Sacred Persons: What the Bible Says about the Priesthoods

In I Peter 2:4-5, we read: "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 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." From this passage of Scripture, we learn that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is a priest. To understand what this teaching means for each of us, we must answer the following questions: (1) What is a priest? (2) How does one become one? (3) What are one's duties and privileges? We can answer these questions (1) by looking at the priesthood's origin, especially in terms of Melchizedek, the first person called a priest in Scripture; (2) by exploring Israel's Levitical priesthood, set up by God through Moses and Aaron; (3) by showing, through teachings of the Book of Hebrews, how Jesus was, is, and will always be the Great High Priest; and (4) by describing the sacrifices that each believer should offer as a priest. Because the words that “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (I Peter 1:21) are infinitely important, please read Scriptural references. These are explained by a system of Biblical interpretation called “typology,” in which Biblical persons, objects, and events, though recognized as historical, are understood to represent aspects of God’s eternal plan -- especially His sending His Son into the world to live a sinless life, die a sacrificial death, and rise from the grave with the promise of everlasting life for everyone who turns to Him in repentance and faith.