Jesus' Church is Referred to as a Kingdom of Priests

"...Now if He (Jesus) were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; ⁵ who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things..." Hebrews 8:4-5 (NAS

The sacrifices of priests under the Law of Moses could never make people perfect.  Once Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross, He fulfilled the Law of Moses...and ended the practice of Old Testament sacrifices of animals:

"For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near."  Hebrews 10:1

Jesus is the High Priest in His Church, The Apostle & High Priest of Our Confession:

Hebrews 3:1 "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. (NAS)

Hebrews 4:14-15 "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (NAS)

Jesus is High Priest forever:

Hebrews 6:20 "where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (NAS)

Hebrews 7:20-22 "....The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, 'Thou art a priest forever'"; so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant." (NAS)

Jesus is our High Priest and each Christian is a Priest in His Kingdom:

Revelation 1:6 "...and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (NAS)

How are We Added to This Royal Priesthood?

1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy...

How does Peter say we were we called out of darkness into this chosen race...this royal priesthood...and into His marvelous light?  How was it that we received His mercy?

1 Peter 3:21-22...And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. (NAS)

Click on "House of God" below to look at the next word picture given of Jesus' Church: