p. 2 | A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 30, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 21.

A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD.

By H. A. St. John

"Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." Heb. 6:20.

WE are informed in the same connection that this Melchizedek was at the same time both king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. Heb. 7:1. Hence he was a kingly or royal priest, and our Forerunner, the Lord Jesus, is like Melchizedek in that He is a royal high priest. Seated upon His Father's throne, the throne of the King of the universe, possessing all power in heaven and earth, He is also the one and only Mediator between God and man.

It will now be shown that the sons of God, even in this world, are a subordinate royal priesthood. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9. A priest must have somewhat to offer. First of all, he must offer himself as a living sacrifice unto God. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1. The son of God, one who realizes that he belongs to God both by creation and redemption, can see and sense the reasonableness of offering himself unto God as a living sacrifice.

In the second place, the Christian priest is to offer unto God the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Heb. 13:15. So we see that the earthly son of God need never be at a loss for something to offer unto God. If only animals, money, or labor were required, there might be times when he would have nothing to offer. But no Christian can ever get into any possible condition when he will not have reasons for praise and thanksgiving unto God. His blessings are absolutely without number, and they are fresh every hour, hence we may offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually.

In the third place, the Christian priest may please God well by the offering of well-doing. "But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Heb. 13:16. The opportunities for this kind of priestly work in this world of sin and suffering are absolutely without limit. We can hardly conceive of a situation where such opportunities would be entirely lacking. So we can see how the sons of God are priests even in this world; and as they are the children of the King of the universe, they are appropriately denominated a royal priesthood. And even in the world to come the sons of God may be priests in the sense of ministering in holy things; for there will be only holy things there, and they will have the opportunity of doing good altho it will not be to the sinful and suffering, and they will certainly offer unto God continually the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving with perfect heart and holy lips. Thus we see how the likeness between that Son of God and His beloved sons in this world holds good; and it will never be less, but will grow more and more unto and into the perfect day. H. A. St. John.