The Tomb

HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO A 7TH DAY ADVENTIST ABOUT JESUS BEING IN THE TOMB FOR 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS?

Lets begin by looking at Matt. 12:40, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  Now, there are two things in this verse that many have discussed and disagreed with at length.  One is the question of what day Jesus was crucified.  Some have taught for entire class periods on this subject, trying to prove that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday or Thursday on the basis that He had to be in the tomb three full days and nights (exactly 72 hours) and playing on the term “heart of the earth”.  But, the Bible does not make such claims.  We must understand that the Bible uses different expressions to mean the same thing.  “In three days” (Matt. 26:61), “the third day” (Matt. 16:21), and “after three days” (Mark 8:31) all describe the same period of time.  Therefore, part of a day is spoken of as a day just as part of a year is spoken of as a year (Gen. 42:17-18).  It is as today we worship on Sunday, yet the service may only be one hour.

Now, the exception to this rule is if a term such as “full” or “whole” is used with it (Lev. 25:29; Acts 11:26; 28:30).  Therefore, it is commonly accepted that Jesus was quickly buried sometime between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening because this was the preparation day of the Sabbath (Mk. 15:42) and because they were forbidden to work on the Sabbath (Ex. 20:10).  Then, Jesus arose sometime before the daylight hours on Sunday morning, after the Sabbath (Mk. 16:1) and before the two Mary’s had time to properly bury him (Mk. 16:2).  This was the third day as Peter said in Acts 10:39-40.  If this is not the case, then why did the chief priests and Pharisees request the sepulcher be made sure “until the third day” (Matt. 27:64)?  And, in Matt. 28:4, the keepers or soldiers that were placed in front of the tomb was still there, after Jesus was gone.  Roman soldiers and veterans, who had been used to terrible sights in the field of battle; were men of courage, and fearless of danger; and yet were seized with a panic.

The second thing about Matt. 12:40 that needs to be understood is that if it was understood by those Jews to be three full days and nights, and He arose on the third day, why did the Jews not ask for the sepulcher to be made sure until the fourth day?

So, how do we teach a 7th day Adventist this?  Well, seeing as how they were formed by a woman prophet, who only see worship as ceremonial, who do not believe in hell, and who force people to keep the Sabbath holy, it is hard to pull them from this teaching too.  But, we are to be patient in teaching others the truth in love and I would suggest to just stay on Acts 10:39-40 because if the apostle Peter said, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that God raised Jesus on the THIRD DAY, I have no reason to doubt it.

Posted in Robert Notgrass | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Tomb

One Another: Two Important Words

The term “one another” is used frequently in the New Testament.  There are “one anothers” for man to embrace and to avoid.  The mind of God, the Bible, displays many messages which need no additional commentary.  When laid out in front of the reader, verse after verse declares the importance of different concepts God desires man to know and incorporate in their lives.  Consider the two lists of “one anothers” below as part of a self evaluation.  Have you embraced what you ought?  Have you avoided what you should?

“One Anothers” to Embrace

John 13:34 –   love one another

John 13:14 –  wash one another’s feet.

Colossians 3:13 –  forbearing one another, and forgiving each other

Ephesians 4:2 –   forbearing one another

Galatians 6:2 –  Bear ye one another’s burdens

Romans 15:14 –  admonish one another.

Romans 12:10 –   be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;

Romans 16:16 –  Salute one another with a holy kiss.

Romans 15:7 –   receive ye one another

Romans 14:19 –  edify one another.

Colossians 3:16 –  teaching and admonishing one another

1 Thessalonians 4:18 – comfort one another

1 Thessalonians 5:11 –  exhort one another

Hebrews 10:24 –  consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;

1 Peter 5:5 –  serve one another:

1 John 3:11 –  For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:

“One Anothers” to Avoid

Romans 14:13 –  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother’s way, or an occasion of falling.

Galatians 5:15 –  bite and devour one another,… consumed one of another.

Galatians 5:26 – provoking one another, envying one another.

Titus 3:3 –  hating one another.

