Pastor Jerry Rockwell THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER


Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER

1 Peter 2:5 (KJV), “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.”

Introduction: The subject we will study today is an important one but often misunderstood: the “Priesthood of the Believer.” The word “priest” or some form of it is found 960 times in the Bible. Of these, 794 are in the Old Testament, and the rest, 166, are in the New Testament. In this study, we will look at the establishment of the priesthood in the Old Testament to understand what God was doing in instituting the priest’s office. Following that brief study, we want to see how that fits into the New Testament.

The first time the word “priest” occurs in the Bible is Genesis 14:18. This is a reference to the time Melchizedek, king of Salem and the “priest of the most high God,” brought “bread and wine” and blessed Abram after the battle to rescue the people taken captive by the four kings. Melchizedek met Abram after the rescue of “three hundred and eighteen” people who had been taken captive by four kings when a battle ensued with the five kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (Zoar) in Genesis 14. Although it is an interesting subject, we will not take the time to study Melchizedek at this time. It is significant to make note that the Melchizedek priesthood was the first mentioned in the Bible. The Levitical Priesthood came much later when Israel was in the wilderness and God gave them instructions for the priesthood to be enacted in the life of the people of Israel.

  1. THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTHOOD. The Priesthood was a significant part of the things that occurred with the people of Israel. God gave to Moses what He wanted to occur with the people of Israel in Exodus 19:5–6 (KJV), “5 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: 6 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.” This occurred when Moses went up on Mt. Sinai, and God informed him what He was planning for the nation of Israel. They would be a “peculiar treasure” and they would be a “kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” God was planning a special relationship with these people, demonstrating through them who God was and what He would do for anyone following Him. A brief chronicle of the beginning of the priesthood in the life of Israel is in order.
  1. The matter of a “priesthood” was not unique to Israel. The Bible demonstrates that outside of the presence of the Melchizedek when Joseph became the number two man in Egypt, he married a woman who was the daughter of Potipherah, “priest of On” (Gen. 41:45). The priests in Egypt had a special relationship with the Pharaoh. When you consider Job, you find that he served as a priest for his children and “offered burnt offerings according to the number of them” (Job 1:5) if they had sinned or cursed God in their hearts. Job lived about the time of Abraham or earlier. Thus, he was a Gentile. Noah functioned as a priest when he built an altar and offered the “clean” beasts and “clean” fowl on the altar (Gen. 8:20). The matters were taught from the time of Adam when God provided a “covering” for the two humans who had sinned (Gen. 3:21) and an animal(s) had to die for the covering to be used. These things took place before the law of God was given to Israel through Moses.
  2. The establishment of the Levitical Priesthood. When Israel left Egypt and made the journey to Mt. Saini, God gave them the Law, which included instructions for the Priesthood, which was to be manned by the people of Levi. As God made the statement in Exodus 19:5-6, the people of Jacob/Israel were to be a “kingdom of priests.” Yet, God designated the tribe of Levi to be the priests who served in the Tabernacle. They were the priests that “come near to the Lord” (Exod. 19:22). These priests were dedicated to the service of the Lord and the Tabernacle in Leviticus 8ff. They were responsible for representing the people to the Lord, doing the work of sacrifice, and ministering in the Tabernacle (Exod. 28:43). The Levitical Priesthood was established under the Law. The Melchizedek Priesthood superseded it.
  3. The Melchizedek Priesthood. The Melchizedek Priesthood is mysterious in some ways. Melchizedek is introduced suddenly in Genesis 14:18 without explaining his background or ministry. God made a declaration about the coming Messiah in Psalm 110:4 (KJV): “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.” Jesus has three offices: prophet, priest, and king. There are some interesting things to note about Melchizedek. His priesthood was established by God (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 7:1). He was “without father, without mother” (Heb. 7:3). There is something that needs to be considered from Hebrews 7:1-3. This Melchisedec of Genesis 14:18 and Hebrews 5:6, 10; 7:1-21 had some characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 7:3 (KJV), “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” There is more speculation about Melchizedek (Melchisedec in the NT) than any person. There is much evidence that he was not the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ because Jesus had a mother, yet not before the incarnation. We will probably never settle this matter. One thing we do know is that Jesus was a “Priest” after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus’ priesthood did not commence until after the resurrection.
