The Priesthood of All Believers

What Scripture says

All quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).

1. 1 Peter 2:9

   But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

   Royal priesthood. Not the pastors only — all of God's people.

2. 1 Peter 2:5

   You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

   A holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices. Worship is everyone's vocation.

3. Revelation 1:6

   and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

   Christ has already made us priests. Past tense. Settled fact.

4. Hebrews 4:14-16

   Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let's hold tightly to our confession. For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.

   Jesus is the great High Priest. Through Him, we draw near directly.

5. 1 Timothy 2:5

   For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

   One mediator. Not many. Not Mary, not saints, not pastors — one.

6. Matthew 27:50-51

   Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.

   When Jesus died, the temple veil was torn — top to bottom, God's doing. The way is open.

7. Ephesians 3:12

   in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.

   Boldness AND access. Not tentative — confident.

8. Hebrews 10:19-22

   Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a great priest over the house of God, let's draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,

   Believers are invited INTO the holy place. The new covenant access is permanent.

9. James 5:16

   Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

   Believers minister to each other — mutual confession, mutual prayer. Priestly work, done together.

10. Romans 12:1

    Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

    Our whole lives are the priestly sacrifice. Every day is liturgy.

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