NEW COVENANT PRIESTS

When we talk about being priests before God, I think many of us simply disconnect from that concept. We don’t really know what that means. For us Gentiles, the priesthood is an ancient Jewish reality and has no real bearing on our lives today. But if we look closely, this ancient office holds deep significance for us today. Because for every born again believer, we are called into a holy priesthood!

But what does this priesthood mean for us today? What does it look like practically? We know that God was not pleased or satisfied with burnt offerings offered through the Old Covenant:

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.” (Hebrews 10:5-6)

So if the old priesthood and the duties they were performing was not pleasing to him, how is our priesthood different? Let’s look at a few of the Scriptures that speak of New Testament believers becoming priests.

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

“But 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.” (1 Peter 2:9)

“and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:6)

“and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10)

So I started thinking about what it would look like to function as a priest in the New Covenant using the shadow of the Old Covenant priestly duties as a guide. It is obvious that the New Covenant does not require us to perform animal sacrifice because Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was slain once and for all time. Jesus’ blood was sufficient in atoning for the sins of mankind and offering forgiveness for all who would receive it.  

So our New Covenant priesthood is based upon the single sacrifice of Jesus, as the Lamb of God. His sacrifice on the cross, is the foundation and source of all of our spiritual activity as priests. What does this mean?

In the Old Covenant system, the condition of the sacrificial lamb was crucial. The lamb had to be spotless and without blemish. Israel would often get into trouble with God for trying to offer sacrifices that were imperfect. The perfection of the sacrifice was important because if the sacrifice was maimed or blemished, it had no value. And to bring something to God that would other‐ wise be discarded was considered an offense to God!  

So our offerings and sacrifices, as New Covenant priests, must be connected to and grounded on Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. To offer a sacrifice of praise or thanksgiving to God with our lips, while our heart and mind is disconnected from the blood of Jesus, is to offer a blemished sacrifice to God. However, when our hearts are alive to his cross, warmed by his blood and filled with his love, our song of praise and thanksgiving becomes a fragrant offering unto him! It is “strange fire” (Leviticus 10:1) to sing to or minister on behalf of God with a cold heart. So as New Covenant priests, learning to keep our hearts in the love of God becomes paramount for us to experience the abundant Christian life we have been promised (John 10:10).  

The entire purpose of this 30-day challenge is to guide you and instruct you in keeping your heart in the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. It is designed to help you take what you know in your head and move it into your heart. For many of you, you will discover this numbness lifts almost instantly. While others, it may take a few weeks. Regardless of where you are at, here is my promise:

Accepting this challenge and engaging with this journal will change your life. It will thrust you into an awareness and an expe‐ rience of God’s love that will satisfy you and cause you to hunger for more all at the same time. So if you are ready to take this journey I encourage you to get on your knees and pray something like this:

“Father, I lay these next thirty days of my life before you and I ask that you would meet with me. That you would awaken my heart to your love. I don’t want an ounce of numbness towards you or your love for me. I want a fire that will never burn out and that will never grow stale! I am setting my heart to seek you these next thirty days and I am trusting that your grace will sustain me and keep me faithful. If I wander and stray from the path, thank you for lovingly turning my heart and attention back to you. You are a good Father and I trust you with my heart.”