priesthood
The New Testament priesthood, Summary:
(1) Until the law was given the head of each family was the family priest. (Genesis 8:20); (Genesis 26:25); (Genesis 31:54).
(2) When the law was proposed, the promise to perfect obedience was that Israel would be unto God "a kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6). But Israel violated the law, and God shut up the priestly office to the Aaronic family, appointing the tribe of Levi to minister to them, thus constituting the typical priesthood. (Exodus 28:1).
(3) In the dispensation of grace, all believers are unconditionally constituted a "kingdom of priests" (1 Peter 2:9); (Revelation 1:6) the distinction which Israel failed to achieve by works. The priesthood of the believer is, therefore, a birthright; just as every descendant of Aaron was born to the priesthood. (Hebrews 5:1).
(4) The chief privilege of a priest is access to God. Under law the high priest only could enter "the holiest of all," and that but once a year (Hebrews 9:7); but when Christ died, the veil, type of Christ's human body (Hebrews 10:20) was rent, so that now the believer-priests, equally with Christ the High Priest, have access to God in the holiest. (Hebrews 10:19-22).
The high Priest is corporeally there (Hebrews 4:14-16); (Hebrews 9:24); (Hebrews 10:19-22).
(5) In the exercise of his office the New Testament believer-priest is
a) a sacrificer who offers a threefold sacrifice:
(a) his own living body. (Romans 12:1); (Philippians 2:17); (2 Timothy 4:6); (1 John 3:16); (James 1:27).
(b) praise to God, "the fruit of the lips that make mention of His name" (R.V.), to be offered "continually"; (Hebrews 13:15); (Exodus 25:22) "I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat".
(c) his substance. (Hebrews 13:16); (Romans 12:13); (Galatians 6:6); (3 John 1:5-8); (Hebrews 13:2); (Galatians 6:10); (Titus 3:14).
b) The New Testament priest is also an intercessor. (1 Timothy 2:1); (Colossians 4:12).