The church is called a spiritual house, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's own people, indicating a unique community with distinct responsibilities before God. This new race of people is distinguished not by external traits but by the way they live and what they do, showing forth the praises of God. As a priesthood under the New Covenant, the church is being formed, expected to perform certain functions in preparation for a formal installation at Christ's return and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. Even now, the church is a priesthood in training, with responsibilities to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Under the New Covenant, Old Testament activities point to spiritual realities, requiring the church to elevate and apply them in a God-intended spiritual sense. Though physical offerings at a temple are no longer required, what they symbolize must be fulfilled every day by the New Testament priesthood. The church, as a forming priesthood, can draw near to God and serve Him, while the rest of the world is denied access, mirroring the restricted access under the Old Covenant. This superior privilege allows the church to approach God, with duties spelled out in the Old Testament on a physical plane to be raised to a spiritual level in their lives. God designates the church as a priesthood under the New Covenant, making it essential to study the detailed Old Covenant settings of priestly responsibilities and apply them spiritually. Except for physical differences, there is virtually no difference in place or position before God between the church and the Old Covenant priests. The church is obligated to meet priesthood requirements, having been separated from the world and made holy by God, becoming His personal property. Unlike Israel, who refused to draw near due to their recognition of sinfulness, the church has been cleansed internally by God, leaving no excuse to refuse the obligations of this calling. The priest's work is essentially mediatorial, standing as a bridge between God and the people. The church, as priests, draws near to God on behalf of humanity, leading others into His presence in the future, just as Christ led the church. When drawing near, priests bring the thanksgiving, entreaties, and sacrifices of the people, and return with gifts such as reconciliation and understanding of God's will. The church becomes priests through regeneration, joining the Divine Family as brothers of Jesus Christ, redeemed through His blood, cleansed from sin, and made partakers of the divine nature to perform priestly duties. The purpose of the priesthood remains essentially the same as under the Old Covenant, but its labor is elevated to a spiritual level. The church no longer offers physical sacrifices but serves as both the temple and, in a secondary way, the sacrifice. Priestly conduct involves private acts like prayer, study, and meditation, as well as public witness through the example of godly living and sharing the gospel. All of life is to be an act of worship in service to God, living as a sacrifice every day, because God owns the church and demands this reasonable response to the privilege of drawing close to Him through the cost of His Son's life. Making acceptable sacrifices through Jesus Christ includes frequent priestly activities such as prayer, study, meditation, and praying about various subjects revealed in God's Word. It also involves encouragement, counsel, and sharing experiences, which are sacrifices of time and effort. Priests must be pure in conduct to be acceptable to God, as He is pure, continuing the cleansing process begun by the blood of Jesus Christ through keeping His Word in the power of His Spirit. This requires the sacrifice of life in every aspect to produce the fruit of God's love.

The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ stands central to the understanding of the New Covenant, emphasizing the profound responsibilities bestowed upon individual priests within this sacred order. As priests under His authority, we are called to offer sacrifices, notably those of praise and thanksgiving, which are integral to our duties. These acts of sacrifice, often overlooked as such, mirror the essence of the Old Testament Peace Offering, frequently termed the thank offering, highlighting their significance in our priestly service. Praise, gratitude, and thanksgiving, though distinct, are inseparably linked to the priesthood. Praise is the expression of admiration and approval for God, akin to acclaiming, applauding, and blessing Him with our lives. Gratitude represents an internal readiness to appreciate and return kindness, while thanksgiving is the external expression of that gratitude. Together, they form a vital part of our responsibility, requiring thoughtful meditation on God's attributes and works to fulfill our role effectively. Humility is deeply connected to these priestly duties of praise and thanksgiving. A priest's service, particularly in intercessory prayer, demands a humble heart, as pride obstructs the ability to draw near to God and mediate on behalf of others. Interceding for others—whether for healing, provision, or forgiveness—requires sacrifice of time and energy, reflecting the essence of our calling. Humility ensures that God acknowledges and accepts our service, for He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Meditating on God's creation, His historical faithfulness to Israel, and His personal care for each of us fosters the humility necessary for genuine thanksgiving and praise. This focus keeps us aligned with our Creator, preventing the shift toward self-elevation and idolatry. By continually reflecting on His greatness and our dependence on Him, we maintain the proper perspective essential for carrying out our priestly responsibilities under the New Covenant.

