Through Christ’s priestly office, all believers who are united to him share in his anointing. Two chief texts of Scripture teach us this truth. The first is 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Within the context of Peter’s statement, he rests the church’s identity as a royal priesthood in their union with Christ. They have come to the living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and as such, they have become living stones “to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:4–5). Our priestly office finds its fount and source in Christ’s priestly office.
The second text is like this first one, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). What is an implication of Christ’s redemptive work? What is one of the things he accomplishes through his shed blood? “You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall rein on the earth” (Rev. 5:10). Believers united to Christ share in all that he is and does, and in this case, they share in his priestly office. Unlike the Old Testament priests, who offered sacrificial animals, New Testament believers rest in the finished work of Christ, the one true sacrifice. Now, as Peter writes, we proclaim the excellencies of the God who called us out of darkness into light and offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Christ, the sacrifices of our bodies as “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1) and praise to God, that is, “The fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Heb. 13:15). The implications of this scriptural teaching are profound.
“The Priesthood of All Believers” by J.V. Fesko, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-priesthood-of-all-believers/
This means that all people who give their lives to Jesus have direct access to the Father through Him, with all the same rights and privileges to His throne of grace – including reading and applying the Word of God. Just as Jesus intercedes with the Father on our behalf, His followers also intercede on behalf of others.
Through prayer, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God and acknowledge the name that above every name – the only name by which man must be saved (Acts 4:12). It is by His blood that we have been redeemed.
And if you need prayer, please visit our Intercessors page and contact us so that we can be praying for you!
Prayers for Hope 