Number Four: A Scriptural Assembly Will Recognize the Priesthood of All Believers and Allow Them to Function As Led by the Spirit

From: Search For A Scripturally Gathered Assembly: A Profile Of A Scriptural Assembly By: Stanley Bruce Anstey

• 5 min. read • grade level: 9

Thus far, we have seen that a Scripturally gathered assembly will be free of sectarianism, Judaism, and clericalism. Now let’s look at another feature closely connected to the previous point—a Scriptural assembly will recognize the true priesthood of all believers. Since such an assembly will give Christ His rightful place of leading and guiding the proceedings in the meetings, there will be liberty for the priests in the assembly to function, as led by the Spirit of God.

There are two public spheres in the Church: the sphere of priesthood and the sphere of gift. Priesthood has to do with the privilege of approaching God with prayer and praise. The word “priest” means, “one who offers.” The Bible teaches that all Christians are priests. First Peter 2:5 says, “Ye also, as lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” And in Revelation 1:5-6⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, ⁶And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6), it says, “To Him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father: to Him be the glory and the might to the ages of ages. Amen.”

Again, in Hebrews 10:19-22¹⁹Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; ²¹And having an high priest over the house of God; ²²Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22), it says, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” The fact that it says that the Lord is “a High Priest” implies that there is a company of priests under Him. He would not preside as a “high” priest if there were no priests under Him. Similarly, a person would not be called a leader of some company or group if there were not those whom he led. This exhortation, therefore, encourages us to draw near to God and exercise our priestly privileges.

He speaks of two things that made the sons of Aaron priests according to the Judaic order (Ex. 29; Lev. 8). As Christians, we have these things in their realities. As a result, we are constituted “priests unto God” (Rev. 1:6⁶And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6)).

• “Bodies washed”—This is figurative of our new birth (John 13:10¹⁰Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10)).

• “Hearts sprinkled”—This is figurative of the finished work of Christ applied in faith to a believer, whereby his conscience is purged (Heb. 9:14¹⁴How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)).

But there is something more that is needed to make us function as priests in the presence of God. He also speaks of:

• “A true heart”—This is a reference to a heart that has judged itself (1 Cor. 11:28, 31²⁸But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (1 Corinthians 11:28)
³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:31)). A heart full of guile that covers its true state is not a true and honest heart.

• “Full assurance of faith”—This is not referring to the assurance of salvation, but the confidence that we have to approach God in faith because we have judged ourselves.

Hence, the first two things make us priests, but the second two make us priestly. One has to do with what we are positionally; the other has to do with our state. It is one thing to be a priest and another to be in a priestly state. This may be why there are occasions when only a few brothers exercise their priesthood audibly in a meeting—the others may not be in a priestly state. The answer is not to set up a caste of men to do the public praying and praising of God, but to judge ourselves so that the Spirit of God will be free to lead us in the meetings.

The possibility of priests not being in a priestly state is illustrated in 2 Chronicles 29:34³⁴But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. (2 Chronicles 29:34). It says, “But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.” It was not that there weren't enough priests, but that there weren’t enough “sanctified” priests. Many of them were not in a right state to handle the sacrifices because they had not sanctified themselves.