A Priest is one who intercedes for a person, a family, a city, or a nation, before God.
All Christians are called to be royal priest.
(Exodus 19:5-6 NKJV) 'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. {6} 'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
(Leviticus 6:7 NKJV) "So the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any one of these things that he may have done in which he trespasses."
(Leviticus 16:15-17 NKJV) "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. {16} "So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. {17} "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.
(Numbers 12:3 NKJV) (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
(2 Chronicles 30:18-20 NKJV) For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD provide atonement for everyone {19} who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary." {20} And the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
(Job 1:1-5 NKJV) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. {2} And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. {3} Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. {4} And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. {5} So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.
(Job 42:7-10 NKJV) And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. {8} "Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has." {9} So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. {10} And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
(Psalms 106:23 NKJV) Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.
(Isaiah 58:6 NKJV) "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
(Isaiah 59:16 NKJV) He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
(Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV) "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
(Matthew 16:19 NKJV) "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
(Matthew 18:18 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
(Luke 23:34 NKJV) Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
(John 20:22-23 NKJV) And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
(1 Corinthians 7:14 NKJV) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
(Galatians 6:1-2 NKJV) Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. {2} Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
(1 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, {2} for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. {3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, {4} who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
(Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV) Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. {15} For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. {16} Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 5:1 NKJV) For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
(1 Peter 2:4-5 NKJV) Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, {5} you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
(1 Peter 2:9 NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
(1 John 5:13-17 NKJV) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. {14} Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. {15} And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. {16} If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. {17} All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
(Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, {6} and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
(Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV) And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, {10} And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
(Revelation 20:6 NKJV) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Shaila Touchton's Despite of Differences, Come Unity in Jesus Christ!
Showing posts with label Priesthood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Priesthood. Show all posts
Why Women can not be in priesthood!
Women cannot be validly ordained to the priesthood, because Christ did not give His Church the authority to confer priestly ordination on women. Therefore, between now and the Return of Christ, women cannot be priests. The priesthood can only be used to bless and serve others.Even in O.T and N.T priesthood was always given to men and not women.
Christ called men to be in his ministry and that the 12 apostles were men and that the perfect priest would have been Mary, but Jesus didn't choose her. God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. God chose twelve men to symbolize Christ as High Priest (vis-a-vis both God and the Church) as Head of the Body and as Groom to the Bride. In the early church, women servants cared for sick believers, the poor, strangers, and those in prison. Paul is saying God calls women to be faithful, helpful wives, raising children to love and worship God and managing the household wisely (1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:3?5).
The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. Many women followed Jesus, and godly women helped the Apostles. Paul wrote to Timothy about the importance of the spiritual influence of Timothy's mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5). Bible women often held influential roles yet not necessarily leadership positions. Jesus Christ Was as a man is Priest, Head to the Body, Groom to the Bride, Son to the Father, Father of the World to Come.
The woman can of course symbolize the Body and the Bride of Christ. That is why Christ chose only men to attend the Last Supper where He established the Eucharist and Priesthood. Mary is God's greatest creation, was the closest person to Jesus, and yet Jesus did not choose her to become a priest. God chose only men to be priests.
Judges 17:10; 18:19 ? fatherhood and priesthood are synonymous terms. Micah says, ?Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest.? Fathers/priests give life, and mothers receive and nurture life. This reflects God our Father who gives the life of grace through the Priesthood of His Divine Son, and Mother Church who receives the life of grace and nourishes her children. In summary, women cannot be priests because women cannot be fathers.
Mark 16:9; Luke 7: 37-50; John 8:3-11 - Jesus allowed women to uniquely join in His mission, exalting them above cultural norms. His decision not to ordain women had nothing to do with culture. The Gospel writers are also clear that women participated in Jesus' ministry and, unlike men, never betrayed Jesus. Women have always been held with the highest regard in the Church (e.g., the Church's greatest saint and model of faith is a woman; the Church's constant teaching on the dignity of motherhood; the Church's understanding of humanity as being the Bride united to Christ, etc.).
Mark 14:17,20; Luke 22:14 - the language "the twelve" and "apostles" shows Jesus commissioned the Eucharistic priesthood by giving holy orders only to men.
Gen. 14:10; Heb. 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:15,17 - Jesus, the Son of God, is both priest and King after the priest-king Melchizedek. Jesus' priesthood embodies both Kingship and Sonship.
Gen. 22:9-13 - as foreshadowed, God chose our redemption to be secured by the sacrificial love that the Son gives to the Father.
Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19 - because the priest acts in persona Christi in the offering to the Father, the priest cannot be a woman.
Mark 3:13 - Jesus selected the apostles "as He desired," according to His will, and not according to the demands of His culture. Because Jesus acted according to His will which was perfectly united to that of the Father, one cannot criticize Jesus' selection of men to be His priests without criticizing God.
John 20:22 - Jesus only breathed on the male apostles, the first bishops, giving them the authority to forgive and retain sins. In fact, the male priesthood of Christianity was a distinction from the priestesses of paganism that existed during these times. A female priesthood would be a reversion to non-Christian practices. The sacred tradition of a male priesthood has existed uncompromised in the Church for 2,000 years.
1 Cor. 14:34-35 - Paul says a woman is not permitted to preach the word of God in the Church. It has always been the tradition of the Church for the priest or deacon alone (an ordained male) to read and preach the Gospel.
1 Tim. 2:12 - Paul also says that a woman is not permitted to hold teaching authority in the Church. Can you imagine how much Mary, the Mother of God, would have been able to teach Christians about Jesus her Son in the Church? Yet, she was not permitted to hold such teaching authority in the Church.
Rom. 16:1-2 - while many Protestants point to this verse denounce the Church's tradition of a male priesthood, deaconesses, like Phoebe, were helpers to the priests (for example, preparing women for naked baptism so as to prevent scandal). But these helpers were never ordained.
Luke 2:36-37 - prophetesses, like Anna, were women who consecrated themselves to religious life, but were not ordained.
Isaiah 3:12 ? Isaiah complains that the priests of ancient Israel were having their authority usurped by women, and this was at the height of Israel?s covenant apostasy.
Christ called men to be in his ministry and that the 12 apostles were men and that the perfect priest would have been Mary, but Jesus didn't choose her. God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. God chose twelve men to symbolize Christ as High Priest (vis-a-vis both God and the Church) as Head of the Body and as Groom to the Bride. In the early church, women servants cared for sick believers, the poor, strangers, and those in prison. Paul is saying God calls women to be faithful, helpful wives, raising children to love and worship God and managing the household wisely (1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:3?5).
The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. Many women followed Jesus, and godly women helped the Apostles. Paul wrote to Timothy about the importance of the spiritual influence of Timothy's mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5). Bible women often held influential roles yet not necessarily leadership positions. Jesus Christ Was as a man is Priest, Head to the Body, Groom to the Bride, Son to the Father, Father of the World to Come.
The woman can of course symbolize the Body and the Bride of Christ. That is why Christ chose only men to attend the Last Supper where He established the Eucharist and Priesthood. Mary is God's greatest creation, was the closest person to Jesus, and yet Jesus did not choose her to become a priest. God chose only men to be priests.
Judges 17:10; 18:19 ? fatherhood and priesthood are synonymous terms. Micah says, ?Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest.? Fathers/priests give life, and mothers receive and nurture life. This reflects God our Father who gives the life of grace through the Priesthood of His Divine Son, and Mother Church who receives the life of grace and nourishes her children. In summary, women cannot be priests because women cannot be fathers.
Mark 16:9; Luke 7: 37-50; John 8:3-11 - Jesus allowed women to uniquely join in His mission, exalting them above cultural norms. His decision not to ordain women had nothing to do with culture. The Gospel writers are also clear that women participated in Jesus' ministry and, unlike men, never betrayed Jesus. Women have always been held with the highest regard in the Church (e.g., the Church's greatest saint and model of faith is a woman; the Church's constant teaching on the dignity of motherhood; the Church's understanding of humanity as being the Bride united to Christ, etc.).
Mark 14:17,20; Luke 22:14 - the language "the twelve" and "apostles" shows Jesus commissioned the Eucharistic priesthood by giving holy orders only to men.
Gen. 14:10; Heb. 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:15,17 - Jesus, the Son of God, is both priest and King after the priest-king Melchizedek. Jesus' priesthood embodies both Kingship and Sonship.
Gen. 22:9-13 - as foreshadowed, God chose our redemption to be secured by the sacrificial love that the Son gives to the Father.
Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19 - because the priest acts in persona Christi in the offering to the Father, the priest cannot be a woman.
Mark 3:13 - Jesus selected the apostles "as He desired," according to His will, and not according to the demands of His culture. Because Jesus acted according to His will which was perfectly united to that of the Father, one cannot criticize Jesus' selection of men to be His priests without criticizing God.