Posted in Travis Main | Tagged | Comments Off on One Another: Two Important Words

Understanding (Part 2)

UNDERSTANDING MAN’S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD

In the first part of this study we examined the nature of man’s circumstances from birth to the final judgment. In this part of our study, let us look at the consequences that will result from our decision while we live upon this earth. We will discover that there is one of two places that we will go, either to heaven or to gehenna (i.e. the lake of fire – hell). Yes, when the Righteous Judge (i.e. Jesus Christ – John 12:48) judges mankind after the resurrection He will assign us to either heaven or to gehenna (i.e. translated HELL in the K.J.V.) forever.

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES

Today is the acceptable time to make the right choice about Divine and eternal things. The Bible teaches us this fact very clearly in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):” (ASV) My decisions now, while I am able to make them will determine my eternal destiny after I am resurrected at the last day. Because I understand that my righteous decision today will determine my eternal destiny, I want to make the right decision (i.e. choices) so that I can be assured of going to heaven rather than to Hell.

There are occasions in my life whenever I pause and consider the options that I do have when I am considering some action that involves right and wrong. Should I choose the right because I know that my decision will be seen and recorded by God or do I choose the questionable; or perhaps the wrong without consideration of future consequence? If I choose the right I have made the righteous choice if on the other hand, I choose the wrong, I have consciously made the unrighteous choice knowing that it will condemn me in God’s sight. Therefore, it is imperative that I consider each choice that is presented to me in the light of God’s instructions and choose the righteous over the unrighteous for the sake of my eternal soul’s future welfare.

There are a number of Scriptural references that teach clearly the above concept, please note some of them:

2 Timothy 2:21, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.” (ASV)

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “16 Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” (ASV)

Acts 5:23, “saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.” (ASV)

Romans 2:3-11, “And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, (shall be) wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:  for there is no respect of persons with God.” (ASV)

THE FIRST CHOICE:

For everyone there comes a time in life when a decision about obeying our impulse to seek God’s way comes over us. This impulse comes over us whenever we hear and understand that our sin can be forgiven by God predicated upon some action on our part to comply with His instruction (i.e. obey Him). Our response to this calling of God (i.e., the impulse to choose) by the gospel message is the most important decision that we will ever make in our earthly life. You see, if we make the decision to immediately rush into the out-stretched arms of Christ and obey Him – cf., Hebrews 5:8-9, “8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;” (ASV)  we will then be in possession of that hope of heaven that will  become our heritage after a lifetime of faithfulness – cf.,

To those that overcome in Smyrna – Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)

The apostle Paul’s hope –  2 Timothy 4:5-8, “But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (ASV)

IF THE CHOICE IS; “Yes Lord!”

If your choice is right, you will rush to Christ and fulfill whatever instruction that is required so that you will be saved from your sins. We have Biblical example that inspires many to follow their action in

Acts 2:36-40, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, (even) as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” (ASV).

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE YOUR LIFE RIGHT WITH GOD?

The final decision about serving the Lord and becoming a Christian is a decision that only the individual can make. There is no possibility of someone else making it possible for a person to be saved from sin but Jesus Christ. You should make that decision while you are still able to do so; the time may come when you will no longer be able to change your relationship to God. If you know that you have a bad relationship with God because of your sins or because you are part of a religion that is not approved by God you need to make a decision about it today. Remember this; no one can become a part of the Lord’s church today for you – you must make that decision.

READ THIS:  2 Peter 1:10, “Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:” (ASV)

 

Posted in Garreth L. Clair | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Understanding (Part 2)

Understanding (Part 1)

There is a great problem today about understanding he teaching of the Bible and applying it properly. This problem is different from all other problems that man faces. The problem with a lack of understanding of God’s Word is different from any other problem because a failure to understand God’s Word will be the difference between our going to Heaven or to gehenna (i.e. the lake of fire). Perhaps some of our readers do not consider this matter as worthy of so serious a consideration but after we examine this proposition, I am sure you will have changed your mind. You see, there is nothing worse than loosing ones soul, the only possession that we have that is truly of eternal value (i.e. priceless) is our soul. Note the circumstance of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 12:16-21,

“16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (ASV)

You will notice that the rich man did not understand that his soul was really the most important possession he had – vs. 20. The rich man in the parable is like many of us today , we become so involved in the affairs of this life that we just do not take time to reflect on deeper matters of life, that there might be something of great importance that we are neglecting – the rich man was surely such a person.

WHY IS THE SOUL SUCH A VALUABLE ASSET?

Our soul has an eternal value (i.e. it outlasts the physical body), that part of us that is the life force; whenever it leaves the physical body it does not end. Because it does not end we must adequately prepare for it wherever it is going. The Book of God says that the soul of man is eternal and will reside in one of two places after death depending upon how we prepare for it when we physically die – Look carefully at Luke 20:35-38,

“35 but they that are accounted worthy to attain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in (the place concerning) the Bush, when he calleth the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.” (ASV)

Since the soul will survive physical death to be resurrected at the last day, every person ought to be alerted to the reality of this event and examine the nature of the resurrection and events that follow.

HOW DOES A PERSON KNOW WHAT PRECEDES And WHAT FOLLOWS THE RESURRECTION?

Each person may understand the nature of birth, life, physical death, the resurrection,  judgment, and eternal life or eternal torment {i.e. death}. This understanding is found whenever a person turns to God’s Written Word and searches it for such important details about these matters.

1.  BIRTH, This is the natural process that God put into action after he had created man and woman (i.e. Adam and Eve), Genesis 1-3

2.  LIFE, is what happens to those that are born {i.e. physically} into this world, each person begans to grow into adulthood.

NOTE:  During this time (i.e. living life) each person begins to understand many facets of life, we learn about other people, education (i.e. development of the mind and senses), we come to realize that in life each person is a product of their choices. Indeed, choice makes each person whatever he or she becomes – we choose between right (GOOD) and wrong (EVIL) as we decide upon our course of life. Many times we choose those things that are not wrong in and of themselves but we become so involved it them that we have no time or spend no time in contemplation, therefore we ignore sometimes the important things for the mundane things of life. You see, God instructs us to “seek first the Kingdom of God (i.e. recognize that God’s way is more important) cf. Matt 6:33 – before other things. A person will not want to waste this time that he/she has on the earth, they will want to make arrangements so that when they leave this life they will know where the soul will go. Paul said of this life in  2 Timothy 4:5-8,

“5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. 6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (ASV)

To the church at Smyrna the John wrote, Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)

As a person can see by studying God’s Word, understanding of these important matters occurs because we do seek answers where real answers may be found, in God’s Written Word (i.e. the Bible).PHYSICAL

3.  DEATH, The death of everyone is assured by the testimony of God:

Hebrews 9:27, “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this (cometh) judgment;

1 Corinthians 15:51-55, “51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (ASV)

4.  THE RESURRECTION, The resurrection of everyone is just as sure a reality as physical death. That the resurrection follows death is a Biblical doctrine that cannot be denied. With regard to the resurrection let us examine the teaching of the Bible:

*    Hebrews 9:27, “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this (cometh) judgment;

**  John 5:28-29, “28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” (ASV)

***      Acts 24:15, “having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.” (ASV)

****    1 Corinthians 15:21, “For since by man (came) death, by man (came) also the resurrection of the dead.”

5.  THE JUDGMENT, The judgment of all mankind will take place before the Righteous Judge, Jesus Christ:

2 Timothy 4:1, “I charge (thee) in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:” (ASV)

2 Timothy 4:8, “henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (ASV)

THE FOLLOWING VERSES WILL TELL US WHAT THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT WILL BE:

“… The word that I speak (i.e. the words of Jesus Christ) …” is the standard – are measuring up to the standard? John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.” ASV

6.  THE LAST DAY, The trumpet of God will sound, all the dead will be raised, everyone will be judges and sentenced on the “… last day …” All things created by God in the beginning will be dissolved and immortality of the resurrected will commence.

CONSIDER THIS FACT:  There will be only one last day. If the last day is not the last day then God has erred, we know that this is impossible, therefore there cannot be 1,000 years after the last day.

NOTE:

1 Corinthians 15:52-53, “52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (ASV)

John 6:39-40, “39 And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 11:24-25, “24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;” (ASV)

John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (ASV)

SUMMATION:  Do we understand these things? We ought to study until we have reached an understanding of these important issues, that pertain to life, death, and the hear-after. Without a clear understanding of these things we will be unable to experience “JOY” in our lives and “The peace that passes understanding” will escape us – cf.

