Holy Priesthood: Your Identity and Spiritual Sacrifices

The Extraordinary Identity of Holy Priesthood

When we, as believers, come to Christ the cornerstone and are built upon His foundation, we receive an extraordinary identity: we are a holy priesthood. This isn’t metaphorical but an actual standing before God. Peter declares that we collectively form “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Later he adds that we are “a royal priesthood,” combining priestly function with royal dignity.

Understanding this identity requires examining both what we share with Old Testament priests and what makes our priesthood infinitely superior through Christ. Under the old covenant, the priesthood was limited to one tribe (Levi) and one family within that tribe (Aaron’s descendants). The average Israelite could never be a priest—they remained outside the sacred spaces, dependent on mediators to approach God on their behalf (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 3:10). But the new covenant revolutionizes everything: every believer, regardless of background, gender, or status, becomes part of the holy priesthood the moment they trust in Christ (Galatians 3:28).

This radical democratization of priesthood doesn’t diminish its significance—it multiplies it exponentially. What was once exclusive becomes universal; what was restricted to a few now belongs to all who believe. Yet the holy priesthood retains profound dignity, responsibility, and privilege. We are not casual volunteers in God’s service but consecrated priests ordained for specific purposes. Grasping this identity should transform how we view ourselves, our relationship with God, and our daily lives.

Ten Characteristics of the Holy Priesthood

The holy priesthood shares significant characteristics and privileges with the Levitical priesthood established under Moses, while enjoying superior access and function through Christ. Understanding these ten characteristics reveals both who we are and how we should live.

First, priests were elect—especially chosen by God from among the people. God didn’t accept volunteers or allow families to nominate their own priests. He sovereignly selected specific individuals for priestly service. Similarly, believers in the holy priesthood are chosen by God before the foundation of the world, called according to His purpose (Ephesians 1:4). Your priestly status isn’t something you achieved, earned, or deserved—it’s a gift flowing from divine election. Before you ever thought about God, He thought about you and set His love upon you.

Second, priests were cleansed from sin through ceremonial washings and blood sacrifices before they could serve (Exodus 29:4). No one entered priestly service in an unclean state—purification was mandatory and repeated regularly. The holy priesthood experiences infinitely superior cleansing—not through animal blood that must be repeatedly applied but through Christ’s precious blood that cleanses once for all (Hebrews 9:13-14). Every believer in the holy priesthood has been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus Christ in a complete purification that makes us perpetually acceptable before God.

Third, priests were clothed for service in special garments that represented holiness and dignity (Exodus 28:2-4). These weren’t ordinary clothes but sacred vestments designed by God Himself, crafted with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread. The holy priesthood is clothed with Christ Himself, robed in His righteousness, dressed in garments of salvation (Galatians 3:27). We don’t serve in our own merit or credentials but in the worthiness Christ provides. When God looks at the holy priesthood, He sees us wrapped in His Son’s perfection.

Fourth, priests were anointed for service with sacred oil symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence (Exodus 29:7). This anointing set them apart and equipped them for duties they couldn’t accomplish in human strength. The holy priesthood receives the reality of what the oil symbolized—the indwelling Holy Spirit who equips, empowers, and guides us in priestly service. Every member of the holy priesthood has been anointed by God to function in their calling, given spiritual gifts for ministry, and sealed by the Spirit as God’s permanent possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Fifth, priests were prepared for service through training, instruction, and learning the requirements of their role (Leviticus 8). They didn’t enter service ignorant or unprepared but underwent systematic preparation for their responsibilities. The holy priesthood is similarly prepared through the Word of God, the Spirit’s teaching, and the church’s discipleship. We grow in understanding our priestly responsibilities and how to fulfill them effectively (Ephesians 4:11-13). God doesn’t throw us into service unprepared—He equips us progressively through truth, experience, and community.

