The Methodist Understanding of the Priesthood of All Believers Essay

The Methodist Understanding of the Priesthood of All Believers - Essay Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that many Protestants deny the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. If Roman Catholics have only one pope, the Protestants have many, but not literally having popes with the same roles and position in a church. For the Catholic Priesthood, ordinary believers in Christ are not worthy to talk directly to God and that they need someone more deserving to mediate for a fee. Traditionally, Catholics and their members follow the custom of confession—the act of using intermediary such as the priest to confess one’s thoughts or feelings in order to be forgiven because they regard the priests as â€Å"holy† and â€Å"authorize† to relay your plea to God. The Methodists believe that the only way to get to heaven is to put faith in Jesus as the Saviour. But plainly believing in Christ is not enough. You have to be baptized and do good works to profess your faith as such when Jesus performe d good works and preaching in his time. Moreover, if they sin, they ask forgiveness in Christ and try not to commit the same sin again. The Protestant reformers emphasized that this salvation is a product of Gods grace alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 (King James Version Bible) gives evidence to this doctrine as it says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast,† and asserts that "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law". God’s grace through salvation is not just about the forgiveness of sins but also liberation from death and hell. Since God bestows on the people His undeserved kindness, neither good works nor pious religious practices in themselves can earn salvation.