"Many people foolishly believe God will accept anything offered by well meaning worshipers. It is clear, however, that sincerity is not the test of true worship" (MacArthur, Pastoral Ministry, 190).
What do you think about that? What kind of worship will God accept? We know from (John 4:19-24) that God desires worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth. Jesus explains to the woman at the well that true worship is about the attitude of a person's heart. So what makes a person's worship acceptable to God? How are we even able to come before God in worship?
Read (Hebrews 13:15).
Jesus is the only way that we can offer to God worship that is acceptable. It is through him that we can offer a "sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name" (Heb. 13:15). It is by the cross of Christ that we are able to offer anything that is pleasing to God!
One of my favorite verses of Scripture about worship is Romans 12:1-2. Paul says that we are to offer ourselves as "living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship" (v.1). What does that mean? A living sacrifice. I often thought that I knew what it meant but really never associated it with Jesus and him being the only way we can offer acceptable worship to God. Let me explain...
We read in (Hebrews 10:5-13), that Jesus offered for all time a single sacrifice for sin. Before Christ, there were many who offered multiple sacrifices to atone for their sins. But Jesus, the Lamb of God, has paid for sin. Notice (Hebrews 10:10). This is how the author of Hebrews can say as we read above, "Through him then (...) offer a sacrifice of praise" (Heb. 13:15). Why does Paul say in (Romans 12:1) to offer ourselves as living sacrifices? A quick survey of Romans will show us why.
Paul begins by explaining that all are condemned and no one is righteous (Ch. 1-3).
Then he explains that we have righteousness and peace through faith (Ch. 4-5).
Now Paul explains that we are dead to sin but alive in Christ! Read (Romans 6:3-11).
Since then, through faith we are alive in Christ (which by the way is the only way to offer acceptable worship to God) we are able to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1). After what Christ has done for us... it is only reasonable. Consider... (1 Jn. 4:10). This understanding is reiterated again by Paul in (Gal. 2:20).
Finally, consider this... What is worship anyway? It is more than singing songs. It is a lifestyle. We are worshipers. We are always worshiping something. Think again for a moment about (Heb. 13:15). The author says that we "continually offer." That means without ceasing! How do we do that? Well... we are already continually worshiping something. I humbly suggest that we must look to Jesus (Heb. 12:2). We must look to the cross! He is the only way, only truth and only life (Jn. 14:6)!
Through Christ we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Rom. 12:1)!
Blessings!
One more thing for the really deep...
Notice that the author of Hebrews says, "... the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name" (Heb. 13:15). What verse does that remind you of?
Paul said, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9).
The words acknowledge and confess are translated from the same original Greek word... homologeo (English Transliterated, Strongs #3760). Believe me... Its all about Jesus!
Worship Him!
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