The Universal Priesthood of Believers

Introduction

A priest is one who ministers, offers sacrifices, and acts as a mediator between God and fellow-humans (Deut. 27:9, 14). The concept of priesthood runs throughout history and appears to have been a fundamental part of God’s dealings with mankind. Some form of mediatorial priesthood seems to have existed from the earliest times, the duties of which were discharged by those who occupied positions of leadership.

Cain and Abel made offerings to the Lord (Gen. 4:3-4; Heb. 11:4). Noah “built an altar to the LORD ... and offered burnt offerings on the altar” (Gen. 8:20).¹ Job offered burnt offerings for his children (Job 1:5). Abraham built an altar and offered a ram for a burnt offering (Gen. 22:9-13; cf. 12:7, 8; 13:4, 18). Melchizedek was “the priest of God Most High” (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7:1-10). Jethro was “the priest of Midian” (Ex. 2:16; 3:1).

Following their deliverance from exile in Egypt, a priesthood limited to Aaron and his family was established among the Israelites (Ex. 28 ff.). Aaron was the first high priest, succeeded by others; on the Day of Atonement the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people (Lev. 16; Heb. 9:7). Priests offered daily sacrifices, and the people of Israel approached God through these intermediary priests (Num. 15:25).

In addition to the Aaronic priesthood, there was also a form of national priesthood. Israel was to be “a kingdom of priests” (Ex. 19:4-6), i.e., the mediatorial link between God and the nations, bringing the knowledge and salvation of God to the peoples around them.

The New Testament Concept of Priesthood

There is now only one High Priest for all ages: Jesus the Christ (Heb. 4:14; 7:23-28). Unlike the old system where daily sacrifices were necessary, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice “once for all when he offered up himself” (Heb. 7:27). When this was accomplished at Golgotha, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). The veil had separated the people from God’s presence (the Holy of Holies), and they were denied direct access to him. Only the high priest was allowed to go beyond the veil to represent the people before God (Heb. 9:1-8).

The splitting of the temple’s veil from top to bottom at Christ’s death seems to have symbolized free access to God through this great sacrifice (cf. Heb. 4:16; 9:12). Now instead of an earthly priest serving as mediator between God and his people, all Christians have direct access to God through Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 10:19-22).

A Kingdom and Priests to Our God (Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10)

The Lamb was slain and resurrected, “and washed us from our sins in his own blood”; “And redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (1:5; 5:9). He then made us “a kingdom” (1:6; 5:10; cf. Col. 1:13-14) and “priests to our God” (1:6; 5:10; cf. Isa. 61:6; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9). All Christ-followers have direct access to God (through Jesus) and serve as mediators between God and those who are not Christians. We “reign on the earth” (5:10) in the sense that we are connected to, represent, and proclaim the sovereignty of Christ (cf. 20:4; Rom. 5:17; 1 Cor. 4:8; 2 Tim. 2:12).

A Holy/Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:1-10)

This passage is applicable to all who “have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (v. 3). As Christ is “a living stone” (v. 4), we also are “living stones” (v. 5). Contrary to the lifeless, inanimate stones of the natural world, these stones are living, having received spiritual life from their union with the living foundation-stone (cf. 1 Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:5). These living stones are not scattered or piled up but are joined together to build “a spiritual house” (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 1:20-22).

Those who comprise the Lord’s church are described as “a holy priesthood” (v. 5). All Christians are “priests,” do not need a human mediator (in addition to Christ), and can therefore approach God directly via our great High Priest. The adjective “holy” signifies a separation from the ungodly world and a steadfast dedication to God. As a holy priesthood, the church is “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

The priesthood is spiritual and the sacrifices are spiritual, acceptable only as they are offered through our High Priest, Jesus Christ. These spiritual sacrifices include:

o   Praises (Heb. 13:15).

o   Prayers (Rev. 5:8; cf. Psa. 141:2).

o   Benevolent giving (Heb. 13:16; Phil. 4:18).

o   Righteous living (Psa. 4:5).

o   Ourselves in service to God (Rom. 12:1-2).

The Lord’s church is also described as “a royal priesthood” (v. 9). We are “a chosen generation,” sharing a common heritage through the new birth (1 Pet. 1:23) which transcends all natural distinctions of ancestry, race, culture, etc. Our priesthood is “royal” in that we belong to and function as part of the King’s family.

Priesthood involves service. While the qualifier “holy” (v. 5) is indicative of our service to God, “royal” (v. 9) is indicative of our service to the world. We are “a holy nation, his own special people” (cf. Ex. 19:5-6), and the purpose of the royal priesthood is “that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Our privilege as God’s people is not for our own personal gratification. We make known the praises of God by our holy lives (1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1) and by our words (Mark 16:15; Acts 8:4). The “praises of him” involve God’s praiseworthy virtues, deeds, power, glory, wisdom, grace, mercy, love, holiness, i.e., all that God is and all that he does. Our purpose as a priesthood is to bring God to all people and all people to God. Our purpose is based on what God had done for us.

