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All true servants of the LORD Jesus Christ are designated as priests. A true priest is not some designated class as the Roman Catholic church falsely teaches:
The true priesthood is holy because they are the elect of God, chosen and authorized to worship God in Spirit and truth. Through their imputed goodness from God, His children evidence their salvation first by the way they serve their King, God and how they treat their neighbor; in a spiritual sense, offering spiritual sacrifices:
"Then laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil words, as newborn babes desire the pure soul-nourishing milk, that you may grow by it; if indeed you "tasted" "that the Lord is good;" to whom having drawn near, a living Stone, indeed having been rejected by men, but chosen by God, precious; you also as living stones are being built a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Because of this, it is also contained in the Scripture: "Behold," I lay in Zion" an elect, "precious Stone," "a Corner-foundation;" "and the one believing in Him shall not be ashamed, never!" Then to you who believe belongs the preciousness. But to disobeying ones, He is the "Stone which those building rejected; this One became the Head of the Corner," and a Stone-of-stumbling, and a Rock-of-offense" to the ones stumbling, being disobedient to the Word, to which they were also appointed. But you are "an elect race," "a royal priesthood," "a holy nation," "a people for possession," so that "you may openly speak of the virtues" of the One who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; you who then were "not a people, but now are the people" of God; "the one not pitied then but now pitied."" - 1 Peter 2:1-10 LITV.
This truth from God's Word was also predicted in prophecy.
"And they shall build old ruins; they shall raise up former desolations; and they shall restore the waste cities, ruins of generations and generations. And foreigners shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of strangers shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be called, Priests of Jehovah; it will be said of you, Ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and you shall revel in their glory. Instead of your shame and disgrace, double. They rejoice in their portion; for they shall possess a second time in their land; everlasting joy shall be theirs." - Isaiah 61:4-7 LITV.
This priesthood includes all true believers:
"Blessed is the one reading, and those hearing the Words of this prophecy, and keeping the things having been written; for the time is near. John to the seven assemblies in Asia: Grace to you, and peace, from the One who is, and who was, and who is coming, and from the seven spirits which are before His throne; even from Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness, the First-born out of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him loving us and washing us from our sins by His blood, and made us kings and priests to God, even His Father. To Him is the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen." - Revelation 1:3-6 LITV.
Being a child of God is a simile of being a king or a priest, it is the highest dignity that can be bestowed upon a man. Under the Old Covenant, a priest was a designation given to a specific person whose duty it was to make atonemnet between an individual or the community or Israel and God. Now, there is no "clergy" to be elevated above the "laiety". Every true believer is a saint and a priest. Under the New Covenant, no man, system, or Roman Catholic priesthood can do this, every child of God has immediate and direct access to God the Father through the LORD Jesus Christ:
"For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." - Ephesians 2:18 LITV.
As priests, we are instructed to present our bodies as a living sacrifice:
"Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:1,2 LITV.
This includes praise and good works; without works ones faith is NOT imputed the faith of Christ, but rather their own dead "faith":
"Then through Him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God always, that is, the fruit of the lips, confessing to His name. But do not be forgetful of doing good and sharing, for God is well pleased with such sacrifices." - Hebrews 13:15,16 LITV.
Hypocrites of Christianity do not do good works, however the true believer, the royal priest of Christ will delight in sharing God's provisons:
"And I know to be humbled, and I know to abound; in everything, and in all things, I am taught both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound, and to lack. I have strength for all things in Christ the One strengthening me. Yet you did well in sharing my troubles. And you know, too, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I went out from Macedonia, not one assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only. Because truly in Thessalonica you sent to my need, both once and twice. Not that I seek a gift, but I seek the fruit multiplying to your account. But I have all things and more than enough; I have been filled, receiving from Epaphroditus the things from you, an odor of sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will fill your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now may glory be to our God and Father forever and ever. Amen." - Philippians 4:12-20 LITV.
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