THE NEW COVENANT PRIESTHOOD: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

We are investigating the scriptural authority concerning who can minister in the church of God. What are the requirements of those who are called and who exactly are called. We are looking for answers to whether there is a difference between ministering in the church and out of the church. That means to believers and to unbelievers. All these things may seem simple and self evident but the church has assumed many doctrines and requirements that have very little to do with the New Covenant. In fact they totally ignore and conflict with the New Covenant.

We should first understand this whole concept of "Priesthood". Several churches still refer to their ministers as "priests" and the rest of the church as members or believers. Multitudes accept this concept without question, but as Paul said, "I would not have you ignorant brethren". This theory that the priests are the small group that ministers to the church or "the believers", is faulty and erroneous. Even a causal look at the New Testament will reveal this deception.

Some churches acknowledge that all believers are called to a holy priesthood but have not responded to the requirements and consequently have been disqualified. Others have used the Old Covenant type of a divided priesthood of Priests and Levites to prove the division between the "MINISTRY" and the church. Both the sons of Aaron and the Levites were called "priests" but only the high priest and his sons could enter into the Holy Place to do the "ministry". The Levites carried wood and assisted the "priests". In that same way the whole church is called "priests". In this concept, the priests are the sons of the High Priest and are therefore the chosen "ministers". The believers or the church are in the family of Levi, the same as Aaron and Moses, but are the same as Levites. They are not qualified to participate in the "holy ministry" or the "most holy ministry". They can carry water and gather wood and do the servile work of the church.

To make this philosophy work out, the ministers would have to be the sons of Jesus and the church the sons of God. The whole church would have to be children of God (Levi) but the ministers would be the sons of Aaron, the High Priest (Jesus Christ). In this way the priesthood is divided into two groups. Those who minister to God and those who serve the ministers.

All this may have some credence if the New Testament priesthood was arranged the same as the Old Testament priesthood and the Old Covenant was like the New Covenant. The fact is that the New Covenant is nothing like the Old Covenant. HEB 8:7 For if that first {covenant} had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. HEB 8:8 For finding fault with them, He says, "Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, When I will effect a new covenant With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; HEB 8:9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day when I took them by the hand To lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the Lord.

The priesthood after the order of Aaron was established at Mt. Sinai because Israel was afraid and didn't go up the mountain. God's purpose was to make all of Israel a Kingdom of priests. EXO 19:5 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the 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 sons of Israel. " There was a preparation necessary.

EXO 19:14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. EXO 19:15 And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman." DEU 5:4 "The \Lord\ spoke to you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire, DEU 5:5 {while} I was standing between the \Lord\ and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the \Lord\; for you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain. He said,

( See the study: From Egypt to Sinai). Because Israel didn't go up the mountain to hear the voice of God, He established an intermediary priesthood to stand between the people and God. This priesthood was to interpret the will of God to the people and to declare the word of God to the people.

From this it has been interpreted that those who stand in the presence of God can't have relations with their wives, Etc. This is carried over into the "eunuch doctrine" of the New Testament and the "virgin doctrine" of Rev 14. ISA 56:3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the \Lord\ say, "The \Lord\ will surely separate me from His people." Neither let the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." # ISA 56:4 For thus says the \Lord\, #"To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, ISA 56:5 To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. ISA 56:6 "Also the foreigners who join themselves to the \Lord\, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the \Lord\, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant; ISA 56:7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. "

( See the study on eunuchs). All these things would be extremely convincing if the Old Covenant was like the New Covenant and the priesthood after the order of Aaron was like the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek and if a eunuch in the Old Testament was the same as a eunuch in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, a eunuch was a man who was castrated so he could watch over the kings wives without temptation. These were natural eunuchs, physical eunuchs and literal eunuchs. Few New Testaments ministers wish to qualify for that type of eunuch. Obviously, the New Testament eunuchs are "spiritual eunuchs" and not literal eunuchs.

The error comes in when we try to mix the spiritual eunuch with a literal eunuch. That means requiring a minister to refrain from having a physical relationship with a wife in the natural sense and yet holding to a doctrine about spiritual eunuchs.

