What Is the Priesthood of All Believers?

United with Christ in Priesthood

The priesthood of all believers is a stupendous doctrine that was revived by the Reformers. Principally, it says that Christ is our priest and that every one believers in Christ are clergymen, in some sense, like Christ. Not only a sure particular class of individuals within the church, however all believers share on this priesthood as we share in Christ and as we take part with Christ in a non secular union. That’s the attractive doctrine that we discover in Scripture.

For example, Revelation 1 talks about how we’re made kings and clergymen unto our God. And even earlier, within the Outdated Testomony, Israel was referred to as to be a kingdom of clergymen. (Ex. 19) And Peter picks up on the identical fact in 1 Peter 2 when he says the church has this holy calling, a kingdom of clergymen, a royal priesthood. So the priesthood of believers is a stupendous doctrine that I feel has an important worth. And I don’t know if it has been undervalued a lot because it could possibly be valued much more. This may be utilized to mission in an exquisite manner within the witness of the church—not simply the non-public, internal relationship that we have now with Christ as our priest, but in addition the company, outward-facing ministries of the church, the confession of the church in society.

I feel the priesthood of all believers has one thing to say there too as a result of as Christ is our priest, so we’re clergymen in that very same manner as we’re united to Christ spiritually. The Heidelberg Catechism touches on this in an exquisite manner that takes this doctrine and expands on it a bit. When you take a look at the Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 12, Q&A 31 and 32, the primary query says, “Why is he referred to as Christ?” (that is in my very own phrases now) and “Why is he referred to as the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one?”

And the reply is as a result of he’s been anointed—he’s been appointed by God the Father—and anointed by the Spirit to be our chief prophet, our solely excessive priest, and our everlasting king. After which the second query of that Lord’s Day, Q&A 32 says, “Why are you referred to as a Christian?” And so it’s taking what Christ is after which evaluating it with what we’re referred to as to be in Christ. And the reply is gorgeous. The reply says that we’re partakers of Christ, that we’re united to Christ in non secular union, and we’re anointed by his Spirit. After which the reply offers three elements: to admit his identify, after which to offer our lives as a dwelling sacrifice, after which additionally to battle towards sin. So once more: prophet, priest, and king.

So it’s not simply the priesthood of all believers, but it surely’s the priesthood, the prophethood, and the kingship of all believers, in a sure sense, as Christ is our head. I feel that may be utilized to mission in a variety of methods. One, the priesthood of all believers says that it’s not simply those that are particularly referred to as to a specific activity, like missionary or apologist or maybe an workplace of evangelist in case your church has one, but it surely’s all believers who know Christ and are united with him spiritually which have a activity to be missionaries, to be witnesses, to be evangelists to the folks round us. And never simply clergymen in that sense—giving our lives as a dwelling sacrifice—but in addition prophets, in a small piece, because it have been. As Christ is our nice and chief prophet, so we’re referred to as to prophetically communicate his phrase in our communities and in our personal context.

We’re referred to as to be princes who’re searching for Christ’s kingdom, selling his justice, and doing his will on earth as it’s in heaven.

As Christ is the one excessive priest, so we’re referred to as to be clergymen—little clergymen, because it have been—in our personal communities by ministries of intercession, ministries of prayer for others, ministries of being a priestly blessing, as Paul speaks about in Romans 15, to share the blessings of Christ as Abraham was referred to as to be a blessing to all nations.

We’re referred to as to be kings as nicely. Though, we’re referred to as to be princes, as a result of we’re not but kings. We’re going to be kings, however we’re not kings but. And so we’re referred to as to be princes who’re searching for Christ’s kingdom, selling his justice, and doing his will on earth as it’s in heaven.

And so the priesthood of all believers is an important doctrine that claims all believers are referred to as to be witnesses of Christ, and all of us share in Christ’s ministries. We’re referred to as by Christ and empowered and anointed by his Spirit to be prophets in our society, to be clergymen in our society, and to be kings (or princes) in our society as we witness of Christ.

Brian A. DeVries is the creator of You Will Be My Witnesses: Theology for God’s Church Serving in God’s Mission.

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