Royal Priests
“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” (1 Peter 2:9)
When Peter says “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,” he is talking about us. Yes, us! By virtue of our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are chosen children of God. He determines that we — yes, we, poor and miserable sinners that we are — are members of the “royal priesthood.”
So, what does this mean? This title sounds important, and so it may stand to reason that a certain responsibility accompanies it. All Christians are “chosen royal priests,” and this describes more than just our standing before God. It also defines our relationship to those around us. Our priestly status gives us the opportunity and responsibility to serve our neighbor as God carries forth His gracious work through us. In other words, God uses “royal priests” to care for the church and community.
As a Christian, we not only have direct access to God by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, but we are also given the wonderful privilege and duty to share the Good News with others by teaching and serving. All are indeed empowered by God to exercise spiritual care toward other Christians. On the subject of the ministry as it pertains to all believers as “priests” of God, Luther wrote: “As priests we are worthy to appear before God to pray for others and to teach one another divine things… Thus Christ has made it possible for us, provided we believe in Him, to be not only His brethren, co-heirs, and fellow kings, but also his fellow priests” (The Freedom of a Christian).
All Christians are priests. But what does it mean to be a “priest of God?” Better put, what is the “function” of a priest of God within the Christian congregation? Some think that the extent of a member’s duties within the church is to “pay and pray” — to bring offerings and speak petitions for the sake of the needy. Besides that, members are perhaps supposed to usher on Sunday morning, serve as lectors and organize the church social functions. While this is all important work, Christian priests are given a much broader task that includes the spiritual care of others within the Church family.
All who have faith are priests of the Lord. All are given the opportunity to pray, serve and work for the sake of the Kingdom. We are priests because Jesus is the ultimate Priest and we are His “CHRIST-ians,” who put on His persona and do His bidding. We are mediators between God and man when we share the Good News, carry out works of service for our neighbor, and act as an example for the sake of our family and friends. Being a priest is a blessed privilege and opportunity.
Each day, be reminded that you are God’s chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Resolve to live out your God-given identity. You are a blessed baptized member of the royal priesthood. No, this does not mean you are a pastor (if you are not actually a pastor) who is called and ordained by God to be responsible for the Word and Sacrament ministry within the Church. Yet, your vocation and identity as God’s chosen person calls you into a life of faithfulness and service.
In Christ,
Pastor Ray
When Peter says “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,” he is talking about us. Yes, us! By virtue of our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are chosen children of God. He determines that we — yes, we, poor and miserable sinners that we are — are members of the “royal priesthood.”
So, what does this mean? This title sounds important, and so it may stand to reason that a certain responsibility accompanies it. All Christians are “chosen royal priests,” and this describes more than just our standing before God. It also defines our relationship to those around us. Our priestly status gives us the opportunity and responsibility to serve our neighbor as God carries forth His gracious work through us. In other words, God uses “royal priests” to care for the church and community.
As a Christian, we not only have direct access to God by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, but we are also given the wonderful privilege and duty to share the Good News with others by teaching and serving. All are indeed empowered by God to exercise spiritual care toward other Christians. On the subject of the ministry as it pertains to all believers as “priests” of God, Luther wrote: “As priests we are worthy to appear before God to pray for others and to teach one another divine things… Thus Christ has made it possible for us, provided we believe in Him, to be not only His brethren, co-heirs, and fellow kings, but also his fellow priests” (The Freedom of a Christian).
All Christians are priests. But what does it mean to be a “priest of God?” Better put, what is the “function” of a priest of God within the Christian congregation? Some think that the extent of a member’s duties within the church is to “pay and pray” — to bring offerings and speak petitions for the sake of the needy. Besides that, members are perhaps supposed to usher on Sunday morning, serve as lectors and organize the church social functions. While this is all important work, Christian priests are given a much broader task that includes the spiritual care of others within the Church family.
All who have faith are priests of the Lord. All are given the opportunity to pray, serve and work for the sake of the Kingdom. We are priests because Jesus is the ultimate Priest and we are His “CHRIST-ians,” who put on His persona and do His bidding. We are mediators between God and man when we share the Good News, carry out works of service for our neighbor, and act as an example for the sake of our family and friends. Being a priest is a blessed privilege and opportunity.
Each day, be reminded that you are God’s chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Resolve to live out your God-given identity. You are a blessed baptized member of the royal priesthood. No, this does not mean you are a pastor (if you are not actually a pastor) who is called and ordained by God to be responsible for the Word and Sacrament ministry within the Church. Yet, your vocation and identity as God’s chosen person calls you into a life of faithfulness and service.
In Christ,
Pastor Ray