A commonly neglected doctrine in the modern Church is the priesthood of all believers. This important doctrine states that, rather than being a special class of leaders within the Church, the priesthood is a privileged role that now extends to all who are united to Christ, as High Priest, through saving faith in Him.
Being priests is a remarkable privilege, but also brings with it some very important responsibilities. It is therefore very important to the Christian faith, even to the extent of effectively changing our outlook upon it, and our conduct within it. Nevertheless, this important doctrine is often neglected, if not completely denied, by many within the Church. Let's look at a few reasons this ought not be the case.
Old Testament prophecies
In Amos 3:7, God tells us He does nothing without first telling His secret to His prophets. This is constantly exemplified throughout the Scriptures, particularly with Gospel issues. We see details about Christ's birth, His ministry, His rejection, His betrayal, His death, His resurrection, and the implications of all of these. We even see the promise of a New Covenant with the House of Israel and Judah.
Just as God foretold... well, everything, He also foretold of a new priesthood. In Psalm 110:1-4, we read "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
Not only is this clearly about Jesus in hindsight, but the New Testament repeatedly affirms this is so. Jesus even uses this Psalm to prove His own legitimacy (Matthew 22:41-46). Yet, in the Old Testament, there is no priestly order of Melchizedek. Rather, the priesthood is from the tribe of Levi. To be a priest after the order of Melchizedek is not a feature of the Old Testament law, but rather, it came into fruition after the law passed away.
This is especially seen in the book of Hebrews. In Hebrews 1:8, we read "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." Notice, the Lord (Hebrews 1:1) says to David's Lord, the Son (Matthew 22:43-45) "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever", and "Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Hebrews 1:13).
This continues into Hebrews 6:20, which says "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." This leads into chapter 7. Now, what I really want to do (and may well do in a future article) is go through this entire chapter to show the new nature of the priesthood, but for now let's just focus on verses 15-25: "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
From this, we basically see that the Levitical priesthood is obsolete. It served the purpose for which God intended it, and now who is the ultimate High Priest? Jesus! He is High Priest forever, God won't change His mind, Jesus won't die again, so He lives forever, cementing this brand new and sufficient covenant. He lives forever to intercede for us, unlike the former priesthood, wherein the High Priest had to keep making sacrifices and interceding for the people until he died and his successor took up that mantle.
Typology of the Levitical priesthood
But what does any of that mean for us? Well, in Scripture, there is a thing called "typology". That is, God, in His excellent skill, foretold the future in more ways than just directly. History rhymes, especially with regard to the law. Typology works with "types" and "antitypes", with the "type" being the foreshadow, and the "antitype" being the fulfilment. There are many clear examples in Scripture, but one of my favorites as both a Creationist and an apologist to Catholics is the flood. In 1 Peter 3:19-22, we read:
"By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."
Some heretics claim this proves baptism is essential for salvation. This is not an idea I intend to refute here, but suffice to say for now, in spite of their scribbling out most of the verse to make their interpretation fit, that isn't what it says. Rather, it presents the flood and the ark as types, and Christ and baptism as the antitypes.
In like manner, the Levitical priesthood was a type. In Exodus 19:5-6, God tells the Israelites "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." Note that phrase "kingdom of priests, a holy nation".
Peter flat out tells us we're priests
Now go with me to 1 Peter 2:4-10: "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 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. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 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 darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
Christ became a stumbling block to the Jews, to whom it was previously said "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people". Now we, as lively stones being built upon Him as our cornerstone to be a spiritual house of God, are also "an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
John tells us too
This is also shown in Revelation 5:8-10, which says "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
We, being redeemed to God by Christ's blood, have been made kings and priests, and shall reign on the earth. As Peter before him, John tells us that we are a chosen people and a royal priesthood. This is no longer for some special class of people, but for all those redeemed to Christ through His blood.
We are told to act like priests
It is for this reason that the New Testament tells us to do several things that sound very priestly, starting, of course, with offering up spiritual sacrifices. Just as Peter tells us we are a royal priesthood "...to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ", Paul tells us "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." (Romans 12:1). He goes on to explain how this is done, describing a whole host of ways to basically discern the will of God and do good. What's especially interesting is that this includes the way in which we are to deal with those outside the Church, even those who do us evil.
Another way in which we are told to behave like priests is "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Here, once again, we see this concept of Christ as the High Priest, and this ties in to the idea that we can come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy. This is much unlike the Old Covenant, during which time there was a huge veil separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the world. This, we see described in Hebrews 9:1-10:
"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation."
Notice, only the High Priest was allowed back there. No one else could pass this veil, and in fact, by tradition, even the High Priest would have a rope tied to his leg in case he died, and his body needed to be retrieved. This veil, which according to Jewish tradition was 4 inches thick, was torn in two when Jesus died (Matthew 27:50-51), showing us that this sacrifice had forever removed the barrier between God and man. Thus, we read
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Thus, we see that the priesthood of all believers is greater even than the Levitical priesthood. We see that we can now, with great boldness, "enter into the holiest", just like the high priest. Where previously only the high priest could enter and make atonement for the sins of the people, now the people themselves, having their sins atoned for once and for all, can boldly approach God with a true heart and in full assurance of faith, because our High Priest is mediating for us.
Conclusion
Thus we see that the priesthood of all believers is explicitly Biblical. Furthermore, we see that it is important, as it is a glorious privilege that nevertheless brings with it some very important responsibilities. It is a duty to take very seriously indeed. It is vital that we use whatever gifts the Lord has given us in a manner that is pleasing to Him, and that each of us learn His word in order to edify each other, and even bring unbelievers to faith in Him. As the original Kingdom of Priests were set apart as Holy, so also must we make every effort to be Holy before God.