Ordained, Commanded, and Walking with God

Sixth, priests were ordained to obedience—required to follow God’s instructions precisely regarding sacrifices, service, and conduct. Deviation from God’s prescribed methods resulted in severe consequences, as Nadab and Abihu discovered when they offered unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1-3). The holy priesthood is likewise called to obedience, not legalistic rule-keeping but joyful submission to God’s Word flowing from grateful hearts (John 14:15). Our priestly service is acceptable only when offered according to God’s revealed will, not according to human innovation or preference.

Seventh, priests were commanded to honor the Word of God, teaching it to the people and preserving its truth. Priests were to be walking libraries of divine revelation, able to instruct people in God’s law and apply it to specific situations. The holy priesthood bears similar responsibility to treasure, study, obey, and proclaim God’s Word. We are guardians and heralds of divine truth in a world of confusion, called to handle Scripture accurately and share it faithfully (2 Timothy 2:15).

Eighth, priests were to walk with God in intimate fellowship, maintaining spiritual vitality and moral purity (Malachi 2:6). The model priest “walked with Me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity.” The holy priesthood enjoys even greater access to God through Christ, able to approach His throne boldly and walk in daily communion with Him (Hebrews 10:19-22). We don’t serve a distant deity from afar—we know Him personally, speak with Him constantly, and experience His presence continually.

Ninth, priests were to impact sinners by representing God to the people and interceding for them before God. They stood in the gap between holy God and sinful humanity, pleading for mercy and offering sacrifices for atonement. The holy priesthood similarly serves as ambassadors for Christ, representing Him to the world and interceding for others through prayer (2 Corinthians 5:20). We carry the message of reconciliation, plead with people to be reconciled to God, and petition God on behalf of those still in darkness.

Tenth, priests were messengers of God, speaking His truth and declaring His will. God said, “The lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 2:7). The holy priesthood continues this role, proclaiming the gospel and teaching biblical truth to all who will listen (Matthew 28:19-20). We don’t invent our own message or modify God’s—we faithfully deliver what we’ve received.

The Main Privilege: Direct Access to God

Among all the characteristics and privileges of the holy priesthood, the main privilege towers above the rest: direct access to God. This cannot be overstated in its significance. Under the old covenant, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies where God’s presence dwelt, and only once per year on the Day of Atonement, with blood to atone for sins (Hebrews 9:7). The average Israelite never entered God’s immediate presence—they remained outside, separated by curtains, courts, and mediating priests.

But when Christ died, the massive temple veil tore from top to bottom—torn by God’s hand from the top down, not by human effort from the bottom up—symbolizing that the way into God’s presence was now open to all believers (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19-20). The holy priesthood enjoys unrestricted, continuous access to God through Christ our High Priest. We don’t need human mediators, special locations, elaborate rituals, or appointed times. We approach God directly, boldly, confidently—anytime, anywhere, with any request or praise (1 Timothy 2:5).

This privilege should never become commonplace in our thinking. The reality that you—a former once-alienated sinner—can now enter God’s presence at will should fill you with perpetual wonder. The holy priesthood possesses what Old Testament saints longed for but never experienced: intimate, immediate, continual fellowship with the living God. When you pray, you’re not hoping God might eventually hear you through layers of intermediaries—you’re speaking directly to the King of the universe who calls you His child and invites you to approach with confidence.

Seven Spiritual Sacrifices of the Holy Priesthood

But access isn’t the only purpose of the holy priesthood—we’re called “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Unlike Old Testament priests who offered animal sacrifices for sin, the holy priesthood offers spiritual sacrifices—God-honoring works performed under the Holy Spirit’s help, guided by God’s Word, and empowered by Christ. Peter and other New Testament writers identify seven specific sacrifices the holy priesthood should regularly offer:

1) Offering the strength of one’s body in service to God. Paul writes, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). The holy priesthood dedicates physical energy, time, and abilities to kingdom purposes rather than selfish pursuits. This means your body isn’t your own to use however you please—it’s a temple of the Holy Spirit, an instrument consecrated for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

2) Praising God with our lips and hearts. “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). The holy priesthood maintains a lifestyle of worship, gratitude, and verbal adoration directed toward God. This isn’t limited to Sunday services or formal prayers—it’s continuous acknowledgment of God’s character, works, and worthiness woven throughout daily life.

