The Priesthood of All Believers
April 2022
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This month’s TLO Disciple topic is: The Priesthood of all Believers. The Scriptures speak of the Holy Christian Church in this way: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging God, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,” 1 Peter 2:9.
Martin Luther taught that every member of the Church is precious, a royal priest. One of my seminary professors, Rev. Dr. Norman Nagel, in his article Luther and the Priesthood of All Believers, described the role of the priest in this way: The role of the priest is twofold, to face the Lord (in prayer and thanksgiving) and face the world (declaring the Word of the Lord and His mercy). Jesus is our High Priest. He gave his life as a sacrifice for sin and has delivered us from the dominion of sin, death, the devil and the Law. Dr. Nagel wrote, “Having been saved by Jesus, we are now living sacrifices whose lives are poured out in sacrifice to him where he has put himself to receive the sacrifice of our lives, that is our neighbor in need.” (Luther and the Priesthood of All Believers, sourced here.)
Having been brought into the family of God, you are now chosen to be His priest, to worship before the Lord in his temple without fear and turn outward to look with favor upon all who are in need.
Pastor James Kroonblawd
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Priestly Peace
By Todd Jones
The Priesthood of All Believers
Through his understanding of the priesthood of all believers, Martin Luther would reveal in the Scriptures the powerful truth that all baptized believers not only had free access to God’s grace, but also had the power to dispense, freely, the grace of God.
The bottom line (for us) is this: no matter what we face—our challenges, our hardships, our uncertainties—we have the power to change the world around us by what we say and what we do because we are a member of the royal priesthood. The Word of God has the power to give life to your words and your prayers. We have these treasures so that we can be a priest, declaring God’s mercy for those wracked with guilt; proclaiming God’s redemption for those who are lost; and showing kindness to those around us that they might see Jesus.
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“In talk of priests there are always two points. You cannot be a priest all by yourself. A priest is always toward someone else, toward a non-priest” —Rev. Dr. Nagel, 1997, Luther and the Priesthood of All Believers, CTQ
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The Ministry: Offices, Procedures and Nomenclature
By reason of their baptism, all Christians receive the Holy Spirit and are constituted priests before God (1 Peter 2: 5, 9; Rev. 1:6; Rev. 5:10; Rom. 12:1). They are not priests in the sense of making atoning sacrifices. God's people are His priests by His mandate and appointment as they present their bodies a living sacrifice for the extension of His kingdom. As priests they exercise the privilege of prayer not only for themselves but also for others.
The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is precious. It need not, however, confuse us regarding the doctrine of the public ministry. Not all Christians are eligible to hold the office of the public ministry nor should they be called to do so. Full document here
The Ministry, Offices, Procedures and Nomenclature, Part III; A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, September. 1981
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Congregations Help Every Young Person Live out their Unique Vocation Posted by LCMS Youth Ministry | Jul 2, 2019
What am I here on earth to do? How will I know if I’ve found success? Youth seek direction, significant relationships and to impact their community. They begin to set priorities and long-term goals.
The Lutheran understanding of vocation and the priesthood of all believers can be powerful for teens and young adults. Gen Z is an action oriented and achievement driven generation. Vocation helps to prioritize their time, gifts and talents. It encourages discipline and excellence while keeping the focus on the Gospel of Jesus. God can use the healthy desire of these young people for action to spread the His Good News and love in their everyday lives. Read the entire article by clicking here.
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The royal priesthood is all believers whom God has made a kingdom and priests by working faith in Christ in them by the Holy Spirit. Individuals are priests through their Baptism, and as such offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, pray for this world and confess the faith in their daily lives.
The following conclusions summarize biblical teaching on the royal priesthood and enable us to see the crucial and necessary connections of the royal priesthood to “the mission challenges of today."
1. The Royal Priesthood is a biblical way to identify, teach and confess the “one, holy, catholic (Christian), and apostolic Church.”
2. Individuals become priests of the royal priesthood, the Church, by the saving promises of Baptism into Christ, where we receive the washing of rebirth, the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5; Acts 2:38–39; Titus 3:5).
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FROM GOD'S WORD
You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Pet 2:5
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THE COFFEE HOUR—PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, Director of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the CTCR Report from September 2018 titled “The Royal Priesthood: Identity and Mission,” including the confusion surround the “royal priesthood,” what the document aims to clear up, and the relationship between the Office of the Holy Ministry and the congregation. Learn more and find the document here.
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FROM GOD'S WORD
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9 (NIV)
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In We the Church: The Priesthood of All Believers, the focus is on the critical role of the laity in the origin and development of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). From immigrant communities of German Christians to a mainline denomination of more than 6,000 congregations, We the Church examines the role of LCMS laity both inside and outside of the church and challenges today's church members to embrace their rich heritage as disciples by sharing the message of hope they have in Christ Jesus.
Featuring expert commentary, instructive graphics, and detailing the Christ-centered mission of the LCMS, We the Church highlights key events and people that have shaped the history of this church body during its various ups and downs through the years. It notes the importance of the full empowerment of all laity and clergy and how early LCMS members responded to the spiritual guidance of men like C.F.W. Walther, Friedrich Wyneken, and others to share the Gospel with everyone—not just those of a similar cultural background or language.
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Priesthood of all Believers and Vocation
Edward Gene Veith
But though we do not have to sacrifice for our own sins, the New Testament says that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1; and see 1 Peter 2:5). Jesus tells us that following Him means denying ourselves “daily” and taking up our Cross, which is an instrument of sacrifice (Luke 9:23). This happens in vocation, whenever we deny ourselves–which is a kind of self-sacrifice–for our neighbors. When a wife denies her self and takes up her Cross by submitting to her husband in love and service to him, and when a husband denies himself and takes up his cross by “giving himself up” for his wife, in love and service to her (Ephesians 5:22-23). Or a father comes home from work, exhausted from giving good service to his customers and making a living for his family–he has presented his body as a living sacrifice. Read full article
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FROM GOD'S WORD
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the
measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Romans 12:3-5
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Lutheran Spirituality: Community
Spirituality is a common term today, but what does it mean? Lutheran Spirituality explores the Bible, Luther's Small Catechism, and the Lutheran hymnal as integral resources for living out our faith in a spiritually confused-and sometimes confusing-world.
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FROM GOD'S WORD
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7
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CREATED FOR COMMUNITY
You might be able to watch services online where the church has better technology, music or even preaching. However, God has made you to be part of a specific community of believers who need you and the mutual support that you both give and receive. Our congregations are not perfect. They are made up of broken sinners like each of us. However, our congregations are people who have been joined together by the Holy Spirit and covered with the blood of Jesus. My prayer for our congregations is that they would be communities of believers, encouraging one another in Christ and His gifts.
Many congregations right now are wondering what to do with those who have been hesitant to return to worship. This is where we can take a page from St. Paul and never fail to encourage them, whether by written or spoken word. May each of these people who are slow in returning know that they are loved by Christ and their congregation.
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FROM GOD'S WORD
"So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:5
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FROM GOD'S WORD
"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11
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Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran
651-454-7235
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