Are We Kings and Priests or Priests in His Kingdom?

 

Kings and Priests or Priests in a Kingdom?

Mary Ann Wray

I wrestled for quite a while with the popular belief I’ve heard among Charismatic Circles who teach “We are Kings and Priests unto the Lord”, while citing Revelation 1: 6. Here is the passage I am referring to:

“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…”KJV

I found that translation and the correlated teaching to be a bit contradictory. In my mind I thought, “There’s only one King in any given Kingdom. There can’t be more than one, or it creates division and chaos. Having said that,  in the Kingdom of God as it is expressed in the earth today, Who is the King? The answer is obvious. It is Jesus Christ. So, this begs another question, as His children and joint heirs with Christ does this mean “we” can be Kings and Priests at the same time, here and now?  Isn’t it one or the other? Or, is one for now and the other later?

 These two nouns are clearly two separate identities and functions. That’s not to say that we don’t have certain authority here and now and the scripture tells us that we will rule and reign with Him when He returns. We’ll come back to that in a minute.

 Let’s take a Berean Walk through the Bible about the priesthood for starters. The first question we should ask is, “When did the shift happen from Old Covenant Priesthood to all New Testament believers being priests?

 Within the Mosaic covenant, Israel's sanctuary service was entrusted specifically to the Tribe of Levi, with the Aaronic descendants serving as priests. Ordinary Israelites could not simply enter the sanctuary and perform priestly functions (Numbers 3:5–10; 18:1–7).

The priesthood therefore involved mediation: priests offered sacrifices and ministered before God on behalf of the people, while the high priest alone entered the Most Holy Place once each year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).

 The decisive shift occurred through Jesus Christ. Hebrews is probably the most important book for understanding this. Jesus wasn't a Levitical priest at all. Here is what Hebrews 7 says…

 “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood...You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” Hebrews 7:14 & 17 (Vs. 17 cites Psalm 110: 4)

 Next,  Hebrews makes another extraordinary statement:

 “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.” — Hebrews 7:12

 There, the “shift” in priesthood is almost stated explicitly. The Levitical priesthood belonged to the Old Covenant system. Jesus establishes a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6), becomes our permanent High Priest, and offers the sacrifice that no Levitical priest could ever offer.

 “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”  Hebrews 10:12

 This is extremely important for us to see and truly understand as New Covenant believers. The Old Covenant priests stood continually offering sacrifices but Jesus offered one sacrifice then sat down. The sacrificial work was finished. He completed all the requirements of the law so there no longer remains a need for sacrifice on behalf of man before God. Something dramatic happened at the Cross.

 Matthew records this, “And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…” Matthew 27:51

 The veil that had separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two by the Hand of God. The writer of Hebrews interprets what Christ accomplished:

 “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way…”  Hebrews 10:19–20

 This is one of the great differences between the Old and New Covenants. Under the Levitical system we had the people of God represented by the priests of God who in turn depended upon the High Priest to sprinkle the blood of a spotless lamb on the Mercy seat in the Most Holy Place in God's presence yearly.

 However, under the New Covenant all those who would put their trust in Christ Jesus our Great High Priest, shed His blood on our behalf, in God's presence, openly for all to see, once and for all.

Hebrews 9:11–12 says, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle...Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” KJV

 Then Hebrews 9:23–24 continues:

 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

 There no longer is an earthly priestly caste system standing between the believer and Christ. Pentecost then makes another enormous difference. Under the Old Covenant, God's presence was particularly associated with the tabernacle/temple.

 But under the New Covenant, God's people themselves become His temple.

Paul writes:

 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 and “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…”  1 Corinthians 6:19

 Peter brings the temple and priesthood imagery together in his first epistle as follows:

 “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 2:5

 The temple is no longer a building. The sacrifice is no longer an animal. The priesthood is no longer restricted to Aaron's descendants. The High Priest is Jesus Christ. And those united to Christ constitute the holy priesthood.

 So when exactly did the transition happen? We should be careful about assigning it to one isolated moment because the New Testament presents the inauguration of the New Covenant through the interconnected events of Christ's death, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Spirit. But the Cross is the decisive covenantal event.

 Jesus Himself said at the Last Supper, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” Luke 22:20. Hebrews then connects Christ's death directly with the inauguration of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15–17).

 Pentecost demonstrated the resulting reality: God's Spirit is poured out upon all God's people, not merely upon a specialized priestly class. And Peter later describes the Church explicitly, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…” 1 Peter 2:9. Peter echoes Exodus 19:6, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

The Hebrew in Exodus 19: 6 says (mamlekheth kohanim), a “kingdom of priests.”

Peter deliberately picks up this language and applies it to believers in Christ. So something God announced concerning Israel at Sinai reaches a profound New-Covenant fulfillment in the people belonging to Christ. And this has major implications for “ministry offices”. While the New Testament certainly recognizes elders, overseers, teachers, evangelists, shepherds and various gifts those people aren't a new Christian version of the Levitical priesthood. That's an important distinction. New Testament leaders don't constitute a special class with privileged access to God while ordinary Christians remain outside.

 Rather, Christ alone is High Priest. Every believer has access to God through Christ.
Every believer receives the Spirit. Each person has been given at least one spiritual gift by which he or she serves God and His people. Every believer belongs to the holy priesthood. Every believer may offer spiritual sacrifices. Every believer may proclaim God's excellencies.

