Using Scripture to Navigate the Gray Areas. Part 3 - Priesthood of the Believer & Soul Liberty

Transcription

1 Using Scripture to Navigate the Gray Areas Part 3 - Priesthood of the Believer & Soul Liberty

2 Priesthood of the Believer As a Protestant I cherish the NT teaching on the priesthood of believers that each Christian has the right to his own interpretation, but also that each Christian has the responsibility to get it right. Daniel Wallace

3 The priesthood of the believer: No born-again Christian has need of any man to act as an intermediary between he / she and God, and Each of us come directly before God thru the ministry of Jesus Christ (our High Priest), no one else can act on our behalf.

4 Where do we find it? 1 Peter 2:5 & 9 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. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

5 Hebrews 10:19-22 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

6 Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (see also Revelation 5:10 & 20:6)

7 1 Tim 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

8 1. The privileges of the believer: Direct access to God via Christ - Heb 4:14-16 Individual teaching of the Holy Spirit - John 16:13 2. Chosen for a purpose - to offer spiritual sacrifice: A yielded life - Rom 12:1 Financial support of spiritual ministry - Phil 4:18 Praises to God - Heb 13:15

9 3. Serve Him by life: Live Godly - Titus 2:11-14 Created to good works - Ephesians 2:10 4. Serve Him by word: Shew (proclaim) His praises - 1 Peter 2:9 Be ready to give a reason - 1 Peter 3:5

10 Continuity between the Old Testament Levitical priesthood a n d t h e N e w Te s t a m e n t priesthood of the believer. In our efforts to maintain the crucial distinctions drawn by the cross of Christ, we may neglect to give due attention to the many similarities which exist between the former Levitical priesthood and the priesthood of all believers today.

11 1. Priesthood is contingent upon being a member of the right family. Only the sons of Aaron under the Law of Moses - so today it is only those who are in Christ by personal faith. Priesthood is not something which men can bestow upon other men Priests are those whose sins have been atoned for, so that they are free to minister to other sinners.

12 2. God s priesthood is a holy priesthood Disobedience to God still dishonors Him and fails to regard Him as holy God takes the sin of His priests very seriously Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Priests must not let their human sympathies and family affections dim their regard for the holiness of God.

13 3. Priests must not inhibit or dim their sense of judgment or the significance of what they are doing Priests were to be more set apart than the others. 1 Corinthians 11:28-29 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

14 4. The role of a priest is to serve God and men Priest clothed in special garments to serve God - we are clothed in Christ s righteousness to serve God Intercede before God for the people, represent God to the people. Only by rightly serving God first can we really serve men.

15 5. God is gracious and merciful in His appointment of His priests Aaron was the last candidate you would have expected to be appointed as a priest - he was responsible for the golden calf. None yet have deserved to stand in God s presence. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

16 Individual Soul liberty & responsibility Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another:another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure:but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

17 Direct Commands A specific, direct command in Scripture Thou shalt thou shalt not e.g. - Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

18 Principles of Scripture A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning. (Dictionary) A gray area can often be clarified by looking for the principles of scripture, and seeking to be guided by the Holy Spirit into the proper application for us today.

19 As a Protestant I cherish the NT teaching on the priesthood of believers that each Christian has the right to his own interpretation, but also that each Christian has the responsibility to get it right. Daniel Wallace