The New Testament really does have spiritual eunuchs who do not impregnate their life into the church but keep the church exclusively for Jesus Christ and not use the church for their own purposes. The problem is with those who hold to a doctrine about spiritual eunuchs but all the time they are defiling the church with their own life and concepts and using the church for their own satisfaction. That kind of doctrine really doesn't impress God. They are not sleeping with their wife but they are sleeping with the church. The first has temporary consequences but the second has eternal consequences. It is better to sleep with your wife than the church.

The priesthood after the order of Melchizedek was the original priesthood. The first mention of any priest was in Gen 14. Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God. This is an eternal priesthood and cannot be compared to the temporal priesthood of earthly priests.

HEB 5:9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, HEB 5:10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. HEB 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and {it is} hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

HEB 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a {hope} both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, HEB 6:20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

HEB 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, HEB 7:2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all {the spoils}, was first of all, by the translation {of his name}, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. HEB 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually. (Forever) HEB 7:4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. HEB 7:5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. HEB 7:6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises. HEB 7:7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. HEB 7:8 And in this case (Aaron and his sons) mortal men receive tithes, but in that case (Melchizedek) one {receives them}, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. HEB 7:9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, HEB 7:10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

( See the study on Melchizedek) The eternal priesthood after the order of Melchizedek has never changed. The priesthood after the order of Aaron was ordained by God as a temporary priesthood until Jesus Christ was manifested and became a high priest after this eternal priesthood. The priesthood of Melchizedek existed as an eternal priesthood before Jesus Christ was manifested. Jesus became a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. ( much the same way that Eleazar became the high priest after the order of Aaron). Without doing the whole study, we can say that Melchizedek was a type of the Holy Spirit. We might even say He was the Holy Spirit in bodily form like Jesus Christ was the Word of God in bodily form. He was made like the Son of God. One thing for certain, He wasn't just a man like Abraham.

Jesus Christ then became our High Priest after the same order as Melchizedek. At Pentecost the whole priesthood changed. The priesthood after the order of Aaron was changed to the original priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. The reason was because the priesthood after the order of Aaron could not bring anyone to perfection. Either then or now, even though some are trying. HEB 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need {was there} for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? HEB 7:12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. If the old priesthood is still in effect the law is also still in effect. When we find a ministry established after the old priesthood, we also find a legalistic ministry.

1PE 2:9 But you are \a chosen race, a\ royal \priesthood, a holy nation, a people for\ {God's} \own possession,\ that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; EXO 19:5 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the 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 sons of Israel. "

What God offered to Israel has now been established for the church, which is His body. There are two things revealed here. The Kingdom and the priests of that Kingdom. REV 1:6 and He has made us {to be} a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him {be} the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. REV 5:10 "And Thou hast made them {to be} a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." # REV 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

In this church age there is no divided priesthood and there is no divided church and there is no divided ministry. The blood bought church of God have all been called to this Holy Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek because there is no other priesthood. This priesthood has one level, priests. Jesus began His priesthood at the Jordan river when the Holy Spirit descended and anointed Him.

EXO 40:13 "And you shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister as a priest to Me. EXO 40:14 "And you shall bring his sons and put tunics on them; EXO 40:15 and you shall anoint them even as you have anointed their father, that they may minister as priests to Me; and their anointing shall qualify them for a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations."

The scriptures speak about Jesus. Jesus Christ and those of that same family are the priests but each one must have the anointing because it is the anointing that qualifies us for the priesthood. The reason is because the anointing is the Holy Spirit.

LUK 4:18 #"\The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me\, \Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor\. \He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives\, \And recovery of sight to the blind\, \To set free those who are downtrodden\, ACT 10:38 "{You know of} Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and {how} He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. In the Old Testament the priests, the prophets and the kings needed the anointing.

