PRIEST/PRIESTHOOD
Priest = hiereus meaning priest Priesthood = hiera meaning an assembly of priests
NOTE: According to the New Testament, we are now a royal priesthood. The function of a priest is to offer a sacrifice, which according to Romans 12:1-2 is for us to “present our bodies a living sacrifice...” An example of offering our bodies is in the Biblical account of Abraham offering Isaac unto God according to Genesis 22:6f where he took a 1) sword, 2) fire and a 3)(sacrifice. Today, the sword could represent the Word of God; the fire, the Holy Spirit; sacrifice, an offering of our bodies in 1) repentance, 2) submission and 3) obedience. As Christians, we are all priests, redeemed and called by God. And as priests, we have direct and constant access to the King, and this is our position. Our function is to work within the priesthood. We are not just individual priests ministering alone but rather priests who function together with other priests of the ekklesia. As priests we share His life with other priests, and we also take the concerns of other priests to God...thus we are a royal priesthood! |