We are priests.
Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 tell us that Jesus, because of His death and forgiveness, has made us kings and priests unto God. 1 Peter 2:5, 9 calls us a holy and royal priesthood. God says to us in Exodus 19:5 that we will be a kingdom of priests to Him.
And as priests, there are certain things we have to do and be.
2 Chronicles 6:41 and Psalm 132:16 mention priests clothed with salvation. I think we can safely assume from that that we must be saved before we can be priests.
Exodus 29 speaks of consecrating the priests (Aaron and his sons). The ceremony included washing them with water and smearing blood onto their right ears, big toes, and thumbs. Nowadays for us, that would be baptism and being covered by the blood of Jesus.
Exodus 19:5-6 says if we obey God’s voice and keep His commands, then we are His precious treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
The priest would often bless others (one example is Exodus 9:22). We should bless others, not curse them (Matthew 5:44).
Hebrews 5:1-2, 4 says every high priest “is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God” and is able to “deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness”; also, no one can become a high priest unless he is “called by God” (ESV).
We must be appointed and called, acting on behalf of men in relation to God (interceding for them before God). We need to deal gently and lovingly with those who are ignorant (don’t know the Gospel) and wayward (wandering away from God), remembering that we also have weaknesses and aren’t perfect.
And here’s two verses that I have to include just because 😊:
…for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood…
And he shall have…the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God…
Exodus 40:15, Numbers 25:13 (KJV)
I don’t know about you, but I found this all pretty interesting–and challenging. I’m a Christian, which means I’m also a priest. But do I do all these things? Am I a good priest?
Anyway, hope I didn’t bore you! 🙂
You were not boring Jules! It was very interesting, but I hope your church doesn’t smear blood on you!
Eww, no, they don’t! I meant figuratively, we’re covered by the blood of Jesus. (I guess it could be kind of literal though, because when God looks at us He sees the blood of Jesus… Hmm, now you’ve got me thinking! :-))
I’m glad you found it interesting! Thanks for commenting!