We take up our priesthood after the order of Melchizedek when we are anointed with the Holy Spirit. All that have the anointing of the Holy Spirit are part of that priesthood but some function and some don't. Some have defects. See Lev 21. Some don't function because they are forbidden, some don't function because they are lazy and some don't function because they are ignorant. Priesthood is not identified by "the name priest" but by them functioning as priests. In Lev 21 we see some of the sons of Aaron that could not function as priests. In that same way there are the majority of church people that do not function as priests today or in church history. Most is the fault of those who have called themselves "priests" and have eliminated the rest as unqualified. Qualification has become by training or submitting to church requirements but ignore the anointing. It is the anointing that qualifies us for the priesthood but then we still must function as priests. We can't just sit around and talk in tongues and say that is the New Testament priesthood. Priest means you function as a priest.

The Old Covenant that was established at Mt. Sinai was based upon the law of physical requirements but the New Covenant was established upon the power of an indestructible life. The new priesthood is based upon the New Covenant. HEB 7:17 For it is witnessed {of Him}, "Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." HEB 7:18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness HEB 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

The Levitical priesthood couldn't bring anybody to perfection. The law of Moses couldn't bring anybody to perfection. The sacrifices couldn't perfect anybody and the blood of bulls and goats couldn't cleanse anyone perfectly. For that reason all these things were done away with. The first covenant had a system of worship and an earthly sanctuary. This was the Tabernacle of Moses. The New Covenant has it's true worshiper (who worship in Spirit and in truth) and a heavenly sanctuary. Everything about the New Covenant is different than the Old Covenant. (See scriptures on the New Covenant).

In order to shorten a long study, we can summarize by saying all who are saved are called with a holy calling. 2TI 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, If we are called, we are called into the New Testament priesthood. Since there is only one New Testament priesthood, we are all called into the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. It is no longer a matter of minister and believer, it is a matter of priesthood. Within the priesthood there are ministries that God calls. Some are called to this and some to that but all are called. Each one must be faithful to fulfil their own ministry because we all must stand before the judgement seat of Christ to answer for what we did with what we were given. We won't be able to say, " The Pastor wouldn't permit me to fulfil my calling because I didn't meet his requirements". There can be no excuse for one member of the body to be comatose and lifeless. All that is of Christ must manifest the power of an indestructible life. Whatever manifests death cannot be connected to Christ, who, is life. His bride cannot be partly in a comatose state or have parts that don't function. It is a dangerous thing to sit and do nothing with what we were given, even if we develop doctrines against function. MAT 25:15 "And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. MAT 25:24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no {seed.} MAT 25:25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.' MAT 25:26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no {seed.} MAT 25:27 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my {money} back with interest. MAT 25:28 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' MAT 25:30 "And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. An apology from the Pastor will be of little comfort.

LUK 12:46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect {him,} and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. LUK 12:47 "And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes, LUK 12:48 but the one who did not know {it,} and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

If we studied the church from past history, we would see the church has been affected by culture, philosophy, religion, human nature, local customs, social atmosphere, politics and even Christian leaders. In some periods the "leaders" were responsible for totally perverting the church and did more damage than the Devil. Christian behavior, or lack of it, has many times been the combination natural conditions and influences and the drawing work of the Holy Spirit. Because of all the variables, we can't arrive at accurate picture of what the church should be from past church history. We don't really know how much the early church was affected by these things but we can see that the church in Jerusalem was definitely affected by Jewish custom and tradition for many years.

Every church maintains at least some customs and traditions that are not scriptural. Most churches are affected by the personalities of the leaders. Most all churches are affected by certain compromises. Some are liberal and some are legalistic. Even the early church was affected by these things. However we don't have a lot of choices in trying to arrive at a pattern for the church today. The early church was the purest form of church that we have to look at. Most all reformation movements have gone back to the early church as their pattern to start over. This usually didn't produce pure Christianity but another mixture.

The fact is that Jesus must build His church in every generation and that man will mess it up in every generation. Hopefully, Jesus will build faster than the leaders can tear it down. Peter warned that heresies would come into the church and Paul warned that savage wolves would come. All these influences have affected the message of the church. It varied from a modified message to no message to a perverted message.