Philippians 4:4-8, “4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (ASV)

Posted in Garreth L. Clair | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Understanding (Part 1)

Worship in Spirit and in Truth

On one occasion during Jesus’ ministry on earth, He and His disciples passed through Samaria.  On this occasion, Jesus stopped at Jacob’s well to get a drink of water while His disciples went to buy food.  While there, a Samaritan woman came to draw water and she had a discussion with Jesus.  During this discussion, she brought up the subject of worship.  Jesus made a statement to her at that time regarding true worshipers which we are going to focus on for this lesson.  Turning to John 4:23-24, we read, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.“

This statement by Jesus is the main Biblical text we turn to when regarding Christian worship.  In the context of this discussion, Jesus reveals that the time has come when true worshippers will no longer worship in Jerusalem.  A change had come to the age old classic Levitical worship system and those who wish to be true worshippers will have to abide by a new set of guidelines.  These guidelines are the basis for our worship today as Christians in the kingdom of God. 

God seeks true worshippers, and He identifies them as those who “worship Him in spirit and in truth“. Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is a serious matter which must not be taken lightly. If we have any regard for our own souls, we will want to make sure we are worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

An analysis of the text reveals 5 things that characterize the true worshipper which God is in search of. 

1. The absolute of Christian worship – “must” God seeks true worshippers and they must worship. 

2. The action of Christian worship – “worship”  Meaning to prostrate oneself, to render obeisance, respect and reverence, to kiss toward and to serve. 

3. The aim of Christian worship – “God“

4. The attitude of Christian worship – “spirit”  Meaning from one’s heart.

5. The authority of Christian worship – “truth” Meaning according to God’s word which is truth (John 17:17).

Before we examine these five things, let’s look at some Biblical examples of some who were not true worshippers. 

The Bible speaks of Ignorant Worship

In Acts 17, we read of Paul in the city of Athens on that occasion when he confronted some of the citizens of the city about their pagan worship.  They had an idol set up to honor an unknown god in case they missed one somewhere.  Paul made this statement recorded by inspiration in verse 23: “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.“

Paul acknowledged that they were very religious but he warned them that their religious service was not pleasing to God for it was done in ignorance, without knowledge of what God wanted or even who God was.  Paul went on to say in verse 30 that, “the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent“.  The word “winked” means ‘overlooked’.   Paul told the Athenians on that occasion that God would not overlook their ignorant worship. 

Ignorant worship is not pleasing to God for he is not glorified by accident, but by a conscience praise of His name.  God is seeking true worshippers and those who worship God ignorantly are not worshiping in truth and are therefore excluded from those whom God is seeking to worship Him. 

The Bible speaks of Vain Worship

In Matthew 15:7-9, we read the words of Jesus as He confronted a group of Pharisees, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men“.

The word vain means ‘to no purpose’.  The Pharisees made their worship vain (useless) because they had added on the commandments of men to their  practices.  They were proclaiming praises and honoring God with their lips, but their hearts were corrupt because by adding their own traditions and requirements to the word of God, they were setting themselves as an authority higher than God.  In other words, God says this, but you must do something more, or less or different than what God said.  Such things were said by inspiration to render our worship of no worth, and is a demonstration that our attitudes about worship are not right.  Those who exhibit the wrong attitude in their worship are not worshiping in spirit and are therefore excluded from those whom God is seeking to worship Him. 

The Bible speaks of Will Worship

Colossians 2:23, “Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” The NKJV translated “will worship” as “self imposed religion“.  In this context, Paul was dealing with some of the very things that Jesus was talking about in regards to the Pharisees back in Matthew 15:7-9.  Some people in Colossi were imposing manmade elements into Christianity which did not belong.  Basically, this is an extension of what causes vain worship.  Backing up to verse 23 of this context, we see Paul writing, “according to the commandments and doctrines of men”  Paul alluded to Jesus’ teaching while dealing with “will worship” or “self imposed religion” with the Colossian church.  The consequences are the same.  Their worship is vain, meaning useless and of no value. 

So we can see from these three examples of incorrect worship that true worshippers have a standard they must adhere to if they want to be the worshippers that God is seeking.  We understand from these three examples that our worship must not be done in ignorance and must come from God only and cannot include the commandments of men.  