The church, like Israel, is intended by God to be unique, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, called to make sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ and to show forth His praises. This distinctiveness is evident in the priesthood under the New Covenant, where the church as a whole is designated as a priesthood, tasked with maintaining spiritual cleanliness. Under this covenant, we become the sacrifice, a living burnt offering, embodying the principles extracted from the Old Testament laws. The intent of these laws, though not always requiring physical observance, remains binding upon us, emphasizing spiritual, moral, and ethical cleanliness. The priesthood's responsibility is to avoid contamination from the world, ensuring that personal defilement is cast off to restore true worship of God. This separation from worldly influences is crucial, as it aids in keeping one clean and unspotted, providing a visible witness to the world through the efforts to maintain purity.

Under the New Covenant, the responsibility of the priesthood involves offering sacrifices to God on behalf of the people and for oneself. Hebrews 13:15 links praise and thanksgiving as a sacrifice to God, describing them as the fruit of our lips, a product of diligent work. Thanksgiving in prayer requires preparation and should not fluctuate with circumstances or feelings. It is essential for effective prayer, reflecting a perspective that acknowledges God's sovereignty over our lives. We are to give thanks in every circumstance, not for every event, but recognizing that God has consciously permitted what occurs. Even in painful situations or after sin, we can thank God for His love, discipline, patience, and grace, which allow us to learn and turn things around. Thanksgiving supports true faith by focusing on the Creator rather than the created, fostering a positive, realistic, and hopeful outlook that prevents prolonged discouragement. God commands us to give thanks, not out of ego, but because He is love, and all He permits or creates is for our good. True thanksgiving requires humility and a recognition of our spiritual poverty, prompting us to cry out to God for what He supplies and to offer praise from the proper perspective. Pride hinders effective praise by focusing us on ourselves, but God works to break pride's power, exposing our weaknesses so we can truly look to Him as the standard and offer genuine thanksgiving.

Under the New Covenant, the nature of priesthood and sacrifice undergoes a profound transformation. Unlike the Aaronic priesthood, where priests drew near to God through visible, physical acts of sacrifice at the Temple, such as offering animals and incense, the New Covenant shifts the focus. The physical acts of sacrifice are now unstated and barely seen, often performed privately, as prayer becomes the central act of worship. The spiritual dimension is moved front and center, becoming the most important aspect of a priest's responsibility. Hebrews 13:15 clearly identifies prayer, praise, and thanksgiving as sacrifices of the lips under this New Covenant. Much of the sacrifice offered for one's relationship with God, including prayers on behalf of others' needs, involves the time, energy, and thought in preparation, as well as the actual performance of prayer before Him. A priest today must draw near to God through intercessory prayer, interceding on behalf of others, which is a key duty in cultivating a humble relationship with Him.

In the journey of faith, the role of a priest under the New Covenant is deeply tied to the qualities of faith, faithfulness, thanksgiving, prayer, and humility. These elements are essential for fulfilling our responsibilities as priests in the way of life to which God has called us. They help to keep our focus on God and His purpose, steering us away from self-centered patterns inherent in human nature. As priests, we are the created clay being shaped by the Potter, God the Creator, according to His design. Understanding this relationship places us in a position of indebtedness to Him, for without His actions, we could not perform even the smallest service on His behalf. This foundational understanding shapes our role, emphasizing that even the faithful performance of duty does not place God in debt to us; we are merely doing what is required. As we sacrifice time and energy to explore the wonders of His love revealed in creation and His word, we engage in our priestly duties, recognizing our spiritual creation and the obligations it imposes on our faith. Despite our weak and erratic efforts, perseverance in prayer and communication with God is vital, for He hears us and will never forsake us, remaining faithful as the powerful and loving God He is. Through persistent prayer and a humble approach, we align ourselves with God's perspective on time and events, fulfilling our priestly role by submitting to His will and purpose.

Under the New Covenant, the essence of priesthood is deeply intertwined with humility, a vital trait for fostering a true relationship with God. Humility opens the door of acceptance before Him, serving as the hallmark of genuine Christian character. It is through humility that one can properly compare oneself to God, thereby gaining a correct perspective in relation to others, avoiding the competitive spirit fueled by pride. In contrast, pride stands as the foundation of enmity and resistance against God, a sin that distorts one's thinking and leads to rebellion, much like it did with satan. The battleground of our spiritual lives lies in the choice between satan's influence through pride and God's guidance through faith, fear of Him, and humility before Him. Jesus Christ exemplified this submission, declaring, "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done," even under extreme pressure, refusing to let pride or vanity rise within Him. This starkly contrasts with satan's path, whose pride led to a desire for self-sovereignty, pushing aside faith in God. Thus, in the New Covenant, the priesthood calls for a life driven by humility and service to God and others, often requiring painful sacrifice, as opposed to the self-centeredness that pride engenders.