Transportation, communication, books, tapes, T.V., study helps, buildings, outward dress and about everything has changed since the early church. We can no longer go back to how it used to be. Even if we could that would change nothing. Even though we differ in many ways from the early church, there are certain eternal principles that never change. For example; The Kingdom of God is exactly the same. The Lordship of Jesus Christ is exactly the same. We must not differ in the power and demonstration of the Spirit of God. The LIFE of God in the believer must not change. We may not differ in the gifts of the Spirit. We still must preach the gospel of the Kingdom. In suffering for the gospel, we can't differ from the true church in any age. The sovereign rule of the Lord Jesus Christ over the church must always be the same. The being birthed in the Spirit and maintaining the filling and fullness of the Holy Spirit must not change. When the church has departed from these eternal things, she has fallen into corruption.

With all the adulteration and defilement of the past, we may wonder why God needs the church. Why doesn't He just give up and start over again? The reason is because God has an eternal purpose that will be fulfilled. If not by us in this generation, then by someone in future generations. If the church in this generation is going to make progress in God's eternal purpose, it is clear that she must focus upon the eternal principles that have not changed from the first church until now.

If we studied the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3 we would see they had departed from certain principles that could be fatal. This departure took place in the first 100 years. How many things do we accept as normal today that actually are an abomination to God. Most of what we see in the church in America is a compromise but we don't know it. What we really need is to find the eternal plan of Christ for His church that has existed from the very creation. We can't get that plan from man for all the reasons stated. Then how can we receive that revelation?

In His message to the seven churches we can see some of the things that He approves and some of the things He disapproves. However we are living in a different day. What if He wrote a letter to us? Certainly repentance would be a large part of His letter.

The church has become man centered. The preaching has focused upon man's need, his benefit, his happiness, how man can be satisfied and prosper and be in health. All this is one reason the church has become irrelevant. Man's has been told the gospel exists for his benefit. We really haven't yet preached a convincing gospel of the Kingdom of God. The focus of that message is God Himself and what makes Him happy. What will satisfy the heart of God. In the gospel of the Kingdom, it doesn't matter if man's needs are met or not, or if man is happy or not. Man is expected to suffer for the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom of God, man is commanded to do the will of God. MAT 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

When we speak about what is relevant in eternity, our conclusion is "the Kingdom of God". If we don't fit in there, nothing else is relevant. In the Kingdom those who save their will lose it and those who lose their life will find it. Unless you take up your cross daily and follow Me, you can't be My disciple. All this speaks of God's government and the laws of His Kingdom. The good news is that we have been accepted in His Kingdom. The bad news is that not all who have access will end up there.

God's government is expressed in God's sovereignty and His throne. Jesus Christ is God's appointed King. Any salvation that does not lead into God's Government and bring us within God's sovereignty is less than Kingdom salvation. If you are saved with a Kingdom salvation, you should be aware that someone is trying to direct and manage your life. You should be aware that even if others can, you can't. You should have a sense that it is no longer you that is living but someone is living in you and is saying no to your will. If we are not saved as far as the Kingdom, it is possible we have a birth defect or half a conversion. This is perversion and not conversion. "Salvation" without His government active in our life is perversion and is the result of a counterfeit gospel.

There is the gospel of the giveaways, the gospel of the half priced sale and the gospel of the bargain. All these are popular but are not the gospel of the Kingdom. The gospel of the bargains says come and get. it is all free and will be a great benefit to get God on your side. The gospel of the Kingdom says come and give. You will no longer be your own, you will be His purchased possession. You will no longer live for yourself but for Him who died and rose again on your behalf.

This message of the Kingdom of God is not just for "the consecrated servants of God" but for everyone who expects to be saved. We could say, the Kingdom is the minimum requirement. If we just submit to the requirements of the Kingdom, that will be enough, and we won't need any added requirements that the church has devised. God is well able to define His own requirements to those who are in a Kingdom relationship with Him. If you are not in that relationship, all the other requirements that the church devises are irrelevant.

This Kingdom salvation requires that God do much more than forgive us, He must totally transform us into a new kind of creation.

The conclusion is this: If we are going to be prepared for God's eternal Kingdom, we must do more than sit in our chair and pay our tithe. Much of the subjective work is accomplished when we step out to fulfil our calling. In that process, we are changed from what we are into what we should be. That is God's work and man will only mess it up.