The absolute of Christian worship

Those who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth.  The word ‘must’ is what we call an auxiliary verb.  It means to be bound by an imperative requirement.  The Bible teaches us that faith is a must (Heb. 11:6), and repentance is a must (Luke 13:3).  When the word ‘must’ is used, the consequences for failure or refusal to comply are spiritual death.  Those who fail to have faith will be condemned, likewise, those who fail to worship in spirit and in truth will suffer the same fate. 

The word “must” modifies three elements which constitute Christian worship.  The word ‘must’ modifies the object of worship – Him.  We ‘must’ worship God.  Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 4:10, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” 

The word ‘Must’ modifies the attitude of worship which is spirit and the standard of worship which is truth.  Our worship therefore must be to God, it must be in spirit and it must be in truth.  Thus, the object, the attitude, and the standard of Christian worship are vital – they are a must!

2. The action of Christian worship

Webster defines “worship” as “courtesy or reverence to worth; hence honor and respect. An act of paying divine honors to deity; religious reverence or homage.” The word “worship” it translated from several different Greek words, three of which are used more than once:

1. PROSKUNEO
This word Occurs 60 times in the New Testament as is always rendered worship.  This is the Greek word used in John 4:24 in regards to worshiping in spirit and in truth.  Vines dictionary of NT words defines this word, “to make obeisance, do reverence to”.  Thayer defines it, “to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence ? to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence”

2. SEBOMAI
This Greek word Occurs 10 times in the New Testament.  It means to “To stand in awe; to venerate, to reverence, to worship, to adore”.  It is the Greek word Jesus used when He said in “vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” in Matthew 15:9. 

3. LATREUO
This Greek word Occurs 21 times in the New Testament. It means “To render religious service of homage; to worship God in the observance of rites instituted for worship”.  It is translated as both worship and service in our English translations.   

All three of these words are verbs.  All three of these words are action words, meaning we are to be participants and not spectators.  In true worship, we are not the audience, rather God is.  Our aim in worship must be to please God which brings us to the next characteristic of true worship. 

3. God; The aim of Christian worship.

The Bible teaches us that Gods is to be the sole object of our worship.  In Exodus 20:2-6, we read these very familiar words, “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments“.

That was one of the ten commandments given to Moses on Mt Sinai.  Things have not changed since then.  In Matthew 4:10, when speaking to Satan, Jesus said, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve“.  We must remember that in true worship, God seeks those who worship Him only.  It is God that we are obligated to do reverence to.  We do not approach God in worship to be entertained.  The responsibility for true worship lies squarely on us as His children.  Since God seeks true worshipers, He therefore seeks those who will worship Him and Him only.  If our aim in worship is not God, then we are not worshiping in spirit and in truth and we are therefore excluded from those whom God seeks.

4. Spirit; The Attitude of Christian Worship.

New Testament worship is spiritual, meaning from the heart.   We learn that we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices as a holy priesthood in 1 Peter 2:5.  We are to draw nigh unto God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22). Our worship is to be offered to God with grace in our heart unto the Lord (Colossians 3:17; Ephesians 5:19).

New Testament worship must come from the heart; Ephesians 5:19-20, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”  Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”.  Notice in both of these scriptures that we are commanded to be thankful and to demonstrate that in our worship. 

In Hebrews 12:28, we read, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear“.  Part of the spirit of true worship is reverence and godly fear.  Our worship in spirit must reflect a deeply reverent attitude, humble, submissive and respectful.  God is all powerful, all knowing and everywhere present.  He is absolutely fair and just.  He is always right and never wrong.  He is the creator of everything material that we can see.  And He sacrificed of Himself freely for all mankind when He could have just left us to die.  He deserves our respect, our honor, our reverence and our godly fear.  He is worthy of our respect, our honor our reverence and our godly fear.  The right attitude of true worship is from the heart, in genuine and devoted love and gratitude directed solely to our God in heaven.  God seeks true worshipers and the attitude and the heart is one of the things He identifies one with.  Let us be sure that our attitudes in worship reflect that which God seeks so that we can be assured of being among those true worshippers that God is searching for. 

