There is a new and living way.
Old Testament Israel had a clergy-laity system. Only one out of twelve tribes, Levi, could function as priests. The Levitical priests were recognized by their special religious vestments (Ex. 28:40-43). They alone could offer offerings on the altar and serve in the house of God. As males, they alone could eat of the memorial bread in the holy place (Lev. 24:5-9). A stranger that came near was to be put to death (Num. 18:7). The other eleven tribes were to pay (tithe) and obey. Only Moses could come into God’s presence to hear His commandments and Word (Ex. 25:22)—the laity could only hear God’s Word via Moses. The priests became priests by having the right birth, being washed with water, sprinkled with blood, and then anointed (Ex. 29).
In the “new and living way” of the New Testament, things have changed. Every believer in the Lord Jesus is now viewed as part of a holy and royal priesthood. The laity has disappeared, for all believers are priests. You will never read of instructions for religious vestments in the New Testament, for we are all priests. You will also never read of titles in front of a man’s name, for we are all equally brethren (Mt. 23:6-9). The only one to get a title in front of His name is Jesus: He is the Lord Jesus by exaltation by the Father in resurrection (Php. 2:9-11).
Orderly functions require authority, ability, and arrangement. For example, with a professional sports team, players needs authority (a contract) to show up to play. They also need ability to remain playing. Finally, they must play according to the rules of the game (arrangement). Let us briefly consider the authority that makes us priests, the ability to function as priests, and the arrangement of how we serve as priests.
Authority
It is not the amount of education or training or professional skill that qualifies the believer as a priest of God. Like the Old Testament priest, every believer has the right birth—born again (1 Pet. 1:23). Every believer is washed and clean through the Word of God (Eph. 5:26). Every believer is loosed from their sins by the sacrificial blood of Christ and thus constituted a priest: “…Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father…” (Rev. 1:5f). Every believer has been anointed with the Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 2:27; 3:24).
Now every believer can be involved in offering up spiritual sacrifices unto God and showing forth His praises (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). Now “brethren” (the whole family of God, women included) have the right to boldly “enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). This act was punishable by death in the Old Testament, but the gospel is a “new and living way.”
Ability
It is one thing to be a priest, it is another thing to have the ability to serve the living Lord. The gospel not only cleanses us, it empowers us. The cleansed sinner receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is more professional or powerful than He.
The Holy Spirit enables every believer to know the love of God (Rom. 5:5), understand the things of God (1 Cor. 2:9-16), sing in our heart unto the Lord (no longer a special group of skilled Levitical singers, praise or worship team, 2 Chron. 29:25-30; Eph. 5:18f), pray according to His will (Rom. 8:26f), overcome indwelling sin (Rom. 8:13), and bear fruit (Gal. 5:22f). The Spirit also gifts every believer with supernatural ability to be involved in the church of God, the building up of His body. “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Cor. 12:7). While the gifts are different, the possession of the Spirit’s power is equal.
To now make professional training the qualification of clergy to function in the church of God and call non-educated believers laity, is to defame the power of the gospel, the blood of Christ, and His living Spirit. It is to re-sew the veil that was torn in two when Christ died. It is to go backward into Old Testament legalism. It quenches the power of the Spirit of grace and life. It is to cut off at least 80 percent of the church’s ability. Yes, today we all as clergy (priests) do more than pray, pay, and obey: we are all to worship and serve as His sanctuary, the church.
Arrangement
Where there is group function, there is an order. The tribe of Levi in the Old Testament had commandments to regulate their worship and service unto the Lord. There was the high priest and then the regular priests. The regular priests also had Levitical helpers. While they helped the priests, they did not do the same things. The priests also served in turn, etc. See the books of Leviticus and Numbers for details and regulations concerning their service.
Under the old covenant, the males (Aaron’s sons) were to eat the memorial bread once a week in the holy place (Lev. 24:5-9; 6:16-18). Now, both men and women believers as priests, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ, eat the bread and drink the cup on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 11:17-34). This is new.
When the church comes together in one place (in assembly or “in the church”), there are some functions in which the women’s role is different than the men’s. The women are to be silent in the church and not permitted to speak or ask a question (1 Cor. 14:34f). This is because of God’s creative headship order (1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:11-15). The women can offer in their hearts silently unto God, and He does accept such from this holy priesthood through Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:5).
Outside the church meeting, a sister can use her spiritual gifts in a variety of ways unto the Lord. However, in the meeting, she is to display God’s order of headship to the angels by putting a covering over her head (1 Cor. 11:1-16). God’s nature itself also shows this principle in giving women long hair as their glory which covers her naturally. When she then further covers her head she is hiding not only her own glory, but also man’s glory (the woman). So only the glory of the Lord is displayed.
As the male priests function orally in the church, there is liberty and order together. Liberty, in that all may use their gift in public assembly. “Ye may all prophesy one by one” (1 Cor. 14:31). Whether it is doctrine (teaching) or a psalm, etc., there is this freedom that displays the very gospel principles itself: priesthood purchased by the blood of Christ and sealed with His Spirit.
One may ask, won’t this be disorderly? Thankfully, no, for with this liberty, there is order. It is the risen Lord Jesus that gives the commandments of order (1 Cor. 14:37). One can sit down and hold his peace while another says something. One brother at a time, and others are to judge, thus creating accountability, responsibility, variety, and submission to the Lord (1 Cor. 14:26-40).
Yes, the gospel has radically changed things. It gives the common person priesthood and full access into the holiest. And this is not only in our daily life, but also in the house of God, the church—the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). While we go out to preach the gospel, the church gathering is meant to practice the gospel.