The Church as a Royal Nation and Priesthood

By Pastor Chad

Salvation brings about a radical transformation in one’s life. Meeting Jesus tends to upend the way one lives. One goes from being dead to alive. There isn’t just a spiritual change, however, (as amazing as that is); there is also a change in one’s status. Salvation means one becomes part of a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…” (1 Peter 2:9). What does it mean to be a part of a holy nation and a royal priesthood? 

In my opinion, probably the most significant impact of becoming part of a holy nation and priesthood is one now has direct and immediate access to God. In other words, the Church is a people who no longer need a priest to offer a sacrifice for them. Now we can go before the Lord on our own. 

Recall what priests did under the old covenant. The priest stood between God and the people. He was a go-between who daily offered prayers and sacrifices on behalf of the people of Israel. Since Jesus has offered the ultimate sacrifice, however, we no longer need to offer sacrifices. Whereas only the high priest could approach God in the Holy of Holies once a year, now that the veil has been torn (that is, since Jesus has died for our sins), all who give their allegiance to Christ can enter into the Holy of Holies. Said differently, all who follow Him have personal access to God. 

This is a theological concept known as the priesthood of all believers. And though there are many misunderstandings of this biblical concept, it is an important reality for every Christian. The theologian Millard Erickson writes that the priesthood of believers is the theological truth that “all persons are capable of relating to God directly…All have redemptive access to the Lord.” The priesthood of all believers does not mean every Christian is equally spiritual. It does not mean all of us can now equally understand everything about the Bible. It does not mean all Christians are ordained. It does not mean we are all at the same spiritual level. The priesthood of the believer is the theological idea that we all have equal opportunity and access to God, but it does not mean we are all guaranteed an equal outcome. All who come to the Lord are saved and can commune with Him, but that doesn’t mean everyone will take advantage of this opportunity.

Additionally, none who approach God do so based upon their own merit, but based upon the merit of Jesus and the graciousness of God. In 1 Peter 2:10, Peter says, “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” This full, unfettered access is a display of God’s mercy from beginning to end. God graciously invites us to commune with Him, not at a distance, but sitting at His feet, basking in His goodness and experiencing His glory.