3) Doing good works that demonstrate faith and love. “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). The holy priesthood actively seeks opportunities to serve, help, and bless others in Jesus’ name. Good works don’t earn salvation but flow naturally from those who’ve been saved, making the gospel visible and tangible to a watching world.

4) Sharing our blessings generously with those in need. Financial giving, material generosity, and resource-sharing are sacrifices that please God when offered from grateful hearts (Philippians 4:18). The holy priesthood views possessions as tools for kingdom impact, not personal treasure hoards. We hold earthly resources loosely, give sacrificially, and find greater joy in blessing others than in accumulating more for ourselves.

Witnessing, Sacrificing, and Praying

5) Witnessing about Christ to unbelievers. Paul describes his evangelistic ministry in priestly terms: “that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:16). Proclaiming the gospel, sharing testimonies, and pointing others to Jesus are priestly sacrifices that advance God’s kingdom and rescue perishing souls. The holy priesthood takes seriously the responsibility to be messengers of reconciliation, pleading with people to be reconciled to God.

6) Sacrificing for others’ good by putting their needs above our comfort or convenience. This includes bearing burdens, showing patience, extending forgiveness, and loving sacrificially (Galatians 6:2). The holy priesthood imitates Christ’s self-giving love, willingly inconveniencing ourselves, spending our resources, and investing our time to meet genuine needs. This type of sacrifice costs us something—that’s what makes it a sacrifice—but brings glory to God and demonstrates His love tangibly.

7) Praying for others, interceding on their behalf before God’s throne. Prayer is quintessential priestly work—standing in the gap between God and humanity, pleading for mercy, seeking God’s intervention in others’ lives (1 Timothy 2:1). The holy priesthood exercises this privilege constantly, lifting names before God, persisting in petition, wrestling in intercession. We have direct access to God’s throne, and prayer is how we use that access not just for ourselves but for the benefit of others.

Living as the Holy Priesthood

Understanding your identity as part of the holy priesthood should transform your daily life in practical ways. You don’t go to church to find priests who will mediate between you and God—you are the priesthood, gathering with fellow priests to worship, learn, encourage, and equip one another for service. Your home, workplace, and community are your fields of priestly ministry where you offer spiritual sacrifices and represent Christ.

This identity brings both privilege and accountability. We serve under grace rather than law, but the holy priesthood still bears responsibility to serve faithfully, maintain holiness, and honor our calling. How we live matters because we represent the God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This is our primary purpose—not just personal blessing, not merely individual relationship with God, but public proclamation of His excellencies. We exist to make God’s glory known, to display His character, to broadcast His praise. Everything about our priestly identity and function ultimately serves this overarching goal: that God would be glorified through the holy priesthood He’s created.

Reflection Questions

1. Of the ten characteristics of the holy priesthood described, which one most encourages you about your identity in Christ? Which one most challenges you to grow in your understanding or practice?
2. How does knowing you have direct, continuous access to God through Christ change your prayer life? Are you taking full advantage of this incredible privilege, or have you become casual about approaching God’s throne?
3. Looking at the seven spiritual sacrifices listed, which ones are you regularly offering to God? Which ones need more attention and intentionality in your daily life? What practical steps could you take this week to offer a sacrifice you’ve been neglecting?
4. How would your Monday morning at work look different if you truly lived out your identity as part of the holy priesthood—representing God, offering spiritual sacrifices, and proclaiming His praises in all you do?

Prayer

Consider the incredible identity God has given you as part of the holy priesthood—chosen, cleansed, clothed, anointed, prepared, and granted direct access to Him. Thank Him for making you a priest through Christ.

As part of the holy priesthood, prayer is one of your most powerful spiritual sacrifices. If you long for deeper, more honest conversations with God, our free 7-day prayer prompts guide will help you express what’s really on your heart and exercise the priestly privilege of direct access to God’s throne.