Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a great preacher. And his available sermons are a treasure. I'm currently reading one on 1 Pet. 2:9-10. There are three parts: 1) True Christians are a chosen generation; 2) True Christians are a royal priesthood; and 3) True Christians are a holy nation. I'm going to focus in on the second part for a few posts.
The nature of the universal priesthood of all believers is perhaps, oddly enough, neglected among evangelicals. By letting Edwards assist us a little in thinking this matter through, I don't suppose that he's given us anything like a comprehensive view of our priesthood. Yet he highlights some elements that I think we may neglect. The first one, however, I think we largely get, though we could surely grow in our experience and appreciation of this.
Here's the first point under the heading "True Christians are priests of God": "First, Every true Christian is allowed as near an access to God, and as free a use of the sacred things, as the priests were of old." Speaking of the nature of the old covenant, Edwards says: "Agreeably to the nature of that dispensation, there were not those special discoveries of the grace and love of God that are now made, and which invite rather than forbid near access" (Works, vol. 2, Hickman ed.).
But now! Full and free and filial access! (Eph. 2:18).
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