Post-Tour Reflection: Pondering Who We Are in Christ—Priests

The main title is too broad, for we could spend months, if not years, pondering who we are in Christ. But in the context of what we have just seen in Tour 5 and what we are going to be contemplating from here on out, it would be good to consider the Scripture’s emphasis on our being a “priest” and what that means.

It has been my observation that most Christians have fallen into a “dependency” mode when it comes to their Christianity. Most of us show up at church on Sunday for the purpose of being sprinkled with music and a sermon. We put a few coins in the coffer and then retreat into our “secular” world having the sense that the real work of the Kingdom is to be done by the professional cleric, the church staff, and those who are in “professional Christian ministries." This is an affront to the Lord Jesus who made all of us who are in Christ to be “royal priests”, a “holy priesthood”, and “priests to our God." 

Martin Luther said this:

“We are not all called to be pastors, but we are all called to be priests.”

Why would he say such a thing? Because of what we read in the Scripture. Please take the time to read and ponder these verses:

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  1 Pet 2:9

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:4-5

And they sang a new song, saying, 

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10

There is a foreshadowing of this even as early as Exodus:

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’  Exodus 19:5-6

Yes, God has ordained the institutional church in which there are leaders and we are to be subject to them within that institutional context and design. But, as we read in Ephesians 4, their job is to equip the saints for the work of ministry. We will later deal with our role as “ambassadors” for Christ. And in the context of the Scripture boiling everything down to the Royal Law, it is appropriate for the believer in Christ to understand that the primary work of the kingdom has been entrusted to the common, everyday Christian family. 

Oh, dear believer in Christ! Do not let the enemy defraud you. You are, in Christ, an Ambassador, a Priest, part of a Holy Priesthood. May the Bride of Christ embrace and awaken to her identity and calling.