John 20:22 - Jesus only breathed on the male apostles, the first bishops, giving them the authority to forgive and retain sins. In fact, the male priesthood of Christianity was a distinction from the priestesses of paganism that existed during these times. A female priesthood would be a reversion to non-Christian practices. The sacred tradition of a male priesthood has existed uncompromised in the Church for 2,000 years.
1 Cor. 14:34-35 - Paul says a woman is not permitted to preach the word of God in the Church. It has always been the tradition of the Church for the priest or deacon alone (an ordained male) to read and preach the Gospel.
1 Tim. 2:12 - Paul also says that a woman is not permitted to hold teaching authority in the Church. Can you imagine how much Mary, the Mother of God, would have been able to teach Christians about Jesus her Son in the Church? Yet, she was not permitted to hold such teaching authority in the Church.
Rom. 16:1-2 - while many Protestants point to this verse denounce the Church's tradition of a male priesthood, deaconesses, like Phoebe, were helpers to the priests (for example, preparing women for naked baptism so as to prevent scandal). But these helpers were never ordained.
Luke 2:36-37 - prophetesses, like Anna, were women who consecrated themselves to religious life, but were not ordained.
Isaiah 3:12 ? Isaiah complains that the priests of ancient Israel were having their authority usurped by women, and this was at the height of Israel?s covenant apostasy.
Holy priesthood and spiritual sacrifices!
Peter speaks of the saints as a "royal priesthood" to denote their standing "in Christ" (1 Pet. 5:14). Since Christ is King, it follows that those who are in Christ would be royal:
1 Tim. 6:14-16: ... "till the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in His own times He shall shew -- the blessed and only potentate, the King of the kings and Lord of the lords, who only is having immortality "... [Young]
Since the saints have received "sanctification of the Spirit" (1 Pet. 1:2), they are "holy"; that is, set apart for a special purpose. Thus, Peter refers to the saints as members of a "holy priesthood".
Spiritual Sacrifices
1 Pet. 2:5: ..."you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Peter states that the saints, as members of a holy priesthood, offer spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God. Just what are spiritual sacrifices? Other passages of scripture shed light on this topic:
Heb. 13:16: "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
Phil. 4:18: "Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, a sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God."
Rom. 12:1: "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." [Greek: latreia]
Thus, spiritual sacrifices refer to doing good, sharing, and the giving of a gift to one in need. Spiritual sacrifice is said to be holy, acceptable and well pleasing to God.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul directs the saints to present their bodies to God as a living sacrifice, which, he says, is their "reasonable service" [intelligent service; Young]. This "reasonable service" is an analogy of the divine service of the priests of Israel:
Rom. 9:4: ..."who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [Greek: latreia] of God, and the promises"...
[Regarding priestly service (Greek: latreia), see also Heb. 9:1 and Heb. 9:6.]
Paul says he acts as a priest, offering the Gentile saints to God, as a spiritual sacrifice:
Rom. 15:15-16: ... "and the more boldly I did write to you, brethren, in part, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me by God, for my being a servant of Jesus Christ to the nations, acting as priest in the good news of God, that the offering up of the nations may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."
Rom. 15:15-16: "But I write to you the more boldly -- partly as reminding you of what you already know -- because of the authority graciously entrusted to me by God, that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, doing priestly duties in connexion with God's Good News so that the sacrifice -- namely the Gentiles -- may be acceptable to Him" ...
The Levitical Priesthood
The book of Leviticus states that the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace offering, are offered by the priests. These offerings are spoken of as "a sweet aroma to the LORD":
Lev. 1:3,9: "If his offering is a burnt sacrifice ... And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD."
Lev. 2:1-2: "When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. ... And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD."
Lev. 3:1,5: "When his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering ... and Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is on the wood that is on the fire, as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD."
The Saints as a Sacrifice
Paul uses a different metaphor with regard to the sweet aroma of sacrifice. He speaks of the saints as a sweet fragrance:
2 Cor 2:14-15: "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance [sweet fragrance; Young] of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."
What an honour it is to be called and chosen to be the vessels through whom God diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge. And this honour has been granted to the saints because Christ is our sacrifice.
Christ as Sacrifice
Eph. 5:1-2: "Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
So, Christ has given Himself for the saints, as an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling aroma.
