Rediscovered in the 16th century in the Great Reformation
Sola scriptura The Bible the only basis of faith and practice.
Sola Fides Faith alone Justification by faith alone resulting in good works.
Sola gratia Grace alone Christ as our substitute on the cross and predestination.
Centrality of preaching. Not literal body and blood Purgatory rejected. Prayers to Mary and the saints rejected.
Priesthood of all believers. Christ the only Mediator between us & God. Fellowship with one another & Christ.
Christ as our only Priest. Every Christian involved. Barrier between God & man removed.
Priest in the OT acted on behalf of others before God. A bridge.
Priests from the tribe of Levi. Exodus 32:26 'So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said,” Whoever is for the Lord come to me.” and all the Levites rallied to him.'
Exodus 32:29 'Then Moses said, ”You have been set apart to the Lord today and He has blessed you."'
Deuteronomy 10:8 'At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to serve & pronounce blessings in His name.'
Levites given special recognition in final blessing Deuteronomy 33:8-11
Under Mosaic Covenant the nation was a 'kingdom of priests' Exodus 19:6 'A holy nation' Leviticus 11
Priesthood became a mediator of the covenant. Represented the people. Had to be in harmony with God to maintain the covenant relationship of the nation with God.
Levites set apart to serve the sanctuary. Priests descended from Aaron. The High Priest was the only one allowed to enter the holy of holies once a year on the Day of Atonement.
Other duties: Temple chorus Psalms 85,87. Answer questions Deuteronomy 33:8-11 Teachers of the Law Malachi 2:7, Deuteronomy 33:10 The Levites would first 'teach the precepts to Jacob & your Law to Israel.' Then they would present offerings.
Prophets rebuked the Levites & priests for their failures in their tasks Ezekiel 34
Priesthood in the New Testament ; Had to belong to tribe of Levi
Priest born of tribe of Levi. All others excluded. Jew or Gentile. John the Baptist priestly lineage. Special knowledge required, director of sacrifices, passed on message from God.
Jesus of the tribe of Judah. Opposed by Sadducees & chief priests. Some came to faith.
Priesthood of Christ Hebrews 3:1 'Therefore, holy brothers who share in the heavenly, calling fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle & high priest whom we confess.'
Hebrews 4:14 'Therefore since we have a great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.'
Jesus is the perfect priest who brought the priesthood to an end in history. He established a once for all eternal mediator role between God & man.
Hebrews 7:14 'For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah' Hebrews 7:17 but it was the priesthood of Melchisadek which is fulfilled Psalm 110, Hebrews 7:1-25
The priesthood of Christ becomes the priesthood of all believers in the NT. The believer is united with Christ and shares His status and role. Jesus remains the mediator.
John 14:6 'I am the way, the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'
1 Timothy 2:5 'For there is one God & one mediator between God & men, the man Christ Jesus.'
We do not need an earthly mediator: 1 Peter 2:5 'You also like living stones are being built up into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God thru Jesus Christ.'
1 Peter 2:9 'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.'
Revelation 1:6 'He has made us to be a kingdom & priests to serve His God & Father - to him be the glory & power for ever & ever'
Revelation 5:10 'You have made them to be a kingdom & priests to serve our God & they will reign on earth for ever & ever.'
No NT writer ascribes the title of priest to an individual member or order of ministry in the church.
The transfer of Jewish believers to Gentiles
Isaiah 65:1 'I revealed Myself to those that did not ask for Me. I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call on My name, I said 'Here am I here am I.''
Matthew 21:43 'Therefore I tell you the kingdom of God will be taken away from you & given to a people who will produce its fruit.'
Acts 10:34-35 'Peter began to speak, ”I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear Him & do what is right.'
Acts 15:9-11 'God made no distinction between us Jews & the Gentiles for He purified their hearts by faith. Now then why do you try & test God by putting on their necks a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear. No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved just as they are.'
Ephesians 2:19 'You are no longer foreigners & aliens but fellow citizens with God’s people & members of God’s household.'
Priesthood of all believers: Galatians 3:26-28 'You are all sons through faith in Christ Jesus for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.'
We have one Great High Priest Hebrews 4:14 at God’s right hand
Example of His prayer John 17
Jesus forgives all who confess their sins to him. 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins He is faithful & just ...'
We are all priests 1 Peter 1:15-16 'Just as He is holy so be holy in all you do. It is written: be holy for I am holy'
We all worship Hebrews 13:15 'Through Jesus let us continually off a sacrifice of praise the fruit of lips'
Ephesians 5:19 'Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, make music from your heart.'
1 Peter 3:15 'Be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in you.'
Find it out yourself
Ephesians 5:17 We ourselves seek God’s guidance, Not be foolish but understand the will of the Lord.
There are special functions in the church
1 Corinthians 12:28 Gifts of healing, helping, guidance
Ephesians 4:11 'Christ Himself gave the apostles, prophets evangelists pastors & teachers'
1 Timothy 5:17-18 Elders, teaching, preaching
Jesus is the High Priest & all believers are priests, because of their faith in Him.
We still need Him as our Mediator.
We can have as much of God as we choose.