We are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14), which is God’s invitation to the world to be reconciled to him. We are called out of spiritual darkness, thus freed from sin (John 3:19; Rom. 3:10; 1 John 1:5), into the marvelous light of his salvation (John 3:21; 2 Cor. 4:6).

Conclusion

From earliest of times God has utilized some form of priesthood to aid in the accomplishment of his will, today in the form of the holy/royal priesthood of all believers. With the privilege of being God’s people comes responsibility to God and to the world.²

Who are we? A holy priesthood, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people. What is our purpose? To offer up spiritual sacrifices and to proclaim his praises. Why? Because God has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. As a holy priesthood we have responsibilities to God; as a royal priesthood we have responsibilities to the world.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Unless noted otherwise, scripture quotations are from the New King James Version.

     ² “The priesthood of all believers ... means that every Christian has immediate access to God, that he serves God personally, and that he ministers to others and that he has something to give” (Edwin Blum, “1 & 2 Peter,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation 230).

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Evangelism Mistakes to Avoid

As we seek to be faithful to the Lord and involved in the work of his church, none of us will ever be perfect. As forgiven and redeemed children of God, we are still fallible human beings. The good news is, as we step out in faith and do our imperfect best to engage in spiritual service, the Lord works with us and through us to accomplish his perfect will, despite our imperfections. Nonetheless, in carrying out our God-given ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21),¹ as we continue to learn and grow, there are some common mistakes to be aware of and avoid.

Church Attendance Conversions?

Inviting people to the services of the church and welcoming them into our assemblies is a good thing (cf. 1 Cor. 14:23). In fact, their attendance indicates spiritual interest. However, the assemblies of the church are not typically designed to convert the lost but to teach, challenge, and edify those already saved (cf. 1 Cor. 14:3-5, 12, 26). We should therefore consider any non-Christians in our midst as good prospects for evangelism. Don’t just assume they will learn all they need to know by listening to sermons geared toward members of the church. Proactively engage in spiritual conversations before and after church services. Get to know them outside the assemblies and develop relationships. Invite them to study the Bible in a more personal setting.

Immediate Goal is Baptism?

Our ultimate goal in evangelism is to “make disciples” (Matt. 28:18-20). While baptism is an essential part of the salvation process, it is not the end, sum total, or final aim. We do a grave disservice when we rush people into the baptistery who are insufficiently taught and not given the opportunity to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:28-33; Acts 2:40). While one cannot be a disciple of Jesus without baptism, it is possible to baptize a person prematurely without that person being discipled. This does not fulfill the great commission as the Lord intended, and our ministry of reconciliation is thus incomplete.² Ample follow up is also important (Acts 2:42; 14:22).

Personal Record Keeping of Conversions?

Missionary reports and church records notwithstanding, what would be the purpose of keeping a personal count of how many souls I have won to Christ? A successful evangelist like Paul refrained from doing this (1 Cor. 1:16b), consistently giving glory to God for any conversions made through his humble efforts (Acts 14:27; 15:4; 21:19; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; 3:5-7).³ We ought to habitually speak in the passive voice. Rather than “I taught and baptized so and so,” or “I have baptized this many ...” (or in veiled humility, “I had the privilege of ...”), why not simply share the encouraging news that “So and so was baptized,” or “This many have obeyed the gospel,” or “The Lord has added to his church ...”? In so doing, the spotlight is diverted from ourselves, we rejoice with the souls who are saved, and God gets the credit only he deserves.

Conclusion

We will never be perfect and will continually make mistakes. But let us learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others, keep trying to improve, and ever be grateful to the One who has invited us into his work and saves precious souls through us and in spite of us.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ See “Evangelism: What, Where, Whom, How?” Moore Perspective (30 Dec. 2025), <Link>.

     ² See “Where’s the Church in the Gospel Plan of Salvation?” Moore Perspective (16 Feb. 2016), <Link>.

     ³ See “Pauline Amnesia,” Moore Perspective (24 Feb. 2013), <Link>.

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Evangelism for Introverts: the “Blurt It Out” Approach

No two people in the Lord’s kingdom are exactly the same, yet all have the potential of great usefulness in his service. God does some of his best work when we are uncomfortable, clumsy, and deficient. Paul, recognizing his own weaknesses and fears, attributed any successes of his evangelistic work entirely to the power and providence of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5; 2 Cor. 12:9-11).¹ Timothy, despite his comparative youth and timid disposition (1 Cor. 16:10-11; 1 Tim. 4:12; 2 Tim. 1:7-8), consistently stepped out in faith, confronted his fears and inadequacies, and did what he was commissioned to do.²

The “Blurt it Out” Approach

As a shy kid, I grew up to be an introverted adult. But early on in my Christian walk, I realized that I can’t be faithful to the Lord by hiding in my reclusive shell and isolating myself from the rest of the world. I have had to claw my way out of my comfort zone, especially in fulfilling my God-given ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21).³

Over the years I have read a lot of books on evangelistic methods and strategies, taken multiple personal evangelism courses, and experimented with several different evangelistic tools. I’ve tried to learn basic principles of having religious conversations, developing interest, asking open-ended questions, setting up and conducting Bible studies, et al. Most of my learning has come through trial and error.

