Expert: Dean Gade - 1/21/2007

Question
Hi thank you for your answer - Im Am getting a lot of very different answers to the same question - very different that I know are not right. Anyway, in reading these answers I have managed to really find exactly what it is that is bothering me...........its not so much the role of my being a Mini-Priest" but rather my role as acting as an INTERCESSOR between God and man - I thought that is what the priests back in the O.T. did and so now I am thinking - who am I to act as an intermediary - who am I to replace Christ's role? What do I think I am some sort of fourth member of the Trinity? Especially in the area of prayer. I am a nurse and so sometimes pray with patients - Clearly I know we are supposed to pray for one another, BUT I am stuck in this theological Rubik's cube - if Christ is the only way for man to reach God - than in what "Spirit," am I supposed to be praying for others - Am I to think that I am an intermediary for them? Am I to think I am playing Christs Role as an intermediary? I have been a bible studying christian for 10 years now and it seems I am struggling with this for a reason - I think God is trying to teach me something. I just started praying for patients I work with and now am comming up with theological questions about it. In the past I had no difficulty with this
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi again - as you know, I often come to you for questions and always get a lot out of your answers - so here is my guestion

    I am having a really hard time with the idea of believers being a "Priesthood," From what i read in the bible and the theology of Baptism - baptised believer enters into a "Priesthood of believers." At first I really felt blessed by this idea, but now it is almost tormenting me. I am getting confused as to MY role as a so called "Priest/Believer" and that of Jesus - I thought Jesus was the ONLY mediator between God and Man and the only Priest (for lack of a better word) between God and Man. Although it is biblical, this whole concept of the body of believers being a so called led "Priesthood," makes me confused and when I think about it - I feel like I as a member of this "Priesthood," am trying to take over Christ's role as the mediator between God and Man - Could you explain the difference to me. I have decided to get baptised in a few months and so have been reading all about it and this one issue has me very concerned. I feel like a heretic. Thank you
-----Answer-----
Don't feel bad about issues and concerns as you study more of God's Word.

I had four years as a relgion major at a university, four years post-graduate work at a seminary and almost 30 years studying the Bible after that so I could write Bible studies and sermons.  And I STILL have issues and concerns about what I'm learning.    But such things are incentives to study further without any boredom at all.

Concerning the priesthood of all believers:  Jesus is the High Priest.  This designation is found only in the letter to the Hebrews:

Heb 2:14-18
4 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
(from New International Version)


Heb 4:14-16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
(from New International Version)

There ARE also a very few places in this same book which call Jesus a priest without the "high" connected to it but I don't think that this means we are on the same level in the Prieshood.   Jesus is designated in the order of Melchizedek which made Him not of the Levitical Priesthood but of this very unusual man who was above the appointed priesthood.

What we share with Him in being priests is much less than He.  But then, that's why we are called Christ-ians (little Christs).  All that we have is from Him and not of our own and without Him, we can do nothing.

We offer sacrifices for others.  But few have their lives required.  We just offer our time, enery, and sometimes our goods for the sake of those who are seeking God.
We offer prayers for them.
We study the Word of God and teach those will listen the message of God's love for them and the salvation which has been won for them by the blood of the Lamb of God. But even here Jesus only asks that we be Witnesses to what we have seen and heard.

The letter to the Hebrew believers in Rome (Book of "Hebrews") points out very clearly that all priests but Jesus are very mortal who have their own frailties and need first offer the sacrifices of time, praise, etc just for our own cleansing from the world.  This was pictured in the OT by the purifying rituals that the priests had to do first.

These are NOT things which earn anything from God or have anything to do with achieving salvation.  They are just for cleansing from our own bad conscience for still being imperfect and being assaulted by the devil, the world and our flesh.
But even these are not required.  They are just helpful as we minister to others.  There are many times when God's Spirit calls upon you when you are really "down" to minister to another person.  It is only by God's power that we can ever minister with any good effect for the person we are minstering to.

God has called you into His "rest".  As you grow in trust of God's paternal love for you (as an individual), you will experience that rest more and more, that knowing that He is in charge and He is determined for you to have a bountiful life with His providence and protection.

So, don't worry! about carrying out this priesthood. The faith/trust that you are aiming for is to always be ready to say to God, "Whatever you will for me, Lord, I will do".  
And He will sustain you His Holy Spirit will guide you.  

Answer
Isn't God wonderful!  He is the one revealing the answer to your question while we who are trying to answer you have only a small part in guiding you.   THIS is the priesthood that you share.

We do "intercede", but it is by prayer on behalf of those that God has set before us to help.  We do not usurp the role of our savior even though we are a part of it in some small way.

I don't fully understand the following passage but it does include us in the ministry of Christ:

Col 1:24

24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
(from New International Version)

And by the way, you can expect "difficulties" as you take on new tasks because of prompting of the Lord.  Our enemy does not like to see us grow and mature in faith nor see us minister to others and perhaps snatch them from his kingdom.  But He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world and God will continue to give you answers to the doubts and confusion planted by the enemy.

May God continue to bless you and make you a blessing.