5. Truth; The authority of Christian worship.

God also seeks those who worship in truth.  What is truth?  The Bible tells us in words that are impossible to misunderstand in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth“.  So if God’s word is truth, and we are to worship in truth, then we must therefore worship according to God’s word in order to be “in truth“.   In Colossians 3:17 we find a verse of scripture that sets a parameter for all that we do in life.  This most certainly applies to our worship.  Colossians 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”  Our worship to God is part of whatsoever we do, so we need to make sure that our worship is in the name, or by the authority of Jesus Christ.  And notice there’s that little exhortation on the end about giving thanks to God and the Father?  So we see here in this verse that we are to do the things we do by the authority of Jesus, “in truth” and with a thankful attitude, “in spirit“. 

We must seek authority for the things we do in our worship.  To add to the worship God has prescribed is to think beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6).  To leave out something is to fall short of the glory of God and fail to do those things what God is looking for in His true worshippers.

So how do we determine from the word of truth how to worship according to the word of truth?  The new testament does not have a book named, ‘How to Worship God’.  There is not a checklist in scripture that specifically lists all of the things God is looking for in true worship.  So in recognition of this fact, and in full realization that God expects us to worship according to His word then what do we do?  Does the word of God even tell us what to do?  Indeed it most certainly does. 

When writing to the Christians in Corinth, Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 4:16, “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me“.  Several modern versions of our English translations correctly render the Greek word for “followers” as “imitators“.  Paul wrote almost the exact same thing to them again in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate [follow] me, just as I also imitate Christ“.  Use my actions, my life, my worship, my service to God as a pattern for you to follow or imitate.  Paul is telling them to ‘Do what I do, live how I live, worship how I worship.  Use my life as your way, your template, your pattern for living’.  If that will work for them, will it not work for us? 

Now let’s consider Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 2:14, “For ye, brethren, became followers [imitators] of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews“.  When speaking to the Thessalonians Christians concerning their conversion to Christ, Paul mentioned that they had become imitators of the churches of God in Judaea.  The Thessalonians had followed the lead of another congregation of Christians.  They conformed themselves to the pattern of another congregation thus making themselves imitators or followers of that pattern.  Paul held the churches of God in Judea up as a mold, or an acceptable pattern for the church in Thessalonica to follow or imitate.  Well. if they can do it, then why can’t we do the same thing they did?  Well, we can’t follow or imitate the churches in Judaea because scripture does not have a detailed description of those particular churches in scripture so what then do we do?  If the church in Thessalonica imitated the churches of God in Judaea, then can we not imitate it and be assured of being just like the churches Paul set forth in scripture?  The answer is yes as long as the church in scripture we are imitating is an exact match. 

For instance, we know from a study of scripture that the Corinthian and the Galatian churches, among others, had internal problems that we wouldn’t want within our congregation.  So then what do we do about that?  The answer is very simple.  We follow the approved examples and patterns of all of the churches in scripture and we reject the unapproved ones.  We then combine that with the teachings of the apostles and other inspired writers of scripture and when taken all in all, we can get a picture of how the Lord’s church is to worship.   In short, we simply use all of the approved examples, teachings and commandments in scripture given to all of the churches and individuals in scripture and we form a composite image of what the New Testament church was and we imitate that.  In view of the lack of a detailed checklist of how we are to worship in scripture and given the commands we have to worship in spirit and in truth, there simply is no other way to achieve what we are commanded to accomplish.  Scripture makes the internal claim to be inspired and to throughly furnish us unto every good work in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Worship is a verb, therefore worship is a work of righteousness.  God simply did not command us to worship according to a set of guidelines and then leave us without a way of determining what those guidelines are. 

So using this principle to guide us, how did the first century church worship?  There are two forms or types of worship in the New Testament.  There is a continual form of worship which all Christians are to participate in.  Scripture teaches us to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and to “sing psalms” when we are merry (James 5:13).  There is a sense in scripture where the Christian is to live in a continual state of worship at all times.  Paul taught in Romans 12:1 we are to present our “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”  The Greek word for service in this context is “LATREUO” which is correctly translated in scripture as worship in a number of places.  The NIV translates this as “worship” instead of “service” and this understanding is completely consistent with the meaning of the words.  Jesus Christ used both “LATREUO” and “PROSKUNEO” synonymously in the exact same phrase when confronting Satan.  Backing up to a verse we have already looked at, we again see Jesus telling Satan in Luke 4:8, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship [PROSKUNEO] the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve [LATREUO]”. 

