Priesthood of Believers

The Old Testament contains two passages that prophesy a coming time when all of God’s people will be priests (Exodus 19:5-6, Isaiah 61:5-6). The New Testament says those prophecies are fulfilled in the Christian church. 1 Peter 2:4-10 is the most explicit text, and Christians are called priests in five passages in the Revelation.1

Texas Baptists historically have honored individual freedom and accountability. We believe the following:

  • Every Christian is equal under God (Galatians 3:28).
  • Each believer has direct access to God through Christ (Hebrews 7:25-28).
  • Each Christian can go to God directly for forgiveness of sins. No human mediator is needed for this forgiveness (Hebrews 4:15-16, 1 Timothy 2:5).
  • Each believer is free and responsible for reading the Scriptures and can trust the Holy Spirit to provide guidance and interpretation (John 16:13, 2 Peter 1:20-21).
  • Christians are accountable to God for living out the Scriptures but are not accountable to any confession of faith written by humans.
    Scripture is complete and needs no addendum.2

The doctrine of the priesthood of each and all believers influences Baptist convictions regarding believer’s baptism, local church autonomy, congregational government, religious liberty, and separation of church and state.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
– 1 Timothy 2:5

  1. Fisher Humphreys in The Way We Were
  2. Truth About Texas Baptists