A Royal Priesthood
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." - 1 Peter 2:9
We have been called out of darkness to be priests unto God.
Only a few were priests under the first covenant. For others they ministered the blood of animals that could not take away sin.
Every believer in Christ is a priest who may request for others the mercies of Christ because of his blood.
Jesus our High Priest, "suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God."
Our work as priests is for others . Being reciprocal, it excludes pride, while showing the wisdom of God.
Some of the work can be done when we gather in his name. It is carried out only by the power of his indissoluble life.
The work is to mediate thru prayer for each other his power to break the bonds of sin, and to seek healing for a myriad of wounds.
Such prayer among us must be offered in gentleness because of our own liability to sin. See Galatians 6:1-2.
Deep help for others will require time beyond the assembly.
The work is a work of love that perfects holiness in the fear of God. It follows Jesus in giving up his life to bring us to God
Like his cross, this work is neither comfortable nor clean. The odor of sin comes from the confessions, including our own.
Jesus said that by our love for each other, all men would know we are his disciples. The love of a priest serving is unmistakable.
If we saw lives changed thru prayer, we would hear praise we may have never heard. There is no joy like the joy of a heart set free.
Yet a royal priesthood has nearly vanished from the churches. Prayer for others is sometimes embarrassingly half-hearted.
What remains are planned services and assorted projects that leave lives fundamentally unchanged.
If we claim the name of Christ, but intend to remain comfortable, even dignified, we fail to see the contradiction.
Jesus emptied himself of his glory to take the form of a servant. How can we be lie him if we have no intention of following?
We may read of service for others that describes the work of priests. Consider: 2 Corinthians 8:16; Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:32; Philippians 2:20; Colossians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 2:1-1; Hebrews 6:10, 10:24; 13:3; James 5:16, 19-20; 1 Peter 4:7-8; 1 John 5:16; Jude 22-23.
Priesthood was never intended as merely a concept to be grasped. It is for all of us to carry out, imparting his life to others.
How many around us long to see a group of people actually being changed ? There is such a thing as "group dynamic", a power which moves a group along, creating healthy changes within. His Spirit is the power bringing the Risen Life to us more and more.
Our pride blocks us from receiving it. Repeated self-emptying (2 Corinthians 4:11) is necessary for us to reflect his life.
The word proclaimed makes sin known. Thru confession and prayer we are changed into the beauty of holiness.
"Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." - Hebrews 12:14