by Roman Catholics that the Mass can be "offered up" for various "intentions," such as reducing the time that a loved one has to spend in Purgatory. The "sacrifice of the Mass," then, is indeed considered to be a sacrifice, not a re-presentation of one that was completed already and its merits applied to men.

sunlover1 said:

Who are those who are a "spiritual house for a royal priesthood"? And what does that mean for us?

1 Peter 2:5
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
​

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It is individual - not at the corporate level. There is no more priesthood according to Heb 7 -- other than that informal personal one Peter speaks of where it is said -- ALL Christians are a priesthood.



Hence Heb 8 "IF Christ were on earth He would not be a priest at all"


1 Peter 2

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 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. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”

...9 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; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

barryatlake said:

Albion,it's important to point out how the Catholic notion of the Mass as a "re-presentation" of the one sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is rooted in our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Catholic Answers has a good article that discusses this connection.

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Not exactly. It springs from the idea of transubstantiation; that is, the bread changes into flesh at the invocation of the duly ordained RC priest at RC priest's altar.

See CCC 1376, 1382, and 1383.

Back to the thread topic: Holy Priesthood

Standing Up said:

Not exactly. It springs from the idea of transubstantiation; that is, the bread changes into flesh at the invocation of the duly ordained RC priest at RC priest's altar....Back to the thread topic: Holy Priesthood ..

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Well, the two ideas are related in a way, but I agree that there was no point to Barryatlake bringing it into this discussion as he did.

Back to the thread topic. "Holy Priesthood "

Jesus commissioned His first priests/ presbyters see [ Matt. 28: 18-20 ]

In this verse of { Heb. 5: 1 } we can readily understand that "not every Christian is a member of His " Royal Priesthood " only a few will be priests.

Also in this verse we see [ Heb.2: 17 ] " ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,that he might become a merciful and faithful " high priest" before God to expiate the sins of the people"

And we see further authority given only to His "Royal Priesthood " in these two verses { Titus 1:5 and 1 Tim. 5: 22 }

Only Christ's selected apostles with their future replacements were given the authority and power to "retain or forgive sins : { John 20: 19- 23 }

With the above Bible proof I give you the Biblical explanation of Christ's establishing a "Royal Priesthood ". Only refute with Bible verses, of which I know you can not accomplish, because it is the Work and Teaching from Jesus and not from your man-made theology.

barryatlake said:

Only Christ's selected apostles with their future replacements were given the authority and power to "retain or forgive sins : { John 20: 19- 23 }

With the above Bible proof I give you the Biblical explanation of Christ's establishing a "Royal Priesthood "....Only refute with Bible verses, of which I know you can not accomplish

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Now explain to us how the Bible verse that speaks of us all being part of the "priesthood of all believers" fits into your theory that being a pastor, presbyter, bishop of the church is what is meant when priesthood is referred to.

Albion said:

Now explain to us how the Bible verse that speaks of us all being part of the "priesthood of all believers" fits into your theory that being a pastor, presbyter, bishop of the church is what is meant when priesthood is referred to.

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there are also Bible verses that speak of Jesus as being the Great High Priest
so we have to read something in context
it could be talking about Jesus as High Priest, a presbyter, or the priesthood of all believers

remember, in the OT there was similar language used
Exodus 19:6
you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.

now making Israel a "kingdom of priests" did not take away from the Aaronic Priesthood
just as the Priesthood of all believers does not take away from the Apostolic Priesthood

Rhamiel said:

there are also Bible verses that speak of Jesus as being the Great High Priest

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True, but that doesn't do much to explain the verse in Corinthians.

the Priesthood of all believers does not take away from the Apostolic Priesthood

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Alright, but we're still left with the priesthood of all believers being a Biblical teaching.