Believer- Priest
Good Morning,
John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is the One Who gives us access to God, not a preacher or priest, and certainly not Mary. Once we receive Christ, you and I can enter into the presence of God on our own.
Access to God is clearly pointed out in Paul’s writings.
Ephesians 2:18 “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
3:12 “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
In the story of the crucifixion, we read about the veil in the temple being torn from top to bottom. If you read back in Exodus and Leviticus, you will notice that the veil separated the holy of holies from the rest of the tabernacle. No one had access to the holy of holies, except the high priest once a year. When Jesus died and paid our sin debt, the curtain that kept men away from the presence of God was opened as a statement that all men are invited into God’s presence.
When you get saved, you have a very special privilege, something no other religion offers to people; you have personal access to God without the church or any minister. In fact, the book of Hebrews tells us that when we have a need, we are to come boldly to the throne of grace.
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
God further explains our unique relationship to Him by calling us “priests.”
1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
vs. 9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
This title of priest is spoken of in the book of Revelation as well. (Revelation 1:6; 5:10)
As a Christian, God makes it very clear that we have access to Him. He is not in some distant place that only a select few may approach; He invites all of us into His presence.
The idea of lifting up a special man with a religious title and telling us we need to confess our sins to him is found nowhere in the Bible. No one in the Scriptures ever confessed sins to a man!
The idea that Mary was special enough to allow access to God by bringing our requests to the heavenly father for us is an absurd, heretical idea, and it is certainly not found in Scripture. No verse in the Bible states that anyone ever prayed to Mary! Once we are saved, we can go straight to God ourselves.
Once you are saved, if you need God, you not only have access to Him in prayer, but you also have His Holy Spirit living inside you, and he has already given you the title of priest. You can go to God on behalf of others. You need not wear a long robe, pledge celibacy, and speak Latin. You just need to be born again.
Never play down your privileged position as a believer-priest. You and God have something spectacular.
Pastor