The concept of spiritual priesthood emerges as a profound responsibility for those who are converted and united with Jesus Christ. As He declared in John 2, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," Jesus positioned Himself as the central focus of worship, replacing the physical Temple. Since we are in Him, we become part of this spiritual temple, vital to the worship of God. Jesus Christ, as the Head and High Priest of this temple, integrates us into His priesthood even now, before the resurrection. His work becomes our work, binding us to Him eternally as we follow wherever He leads. This spiritual priesthood connects us to a divine family and purpose. Upon conversion, regardless of ethnicity, we become spiritual Jews through the circumcision of the heart, united in Christ. As part of His body, we share in the responsibilities of His priesthood, preparing to assist in the salvation of humanity during the Millennium under His leadership. This role demands preparation now, as we are called to develop the character and qualities necessary to serve as priests under Jesus Christ. The Bible reveals a progressive development of priesthood, beginning simply and becoming more complex over time, reflecting God's pattern. From early instances where individuals acted as priests for their families, the role expanded to encompass the nation and ultimately the church. As disciples and learners of Christ, we are being shaped into priests of the Most High God, tasked with significant future responsibilities. This calling urges us to embody priestly characteristics in our present lives, aligning our actions and character with what God expects of those who will serve directly under Jesus Christ upon His return.

The concept of a spiritual priesthood carries profound responsibilities, rooted in the call to holiness as exemplified by God Himself. Holiness, far more than mere morality, defines God's uniqueness—He is separate, set apart, and beyond human comprehension, evoking awe and reverence. As God is holy, so are we called to strive for holiness, though in this life we can never fully attain His level of purity. Yet, through God's grace, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to us, enabling us to approach His presence and engage with Him intimately. This call to holiness is especially significant for those in a priestly role, as they serve as living reminders to all that everyone must pursue holiness as God is holy. Under the New Covenant, we are all part of a kingdom of priests, created in the image of Jesus Christ, bearing the spirit of God. This places a higher expectation on us compared to the priests of old, who lacked such spiritual empowerment. As priests to one another, we are visible and audible links between God's initial call to holiness and its ultimate fulfillment in His Kingdom, serving under our High Priest, the Lord Christ. The importance of holiness in this intimate association with the Father, the Son, and each other within God's family cannot be overstated. Priests, historically and spiritually, are messengers of the vital responsibility to reflect God's character. Their lives, hedged with restrictions, are designed to maintain a state of holiness, representing God before the world and the church. God demands a high level of holiness from us, urging us to conduct ourselves with the utmost care in attitude and behavior, striving to be as clean and distinct from the world as possible in a righteous way.

God calls people to be built up as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood in His Kingdom. Scriptures show that God is calling individuals to serve as priests and to fulfill this role in the future. When God calls someone, previous career aspirations may change as preparation begins for this spiritual position. God chooses the weak things, the base things, the despised things, and the things which are not rather than those who are wise, mighty, or noble. Examples illustrate this pattern. Moses felt unqualified for the task God assigned yet received what was needed to succeed. David was selected as king because God looks at the heart instead of outward appearance. Jeremiah was formed in the womb for a specific purpose and was equipped despite feeling too young. God provides the necessary abilities for those He calls to these roles. Preparation requires learning and growing in the fruits of the Spirit along with aspiring to the qualifications of kings, bishops, deacons, and lay members as described in scripture. Conduct should reflect the identity of a future priest of the Most High God in daily actions and interactions. Multiple roles exist in the Kingdom, including thrones for judgment and positions at the right and left hands, each assigned according to the Father's preparation. Contentment with the specific role God provides is necessary, as discontent led to a fall in the case of the covering cherub. This calling motivates living in a manner worthy of training to be priests in God's Kingdom.

The spiritual priesthood under Jesus Christ is of a much higher rank than the Levitical priesthood. It is spiritual in nature from top to bottom. This priesthood is unique. It is without father and without mother. There is only one High Priest, and that High Priest and all those priests under Him will serve forever. It is therefore an unchanging priesthood. There will be no irregularities of conduct and administration. This priesthood is universal. It will operate not only in behalf of Israel but in behalf of all nations. This priesthood is royal. Jesus Christ is its Head. He is of the line of David. Those who are going to be in that priesthood under Him are also royalty. They are to be kings and priests both at one and the same time. This priesthood is righteous. It will always be righteous and it will uniformly produce peace between God and the worshippers. It will function without faction. All of these offices will teach the same standard according to the same law. Those who serve in this priesthood are made part of the Family of God and come into the church as newborn babes. They are fashioned into a spiritual house and a temple in which God lives. They are employed as serving within its precincts. They offer up spiritual sacrifices. They present their bodies a living sacrifice. They devote everything that the body represents in its entirety from top to bottom to serving God as a life lived entirely in reference to their calling. Their calling is their vocation. They make clear distinctions between holy and profane and between the clean and unclean. They teach the laws of God. They strive for holiness through a continuing fellowship with Christ. They imitate His righteousness from the inside out beginning with their thoughts and using His holy wisdom. The blue that represented His grace is bound within their life's activities because those activities are firmly anchored to the divine nature that is given to them.

In the journey of life, many of us ponder the paths we have taken, yet it is clear that God directs our steps, placing us where He desires. As revealed in I Peter 2:5 and 9, we are called to a unique role as a holy priesthood and a royal priesthood. This is not merely a title, but a profound responsibility to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We are not just any stones, but living stones, chosen and precious, being built into a spiritual house for His dwelling. This calling as a priesthood signifies an exclusive and sacred duty. As living stones, we are part of a chosen generation, a spiritual house dedicated to God, tasked with upholding His truth and purity. The terms holy and royal, as used by Peter, reflect a state of being chaste, pure, and dedicated, as well as belonging to the sovereign foundation of power, the property of the King. Just as the Levites were set apart in Numbers 1:47-53 to guard and serve the Tabernacle, we too are called to protect and honor the spiritual dwelling place of God, ensuring that sin does not defile His house. The gravity of this role is evident in historical accounts such as Exodus 32:25-30, where the Levites upheld God's law by purging sin from the camp, earning a blessing for their dedication. Today, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, the veil is torn, granting us direct access to the Father at any time. This privilege, reserved for those chosen by God, underscores the importance of striving every moment to honor our High Priest, who opens the way to the Holy of Holies. As Peter urges in II Peter 1:1-10, we must lay aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking, desiring instead the pure milk of the word. We are to build upon our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. By diligently pursuing these qualities, we ensure that we will not stumble, fulfilling our role in the spiritual house where God desires to dwell. Through His divine power, He has equipped us with all things necessary for life and godliness, calling us to be His special treasure, His jewels.