Conclusion
Peter, in his first letter, speaks of the saints as both a holy priesthood and a royal priesthood. As members of a holy priesthood, they offer up spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God.
Paul, in his letters, defines spiritual sacrifice. He directs the saints to offer spiritual sacrifices which, he says, are holy, acceptable and well pleasing to God. This is the "reasonable service" of the saints to God, and an analogy of the divine service of the priests of Israel. Also, Paul says he acts as a priest, offering the Gentile saints to God, as a spiritual sacrifice.
The Levitical priesthood, and carnal sacrifices, of the Mosaic covenant are a shadow and a type of the holy and royal priesthood, and spiritual sacrifices, of the New Testament.
Paul depicts the saints as a sacrifice when he speaks of them as "the sweet fragrance of Christ". He speaks of Christ himself as an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling aroma.
Heb. 13:15: ... "let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
1 Tim. 6:14-16: ... "till the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in His own times He shall shew -- the blessed and only potentate, the King of the kings and Lord of the lords, who only is having immortality "... [Young]
Since the saints have received "sanctification of the Spirit" (1 Pet. 1:2), they are "holy"; that is, set apart for a special purpose. Thus, Peter refers to the saints as members of a "holy priesthood".
Spiritual Sacrifices
1 Pet. 2:5: ..."you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Peter states that the saints, as members of a holy priesthood, offer spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God. Just what are spiritual sacrifices? Other passages of scripture shed light on this topic:
Heb. 13:16: "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
Phil. 4:18: "Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, a sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God."
Rom. 12:1: "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." [Greek: latreia]
Thus, spiritual sacrifices refer to doing good, sharing, and the giving of a gift to one in need. Spiritual sacrifice is said to be holy, acceptable and well pleasing to God.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul directs the saints to present their bodies to God as a living sacrifice, which, he says, is their "reasonable service" [intelligent service; Young]. This "reasonable service" is an analogy of the divine service of the priests of Israel:
Rom. 9:4: ..."who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [Greek: latreia] of God, and the promises"...
[Regarding priestly service (Greek: latreia), see also Heb. 9:1 and Heb. 9:6.]
Paul says he acts as a priest, offering the Gentile saints to God, as a spiritual sacrifice:
Rom. 15:15-16: ... "and the more boldly I did write to you, brethren, in part, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me by God, for my being a servant of Jesus Christ to the nations, acting as priest in the good news of God, that the offering up of the nations may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."
Rom. 15:15-16: "But I write to you the more boldly -- partly as reminding you of what you already know -- because of the authority graciously entrusted to me by God, that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, doing priestly duties in connexion with God's Good News so that the sacrifice -- namely the Gentiles -- may be acceptable to Him" ...
The Levitical Priesthood
The book of Leviticus states that the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace offering, are offered by the priests. These offerings are spoken of as "a sweet aroma to the LORD":
Lev. 1:3,9: "If his offering is a burnt sacrifice ... And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD."
Lev. 2:1-2: "When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. ... And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD."
Lev. 3:1,5: "When his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering ... and Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is on the wood that is on the fire, as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD."
The Saints as a Sacrifice
Paul uses a different metaphor with regard to the sweet aroma of sacrifice. He speaks of the saints as a sweet fragrance:
2 Cor 2:14-15: "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance [sweet fragrance; Young] of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."
What an honour it is to be called and chosen to be the vessels through whom God diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge. And this honour has been granted to the saints because Christ is our sacrifice.
Christ as Sacrifice
Eph. 5:1-2: "Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
So, Christ has given Himself for the saints, as an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling aroma.
Conclusion
Peter, in his first letter, speaks of the saints as both a holy priesthood and a royal priesthood. As members of a holy priesthood, they offer up spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God.
Paul, in his letters, defines spiritual sacrifice. He directs the saints to offer spiritual sacrifices which, he says, are holy, acceptable and well pleasing to God. This is the "reasonable service" of the saints to God, and an analogy of the divine service of the priests of Israel. Also, Paul says he acts as a priest, offering the Gentile saints to God, as a spiritual sacrifice.
The Levitical priesthood, and carnal sacrifices, of the Mosaic covenant are a shadow and a type of the holy and royal priesthood, and spiritual sacrifices, of the New Testament.
Paul depicts the saints as a sacrifice when he speaks of them as "the sweet fragrance of Christ". He speaks of Christ himself as an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling aroma.
Heb. 13:15: ... "let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
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