Somewhere along the line I have come to realize that many of the techniques and “sales pitches” I have learned from others just don’t fit my personality. I’m a socially awkward person. Having meaningful conversations does not come naturally for me. Through the years, in my feeble attempts to evangelize, I have almost always felt nervous, uneasy, and inadequate. I routinely find myself thinking more about what I’m “supposed” to say than listening and interactively conversing. Whenever I don’t say the right thing in the right way, or mistakenly ask a closed-ended question, or can’t think of what to say next, the pressure builds and intensifies an already unpleasant experience. I wonder how many opportunities I have missed by over-thinking, waiting for the perfect moment in the conversation to offer a Bible study and yet the perfect moment never comes.

One day I had the novel idea to just be myself. Instead of mimicking someone else’s evangelistic methodology, or running the risk of botching or missing an opportunity, I decided to just offer a Bible study whenever there was a brief pause in the conversation, whether it was the “perfect” moment or not.

Inaugurating the “Blurt it Out” Approach

After placing an advertisement in the local newspaper, I later arranged to meet with Gordon (who worked for the paper) for coffee. He no doubt wanted to sell another newspaper ad, while I was more interested in sharing the gospel. As we got to know each other and I learned about his religious history, out of blue I just blurted out, “Gordon, I’d really like to study the Bible with you.” I could tell he was caught off guard, understandably so. A moment of awkward silence was followed by him stammering to come up with an excuse. But then he stopped and said, “Okay, I think I’d like that. Can my wife join us?” For the next few months we had weekly Bible studies and developed an even closer friendship. I’m sad to say that Gordon and his wife did not choose to obey the gospel, but at least they had the opportunity, which they probably would not have had if I had remained stuck in my old way of doing things.

From that time onward I have been using this “blurt it out” approach, so much so that it is embedded in my psyche. Whenever I meet someone and discover he or she is not a member of the Lord’s church, without even thinking the words instinctively shoot out of my mouth: “I’d really like to study the Bible with you.”

Advantages of the “Blurt It Out” Approach

1. It doesn’t give me time to over-think, procrastinate, make excuses, or miss an opportunity.

2. Once the offer is thrown out into the open, it has to be dealt with. It can’t be taken back or ignored. We can only move forward in a more direct and practical spiritual conversation.

3. It gives someone the chance to learn the gospel that he or she may not have otherwise.

Disadvantages of the “Blurt It Out” Approach

1. It catches people off guard. This, in itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. But if I sense they are uncomfortable or apprehensive, I’ll say something like, “Well, think about it and let me know.” This immediately relieves the tension. Then I change the subject, continue the conversation, and make sure they have my contact information. I have actually had people contact me later (sometimes days or even weeks later) for Bible study. If not, every time I see them again, I remind them of the offer and keep asking until they say either “yes” or “no.” Sometimes persistence pays off. When I sense that I’m being downright annoying, I’ll eventually stop asking, but not until sufficient opportunities have been afforded.

2. It’s not a smooth or persuasive technique. Granted. But it’s not for everyone, especially for evangelizers who are unreserved, articulate, and socially adept. It is simply a way for those of us who are socially challenged to reach people that we might not reach any other way.

3. It doesn’t work all the time. In fact, most of the people I’ve asked to study the Bible have declined. But enough souls have been reached through this method to justify its continued use. When it doesn’t work, and if there are further interactions with any of these people, I just try a different approach. If not, particularly the ones I never see again, at least they have been given a chance that would have otherwise been missed.

Conclusion

Everyone is different, and nobody in the Lord’s church should be expected to be someone he or she is not. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for sharing the gospel,⁴ no Christian has a legitimate excuse for doing nothing. Seeing that God, through his word, ultimately saves souls, our immediate goal in evangelism ought to be getting people into the word of God.⁵ But this won’t happen unless we ask.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ See “Paul the Myth Vs. the Real Paul,” Moore Perspective (26 July 2014), <Link>.

     ² See “Instructive Comparison of Timothy and Titus,” Moore Perspective (30 August 2017), <Link>.

     ³ See “Evangelism: What, Where, Whom, How?,” Moore Perspective (30 Dec. 2025), <Link>.

     ⁴ See “Evangelistic Approaches for Everyone,” Moore Perspective (6 Jan. 2026), <Link>.

     ⁵ See “Evangelistic Models, Methods, and Tools,” Moore Perspective (13 Jan. 2026), <Link>.

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