What is a Christian?

The Christian is…The Christian is…

A PriestA Priest

Priests!

• What is a Priest?What is a Priest?

• A servant assigned to A servant assigned to approach God, usually on approach God, usually on behalf of others. behalf of others.

Priests!

• Priest of the Most High GodPriest of the Most High God

• Melchizedek – Genesis 14:18-20Psalm 110:4

Priests!• The Levitical PriesthoodThe Levitical Priesthood• Served Israel under the Law of

Moses – AaronEx.28:1-3, Num. 3:10

• They offered sacrifices• Enforced purity laws• Taught the people – Lev. 10:8-11, cf. Neh. 8:1-8

Priests!• The Priesthood of JesusThe Priesthood of Jesus• Patterned after both

Melchizedek and the Levitical Priesthood

•Hebrews 2:17, “…He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Priests!• False priesthoodsFalse priesthoods• Old Testament gods• Catholicism –

1) no clergy/laity system in Bible2)Matt. 23:5-10 – no titles3) “Sacraments” do not require special servants (baptism, LS,…)4) We receive forgiveness directly through Jesus (1 John 1:9)

Priests!• The Christian is a PriestThe Christian is a Priest• Rev. 1:5-6, 5:10•1 Peter 2:4-5, “being built

up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood”

•1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood…”

• We serve directly under Jesus

Our Duties as Priests!• Enter into our dutyEnter into our duty• Be washed, Heb. 10:19-22• Before serving, Levites had to

wash themselves Ex. 30:20, Lev. 8:6-7

• The temple a type of the church, Ac. 15:16, Heb. 8:2, 5; 1 Cor. 3:16-17, Eph. 2:21

• Baptism – Acts 2:38, 47

Our Duties as Priests!• Provide a dwelling place for GodProvide a dwelling place for God• He is within us, 1 Cor. 6:18-20•1 Peter 2:5• Purity 1 John 3:3, 1 Pet. 1:22• James 1:27• Purity ensures our prayers are not

hindered• Serve Him with a pure conscience• Makes worship acceptable

Our Duties as Priests!

• Offer Spiritual sacrifices Offer Spiritual sacrifices

•1 Peter 2:5• The Levites offered several

types of sacrifices Lev. 1-7

Our Duties as Priests!• Offer Spiritual sacrifices Offer Spiritual sacrifices • Praising God Heb. 13:15• Good works Heb. 13:16, Jas. 1:27, Titus 2:14

• Support gospel Phil. 4:18• Our living bodies Rom. 12:1, Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:12-14

• Our lives Phil. 2:17, 2 Tim. 4:6, Rev. 2:10

Our Duties as Priests!

• Proclaim His praisesProclaim His praises•1 Peter 2:9• We need to know our Law – 1 Pet. 3:15•Romans 15:15-16

Are you faithfully Are you faithfully serving in His serving in His priesthood?priesthood?