Preisthood of the believer

[The Biblicist]

Rom. 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

The term "minister" translates the Greek term "leitourgos" and refers to a public official and thus a public ministry. It is used of Government officials and of the Preists in the Temple doing their public ministry.

The term "ministering" translates the Greek term "hierougeo" and refers to the ministry of the preist offering up sacrifices.

Now, Neither Paul is a literal Preist any more than the genitles are literal sacrifices. However, it is the analogy of the preistly offering up of sacrifices in the temple that is being applied to the ministry of the gospel.

Peter likens the New Testament congregation as analogous to the "temple" being composed of living stones that assemble to offer up spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable unto God. Thus he moves from the analogy of living stones to a "royal preisthood" in the public worship of God.

Hebrews 13:15-17 also makes this same analogy of the public worship under the leadership of the ordained (Heb. 13:7, 17) offering up spiritual sacrifices unto God.

It would appear that all our public service, preaching, teaching, singing, giving, serving, doing good can be accepted as spiritual offerings unto God if its is made acceptable unto God.

In Romans 15:16 what makes Paul's sacrifices acceptable unto God is the work of the Holy Spirit sanctifying, separating the gentiles apart unto faith in the gospel. We know that the word of God sanctifies or sets apart believers unto God (Jn. 17:17).

What would make our service not "acceptable unto God"?

How does this analogy affect your conscious public service for God?

What would God require to make your public service "holy" and acceptable to God? - Rom. 12:1

List those things that New Testament scripture views as spiritual "sacrifices"

 

[mandym]

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
Exo 19:6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."


1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

 

[The Biblicist]

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
Exo 19:6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."


1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Don't see how these comments have anything to do with my questions? Seems that you are attempting to hijack this thread to start an argument over whether the church is the replacement for the nation of Israel. Not interested in that topic!

 

[mandym]

Don't see how these comments have anything to do with my questions? Seems that you are attempting to hijack this thread to start an argument over whether the church is the replacement for the nation of Israel. Not interested in that topic!

I have absolutely no idea how you pulled that out of my post. Nothing even remotely resembles such an idea. Those verses are directly related to the thread title.

 

[The Biblicist]

I have absolutely no idea how you pulled that out of my post. Nothing even remotely resembles such an idea. Those verses are directly related to the thread title.

Can you explain how they address the three questions I asked?

 

[mandym]

Can you explain how they address the three questions I asked?

Seriously? .....

 

[The Biblicist]

Seriously? .....

I have already alluded to that very Old Testament background when referring to 1 Peter 2:5-9. The symbolism has already been noted from the Old Testament Temple and the preists offering sacrifices.

How would you apply these verses you mention to the following questions:

What would make our service not "acceptable unto God"?

How does this analogy affect your conscious public service for God?

What would God require to make your public service "holy" and acceptable to God? - Rom. 12:1

List those things that New Testament scripture views as spiritual "sacrifices"

 

[billwald]

In Romans 15:16 what makes Paul's sacrifices acceptable unto God is the work of the Holy Spirit sanctifying, separating the gentiles apart unto faith in the gospel. We know that the word of God sanctifies or sets apart believers unto God (Jn. 17:17).

NOTE Paul says "might," not "are." Paul does not "assume facts not in evidence." Only time would tell if Paul's sacrifices were acceptable."

Doesn't Acts 5 directly apply?

34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

What would make our service not "acceptable unto God"?

The attitude of the supplicant/doer. In the OT the sacrifices didn't "do" anything but were a visualization of the offerers repentance and restitution where possible. This is also the Baptist interpretation of baptism.

>How does this analogy affect your conscious public service for God?

I try to be a good neighbor.

What would God require to make your public service "holy" and acceptable to God? - Rom. 12:1

List those things that New Testament scripture views as spiritual "sacrifices"

The NT does not specifically define which "good works" are "spiritual sacrifices." I suspect the two concepts are identical.
__________________

 

[billwald]

MORE IMPORTANT, Romans was written by the real St Paul. The real Paul taught the total equality of all believers, master and slave, male and female, and all equal before God. The congregations started by the real Paul were organized bottom up and the person who obviously had the gift did the job.

The Pastoral Epistles were most likely written after Paul's death after 70 AD and the gentile takeover of the Church. The post-revolution Church has a top down administration and the women have no standing.

 

[The Biblicist]

The Pastoral Epistles were most likely written after Paul's death after 70 AD and the gentile takeover of the Church. The post-revolution Church has a top down administration and the women have no standing.

What evidence do you have that Paul was not the author of the Pastoral epistles?

 

[billwald]

http://cognitivediscopants.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/did-paul-write-the-pastoral-epistles-part-iv/

http://www.christianityboard.com/topic/4253-did-paul-write-the-pastoral-epistles/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/publi...ul-the-pastoral-epistles-and-the-early-church

http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/corinthians/deutero.stm

also see wiki