Priesthood of the Believer

Background:  The Priesthood of the Believer is one of the Baptist Distinctives.  This doctrine is what sets the Baptists and all true Christians apart from the Catholics.  The way to salvation and forgiveness of sin is through Jesus Christ and not through a pope or priest.  The way to prayer is not through formality and tradition, but through the Blood of Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament times, people had to go the priest in order to sacrifice.  The sacrifice was for the forgiveness of sin.  The person would put their hand on the head of the animal and confess their sins, thus transferring their sins to the animal.  The animal would then be sacrificed as a picture of what Jesus Christ would do on the cross for our sins.  The only way to God was through the priest who would enter the Holy of Holies on behalf of the individual. 

In the Gospels, Jesus died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice.  Jesus is both God and man incarnate in One Flesh.  He paid for our sins in His own body on the cross of Calvary.  When He died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn in two by God from top to bottom.  Now there was no longer a need to confess your sins to the priest who would in turn intercede to God for you.  Now when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have direct access to God through prayer.

P Priesthood of the Believer.

We have access into the throne room of heaven.  Only born again Christians have access into the throne room of heaven, because Jesus has washed their sins away.  Sin prevents us from fellowship with God the Father. 

The privilege of the Priesthood of the Believer is that we can pray to God and have our prayers heard.  We can confess our sins I John 1:9  and God will forgive us of our sins.  When we sin, we do not lose our salvation, but we do lose the joy of our salvation.  Once you are born again you can never become unborn.  Some teach that you can lose your salvation.  John 3:16 teaches everlasting life.  Everlasting lasts forever.  Ephesians 1:13  When we are saved we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise.  Our salvation hinges on what Jesus Christ has done and not our works.  Ephesians 2:8,9 We are sealed in Christ Jesus and nothing can pluck us out of His hand. John 10:28,29   Since we are secure in Christ Jesus we have the bold access into the throne room of heaven through the Blood of Christ.  Hebrews 10:19  Prayer is the privilege of being in Christ Jesus.

Our lives are to be our sacrifice.  Romans 12:1,2  The priest conducted the sacrifices and made the petitions for the people in the Old Testament.  With the covenant of grace, Jesus paid the price for our sins, we are made the priests and our lives are to be a living sacrifice to God.  We have direct access into the throne room of heaven!  Hebrews 10:19  (side note, this is why we are not Catholic, we can pray to God directly without going to confession)  Each day we are to live our lives for Jesus Christ.  Our lives are our sacrifice to God.  We must die to self each day and live for Him Who gave Himself for us!

All those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their own personal Lord and Savior are the true priests of today!