From the Series: Ordinary Saints: Lessons from the Ante-Nicene Church
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version®.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Before accepting roles or titles from the world, I know a deeper truth in Christ: I am part of a royal priesthood. This is not just symbolic language. God Himself declares this identity.
Scripture says:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Through Jesus Christ, every believer enters this reality, royal and priestly, set apart for purpose. This calling means I am to worship, serve, intercede, and reflect His holiness in a world that does not know Him. In daily life, worship can be as simple as beginning the day in prayer or offering thanks to God during ordinary routines. Serving others may look like helping a coworker, caring for a neighbor in need, or showing patience in a challenging situation. Intercession might mean praying for a friend facing difficulties, bringing a coworker’s need before God, or quietly lifting up your community when you hear troubling news. This identity is not abstract; it transforms the way I approach each moment and every relationship.
In the Old Testament, priests were chosen, cleansed, and set apart for a sacred purpose. They stood between God and man, not as mediators themselves, but as servants. They taught, offered sacrifices, and led worship.
Here, a significant shift takes place: what was once exclusive to the Old Testament priesthood has now been fulfilled and expanded in Christ.
“And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10)
This priesthood is no longer confined to one tribe or lineage but is now for all born again through faith in Jesus Christ. As a result, this is not a distant concept; it is a present reality.
Still, even as we embrace this identity, it does not stand on its own. It is rooted in Christ Himself.
Jesus is the Great High Priest, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice. I live as a priest because of what He has done.
Following Christ’s example, just as He offered Himself, I am now called to offer my life in response.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…” (Romans 12:1)
This means my life is not my own. It is a daily, continual, surrendered offering.
It also means I stand in the gap for others.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions… be made for all men.” (1 Timothy 2:1)
And I represent Christ to the world around me.
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ…” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Therefore, this is not an added layer to the Christian life; it is central to it.
To understand this calling, I look to the early church. I do not see believers waiting to be told they could minister. They knew who they were. They lived as those who carried God’s presence. They did not simply gather in buildings. They became temples of the Holy Spirit, walking into every space with light, truth, and the love of Christ.
In the same way, today, we are called to carry God’s presence into our own environments. Just as the early believers brought the reality of Christ to their cities and homes, modern followers of Jesus can bring His light to their workplaces, neighborhoods, and families. When we interact with colleagues, serve in our communities, or encourage those in our own households, we continue the legacy of living as temples of the Holy Spirit. Our daily actions can reflect God’s love and holiness, revealing Him to those around us.
At this point, the significance of this truth becomes apparent.
You might pause: “I don’t feel like a priest. I feel ordinary… unqualified.” But this identity is not based on feeling or qualification. It is given in Christ. The priests of old were chosen by God. You are chosen, not for who you were, but for who He is.
There may be a quiet conviction: “If this is true, my life carries more responsibility than I’ve been living.” This conviction is not to condemn; it is to awaken. I do not live casually. I live conscious of God.
Nevertheless, despite the weight of responsibility, there is assurance.
You are not left to figure this out alone. The same Spirit who sanctifies also empowers. God does not call without providing what is needed. What He declares, He will faithfully work within you. As you step into this calling, you can rely on the Holy Spirit by praying for guidance, strength, and wisdom each day. Seek encouragement and accountability in community with other believers, sharing both burdens and victories. Embrace spiritual disciplines such as reading Scripture, worship, and quiet reflection, knowing that God meets you in these moments. If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember that He provides grace for every step and supports you in every circumstance.
Furthermore, this calling is not lived in isolation. Every believer shares in this priesthood. Together, the Body of Christ is a living, active priesthood serving, interceding, worshiping, and proclaiming Him.
With this in mind, a vital question arises: are we living as individuals attending church, or as a united priesthood serving under one High Priest?
To pursue true unity as a priesthood, it is important to take simple steps together. We can gather in prayer, not just privately, but in small groups or as a community, interceding for one another and for those around us. We can find practical ways to serve side by side, offering help to those in need, supporting local outreach, or caring for members of our own congregation together. Regular encouragement is also key: taking time each week to speak words of life, pray for a fellow believer, or check in on someone who may feel alone. By choosing to pray, serve, and encourage each other as one body, we can grow in unity and truly live as the royal priesthood Christ calls us to be.
Because there is a difference.
This identity is not earned; it is given. It is not passive. My life is worship; set apart, holy, and offered to God.
So, when these truths are embraced, the calling becomes clear.
I am to proclaim Him.
I am to intercede.
I am to serve.
I am to worship.
Not as an obligation—but as one who has been brought near.
A royal priesthood is not what I strive to become.
It is who I am in Christ.
Sources:
- The Holy Bible — 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 5:10; Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; 1 Timothy 2:1
- Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 40
- Didache, ch. 15
- Tertullian, On the Soldier’s Crown
- Origen, Against Celsus
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