The priesthood of all believers

The PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS, by which we understand that each Christian has direct access to God through Christ our High Priest, and shares with Him in His work of reconciliation. This involves intercession, worship, faithful service and bearing witness to Jesus Christ, even to the ends of the earth.

I’ve been walking the church through our seven Baptist Principles. You can find them on our website here: https://www.benonibaptistchurch.com/our-baptist-principles/. We as Baptists share many areas of our faith with other members of the Christian Church. There are however areas of principle and practice where Baptists are different. These distinctives arise out of our understanding of the Scriptures.

Now, you may wonder why I keep returning to these principles. The principles that relate to the constitutional update are done. I want to finish the rest of principle because I want us to know who are. Why we are. And so, today I’m writing on the priesthood of all believers.

There was a time when a man could not approach God directly. He needed a priest. He needed a sacrifice. He needed someone to speak on his behalf. The veil in the temple stood thick and heavy. Only one man, once a year, could enter the Holy of Holies. Everyone else waited outside.

Then Jesus died.

And the veil was torn in two. From top to bottom. Not from bottom to top, as if man reached up and ripped it. No. Top to bottom. God reached down and opened the way.

You need no human mediator to stand between you and God. You need no special class of holy men to grant you access. Christ is your High Priest. He made the sacrifice. He opened the door. And He invites you to draw near. As Hebrews writes, Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus … let us draw near (Hebrews 10:19, 22).

You have direct access to the throne of grace. Not through me. Not through any pastor. Not through a bishop or a council or a denomination. Through Christ alone. This is your birthright as a believer. Do not surrender it. Do not neglect it.

But this doctrine is not only about access. It is about identity. Peter writes to the whole church, You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession (1 Peter 2:9). He does not address the elders only. He does not address a special class. He addresses every believer. Men and women. Young and old. New converts and seasoned saints.

You are a priest.

Think of what that means. In the Old Testament, priests were set apart for sacred service. They offered sacrifices. They interceded for the people. They maintained the worship of God. Now Peter says this about you. All of you.

Your work matters to God. Your prayers rise like incense. Your service is holy. When you read Scripture publicly on a Sunday morning, you are fulfilling a priestly function. When you lead a Bible study, you are doing priestly work. When you pray over a struggling brother, you are interceding as a priest. When you share the gospel with your neighbour, you are bearing witness as a priest.

Not because you wear special garments. Not because you have a title. But because you belong to Christ. And He has made you a kingdom of priests to serve His God and Father.

This is why I have been intentional about getting more people involved in our Sunday services. Scripture readers. Those who lead us in pastoral prayer. Even those who have baptised new believers. This is why I try to ensure that every ministry team and every Bible study has a Paul and a Barnabas. Because this isn’t a one horse and pony show. I’m not the guy that ministers at Benoni Baptist Church alone. We all are serving together. I am not trying to be innovative. I am trying to be biblical. The priesthood of all believers is not a doctrine I preach and then ignore. It is a reality we must practise.

But this goes deeper than Sunday morning. Every member must find a place to serve. Not because we need to fill slots. Not because the church is a machine that requires operators. Because you are a priest. And priests serve. Paul describes the church as a body. The body is not one part but many (1 Corinthians 12:14). Every part has a function. Every member supplies something. When you serve, the body grows. When you hold back, the body limps.

Not everyone teaches. Not everyone leads. Not everyone stands up front. But everyone can serve. Everyone can love. Everyone can give of what God gave them. The priesthood of all believers takes the spiritual gifts that God has placed in your life and employs them for the good of His church. Not pride. Not spectacle. Service.

Now I must press this home. Are you serving? Are you using your gifts for the good of this body? Or have you been watching from the sidelines while others do the work? This is not a guilt trip. It is a pastoral question. You are a priest. Priests do not spectate. They worship. They intercede. They work.

Perhaps you have been waiting for someone to ask you. Perhaps you did not know where to begin. Perhaps you thought your contribution was too small to matter. No gift is too small when it is given in love. No act of service is wasted when it is done for Christ.

So here is the invitation. Not the command of a pastor who needs volunteers. The call of a body that needs every member.

Would you like to start serving? You can indicate your interest by submitting this form: http://benonibaptistchurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/746628. A leader will connect with you soon. Application is subject to approval by the elders. That is not to hinder you. That is to help us discern where and how you can best serve.

You are a priest. Live like one. Serve like one. For the glory of Christ and the building up of His church.

In Christ,

Mark