The Baptist Distinctives, the reason we are Baptists.

The Priesthood of All Believers.

The Old Testament Priesthood here on earth is over concerning what the offerings were for and what they meant.

The position of High Priest is filled , and has been since the anointing of Christ.

(Heb 5:5-10) "So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. {6} As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. {7} Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; {8} Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; {9} And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; {10} Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec."

The OT priest was to offer up a sacrifice for atonement of sins. This was pictorial of the finished work Christ at Calvary. It is the message of the scripture in Heb 9: 1-14 that Christ has completely filled the order of Aaron.

The position of mediator between God and man has also been filled.

(1 Tim 2:5) "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

Today, the Bible-believing Christian is priest, only Jesus is the Highest priest.

Look at the history lesson in…

(Heb 5:1) "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:"

The universal priesthood of believers may be seen in…

(1 Pet 2:5) "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

(1 Pet 2:9) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:"

There is no truth to one believer being more of a priest than another, or one believer having more privilege than another. We are all equal in that sense. There is no doctrine in the Bible to call yourself a priest that administers any type of religious rite.

This universal Priesthood is by the Grace of God.

(Rev 1:6) "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

(Rev 5:10) "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."

(Rev 20:6) "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

Our status in priesthood is not by any achievement on our part. It is not by works of Righteousness which we have done. It is entirely by God’s Grace.

We have the rites of a priest because of Jesus…

(Heb 10:19-20) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, {20} By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;"

Only the priest could enter into the holiest place of God. Now you can to because of God.

CHRIST WILL JUDGE ALL UNSCRIPTURAL ASSUMPTIONS OF PRIESTHOOD

TWO ASPECTS OF BIBLICAL REVELATION DEMONSTRATE THIS FACT:

1. THE GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE PRINCIPLE

HEB 5:4 And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

2. THE HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF GOD'S JUDGMENT ON THOSE WHO PRESUMED TO INTRUDE THEMSELVES INTO THIS DIVINE OFFICE APART FROM GOD'S DESIGNATION

THREE EXAMPLES:

1. Numbers 16:1-50

2. KING SAUL 1 Samuel 13:8-14

3. UZZIAH 2 Chronicles 26:16-20

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO DESIGNATE CERTAIN SELECTED MEN TO THE OFFICE OF "PRIEST" IN AUTHORITY OVER OTHERS IN THAT ORGANIZATION ARE IN GROSS ERROR.

REMEMBER YOUR PRIORITIES

There is a good story from years ago about a top executive with a telegraph company who went on a trip. It was extremely cold outside when he arrived at the bus station, so he went into a local telegraph station hoping to get warmed up. When he got inside, however, it was cold. He noticed there was no fire in the fireplace. He said to the young telegraph operator, "Why don't you build a fire in this place and warm it up?" The young man said, "Listen, mister, I'm too busy sending telegrams to build fires." The man then told this boy that he was the vice-president of the company and that he wanted him to send a telegram to the home office at once. The message was, "Fire this man immediately." A moment later the young telegraph operator brought a load of wood into the office and began to build a fire. The executive asked, "Young man, have you sent that telegram yet?" The young telegraph operator said, "Listen, mister, I'm too busy building fires to send telegrams."

BAPTISTS HAVE WITHSTOOD ALL SUCH MOVEMENTS THROUGHOUT CHURCH HISTORY.

AS BAPTISTS, WE BELIEVE IN THE UNIVERSAL PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER. WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DOGMA OF THEIR PRIESTS: WHY?

1. HE HAS POWER CONFERRED ON HIM BY THE ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY WHICH ACTS FOR CHRIST.

2. HE OFFERS UP SACRIFICE TO GOD (THE MASS) IN WHICH SALVATION FOR THE FAITHFUL CENTERS

3. HE HAS THE POWER OF ABSOLUTION --- THAT IS, TO FORGIVE SINS

4. HE IS IN FINAL AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO TEACHING AND GOVERNMENT

AS BAPTISTS, WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE ANGLICAN PRIESTHOOD, OR THE REFORMED PRIESTHOOD, WHICH HAVE LESS DOGMA THAN THE CATHOLICS DO.

AS BAPTISTS, WE BELIEVE IN THE UNIVERSAL PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER.

This page was updated on 03/23/00