 Leadership exists within the priesthood of believers for equipping each other for works of ministry but not to serve as “in betweens” men and God. And that actually fits beautifully with Jesus' teaching:

 “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.”  Matthew 23:8

 That also explains why “kingdom of priests” is such an important phrase. The New Testament Church isn't divided into “the ministers” and “the ordinary people.” There are different functions and gifts, certainly—but one people, one Spirit, one priesthood, under one High Priest and one King: Jesus Christ.

 In 1 Peter 2: 9, Peter calls believers a royal priesthood (basileion hierateuma), not a collection of independent kings. The idea is that the priesthood belongs to and serves the King. And in just a few previous verses he said, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

 That makes Peter's emphasis especially clear: we are priests offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Christ. Then we go to Revelation-and this is where it gets even more interesting. The KJV in Revelation 1:6 says, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…” but most modern translations read like this: “and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father…”Revelation 1:6

 The Greek underlying the critical text is: ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς βασιλείαν, ἱερεῖς (epoiēsen hēmas basileian, hiereis). Literally it says, “He made us a kingdom, priests…” That is a striking difference in translation because John is echoing Exodus 19:6. Revelation 5:10 makes essentially the same statement. The KJV has: “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests…”

Whereas the critical Greek text reads: (βασιλείαν καὶ ἱερεῖς) “a kingdom AND priests.”

So the concept running from Exodus to Peter to Revelation, is very consistent and it is this:

God has a KINGDOM. Christ is the KING of that KINGDOM. His people constitute a royal PRIESTHOOD built up together to offer “spiritual sacrifices” unto God. The Greek of 1 Peter 2:9 is βασίλειον ἱεράτευμα (basileion hierateuma), usually translated “royal priesthood.” “Royal” identifies this priesthood with the King and His kingdom. It doesn't mean each Christian becomes an autonomous little monarch. And Peter tells us what this royal priesthood actually does: “That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” — 1 Peter 2:9

 Peter does not spell these sacrifices out in that particular passage, but we can definitely know what they are not. There no longer remains a sacrifice necessary to appease God and remove His wrath against men’s sins who repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. But we can see another pattern for spiritual sacrifices in some key verses as follows:

       Ø  Our praise and thanksgiving are sacrifices: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,             that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15

Ø  Our doing good and sharing with others are sacrifices: “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

Ø  Paul describes our entire lives and bodies as an offering: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”  Romans 12:1

Ø  Even financial/material support given in service to God can be described sacrificially. Paul calls the Philippians' gift: “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”  Philippians 4:18

Ø  And Paul even describes his ministry among the Gentiles using priestly language in Romans 15:15-16,“But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit…”

 But there is one important qualification that needs to be addressed.  We cannot say that Scripture never gives believers a ruling or reigning role. It does but that will come after Christ returns.

 Revelation 5:10 continues, “…and they shall reign upon the earth.” And Revelation 22:5 says of God's servants, “…and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

 Paul similarly says, “If we suffer [endure], we shall also reign with him…” 2 Timothy 2:12

 Revelation 3:21 pictures the victorious believer sharing Christ's throne. So there are actually two truths held together.

They are: 1. Jesus alone is THE King:  the sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords. 2.  Those belonging to Him are promised participation in His reign. Their authority is never autonomous or competitive with Christ's kingship; it is derived from Him and exercised under Him.  

Jesus gave His disciples certain authority in His name. They were commissioned to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper and preach the gospel as part of the Great Commission. That still stands today for every believer as His Ambassadors.

“All power [authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...” Matthew 28:18–20 KJV

In the same gospel 18 chapters prior, Matthew records the following when Jesus commissioned them to preach the everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom:

“And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:7–8 KJV

 Neither Matthew’s account nor Peter's explanation of our priesthood suggests, “Therefore, issue royal decrees.” Instead, it is to preach the gospel and what that actually entails and “offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) and “show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

 Jesus gave us limited authority to do those same things He instructed His disciples to do. Nothing more, nothing less. The priesthood of the believer will shift to “ruling and reigning” when Jesus returns. As we have already explored, the first shift from the Old Covenant priesthood to the New Covenant Priesthood occurred upon the arrival of Jesus, Our Great High Priest and culminated with His blood being poured out on Mount Calvary. The subsequent outpouring of the Spirit upon His people (the church, the ecclesia) is when he conferred that priesthood upon every believer, not just the original twelve and even 70 others (Luke 10: 1).

 So you could summarize the biblical theology of the Priesthood of the Believer this way:

We are not little sovereign kings ruling our own little kingdoms. We are a royal priesthood belonging to the one King, Jesus Christ. He has brought us into His kingdom to serve God, offer spiritual sacrifices, proclaim His excellencies, and ultimately share in Christ's reign under His authority when He returns.

 The glory of the New Covenant is not that Christ has made us a multitude of little kings, but that the One True King has made us a kingdom of priests under His authority. Our authority is His authority, our ministry is His ministry, and our service is offered through Him and for Him. There is no spiritual caste system separating an elite class from the rest of the Body of Christ. We have different gifts, different functions, and different responsibilities, but we are one people, one Body, one holy priesthood—serving under one Head, one High Priest, and one King: Jesus Christ. To Him alone belongs the preeminence, the glory, and the dominion forever. Amen.