  1. THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. Footnote 1 (below) mentions the three offices of Jesus Christ. He was prophet, priest, and king. He was considered a prophet while on the earth. His priesthood is enacted not in the church age but during (. His office of King will be instituted in the Millennium. The transition from Prophet to Priest occurred at the crucifixion. Note Matthew 27:51 (KJV), “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent (cf. Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). The significance of this is evident. There was a veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament. These two places played a significant role in the worship of Jehovah for the people of Israel. The priesthood was made up of men of the tribe of Levi. There were priests and there was an High Priest. Aaron was the first High Priest. The role of a priest was to offer sacrifices at the brazen altar (Exod. 27:1-7), tend to the items in the Holy Place daily. There were three items in the Holy Place, the table of shewbread (Num. 4:7), the alter of incense (Exod. 30:1-4), and the golden candlestick (Exod. 25:31-37). These were daily duties of the priest. The High Priest was one who in some sense oversaw the activities of the Tabernacle and had the role of offering the annual day of atonement (Lev. 16). These priests were all part of the Levitical Priesthood. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first High Priest. These priests are generally grouped together in the Bible. The clothing of the High Priest is explained in Exodus 28:1-43.     
  2. THE JEWISH PRIESTHOOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. The transition from the Old to the New Testament is an interesting process. Many refer to Matthew as the “transition” book from the Old Testament to the New. The book of Matthew graphically demonstrates the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish leaders, the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. The “priesthood” of Israel had become corrupt and detached from their biblical duties. Jesus would send a leper He had healed of his leprosy to the priest (Matt 4:8; Mark 1:44; Luke 1:9; 10:31), because the Old Testament law required them to present themselves to the priest so that they might examine him and declare him clean (Lev. 13-15). In another place Jesus gave a story about a man who “fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him for dead” (Luke 10:30-36). Jesus contrasted the response by a “priest” (vs. 31), a “Levite” (vs. 32), and a Samaritan (vs. 33-36). The priest and Levite moved to the other side of the road and passed by the man. The Samaritan (whom the Jews considered to be full of the Devil (John 8:48) stopped and gave the man help and paid for the process. From this, it is easy to conclude that the priests of Jesus’ day were not what they should be as representatives of God. The condition of the priests and Levites was out of touch with spiritual things like the scribes and Pharisees. It is worth noting that the chief priests and the Pharisees wanted Jesus to be put to death and the High Priest Caiaphas presided over the trial that concluded that Jesus should be put to death (see Matt. 12:14; 26:3, 57-66; John 5:18; 11:47—51, 53). The conclusion is that the supposed “spiritual” leaders of the nation were determined to preserve their position because they saw Jesus as a threat to their position of leadership. The Israel priesthood had lost their way of what God planned for them to be.
  3. IV.THE HIGH PREISTHOOD OF CHRIST TODAY. With the New Testament revelation, should be thankful we have a High Priest today. It states in Hebrews 9:11 (KJV), “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” It says in Ephesians 1:20 (KJV), “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places” (cf. Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 10:12; 12:2). Note also, Romans 8:34 (KJV), “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” 
  4. THE NEW TESTAMENT STATEMENT ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD.
  1. 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV), “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.” How are we doing as a “royal priesthood?”
  2. Revelation 1:5–6 (KJV), “5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
  3. Revelation 5:9–10 (KJV), “9 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; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
  4. Revelation 20:6 (KJV 1900), “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
  1. VI.THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE CHURCH AGE BELIEVER. 1 Peter 2:5 (KJV), “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.” This is the statement that defines our role as priests unto God. According to this verse there are three functions of the believer (the subject of this verse).
  1. A spiritual house. We are the dwelling place of God as stated in Romans 8:9 (KJV), “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Just as the Tabernacle and Temple were the dwelling place of God in the Old Testament, we are the dwelling place of God. This establishes the next point. We are also:
  2. A holy priesthood. This means we have access to God in order to function in the next matter:
  3. Offer up spiritual sacrifices. What are the “spiritual sacrifices” we offer?
  1. Your bodies. Look at Romans 12:1–2 (KJV), “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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
  2. Your giving to missions. In Philippians Paul mentions something we should consider. He said in Philippians 4:18 (KJV), “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, well pleasing to God.” [Emphasis added.] Did you ever consider your offerings to the missionaries of our church a “sacrifice” and was a “sweet smell” to God and the people you sent it to?  Paul is drawing from the three offerings of Leviticus 1-3 that were a “sweet smell to God.”
  3. Your lips giving praise. Note Hebrews 13:15 (KJV), “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.”