There is a sense of worship in all the service we do for God and this has mistakenly lead many people to the mistaken conclusion that all life is worship to God.  We associate and rightly so, the concept of sacrifice being a part of worship.  And scripture plainly teaches this from the front to the back.  One cannot separate worship from sacrifice, the two are intertwined and cannot be separated one from the other.  There is no doubt that sacrifice was inextricably bound to OT worship.  Under NT worship, our sacrifices are more of a spiritual nature as we see in 1 Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”  We see also in Hebrews 13:15-16 that, “By him [referring to Jesus], therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, (there is that sense of a continual worship again), that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”  There’s those spiritual sacrifices that Peter referred to in the previous verse of scripture. 

Jesus accomplished the atoning work of sacrifice with His death on the cross, so we today don’t have to offer blood sacrifices.  But when the Israelites were done with the atoning sacrifices, they approached God and offered spiritual sacrifices in the form of singing, praise and thank offerings (2 Chronicles 29:30-31).  The sacrifices were not over for the Israelites when the atoning sacrifice was finished.  They then approached God and offered additional sacrifices and worshipped.  Read with me in 2 Chronicles 29:31 concerning their worship after the completion of the atoning sacrifice, “Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.”  Focus on those words “come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings“.  Hezekiah told the Israelites to come near, to approach God.  The Israelites could not come near and approach God until after the atoning sacrifice.  God’s presence was in some fashion understood to be inside the temple behind the veil in the most holy of holies and the Israelites were not allowed to draw near to God’s presence without that atoning sacrifice.  Now today, that atoning work has been accomplished through the once for all time sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Today, we can approach God without having to first offer a blood sacrifice.  Jesus did that for us.  What we need to take from this is that now, under the New Testament we can “Approach God”.  Worship is about approaching God.  There are a number of ways that we accomplish this.  We can, and are commanded to approach God through Christian service on a continual basis such as prayer, confession, benevolent good works, etc, etc and these things are a type of service and a type of sacrifice and therefore are a type of worship but this kind of service is different than the worship we offer collectively during our assemblies. 

In the assemblies, the whole congregation comes together into one place for the purpose of unified worship to God.  The Bible never comes out and directly says in those words that the purpose for the assembly is to worship God, but we do have a plethora of scripture where the activities of the Christians at those assemblies is evident and regulated.  For instance if one look at 1 Corinthians chapters 10 thru 16 and disregards the abuses of the Lord’s Supper and miraculous gifts, then we find all of the things we do in our assembled worship today.  Paul referred to their coming together in one place in 1 Cor. 11:17-20, 33). Now let’s consider the following in 1 Cor. 14:23-26, “Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.  How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification”.  Notice what was done when they came together. They partook of the Lord’s Supper, Prophesying, or, teaching/preaching was done; Praying and singing was also done as revealed in 1 Cor. 14:15 and finally, giving was commanded in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. 

Notice that the giving was specified on the first day of the week.  When we look back at Acts 20:7 we learn that the disciples met on the first day of the week to break bread which means they partook of the Lord’s Supper.  From this we can rightfully reason that Christians of the first century met on the first day of the week to worship God.  The activities engaged in during these meetings was the Lord’s supper, singing, praying, edification and giving. 

Keeping in mind that worship is about approaching God, we need to understand that the things done in our assemblies are spiritual points of contact wherein God seeks to involve us in some aspect of relationship with Him or with spiritual matters. 

1. We approach God through our singing.  Draw in your minds with me an arrow pointing from us to God and from us to each other.  The spiritual points of contact originate with us and move toward God and to each other.  Our relationship with God and with each other is thereby strengthened and we are admonished and edified through it as a benefit. 

2.  Giving is a spiritual contact between us and our fellow man.  Our giving is a sacrifice which has its parallel in the free will offerings under OT law which nothing to do with the atoning sacrifices.  Freewill offerings occur in the OT in 17 places.  Consider the language used in regards to the freewill offering to be given at the feast of weeks in Deuteronomy 16:10, “And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee“.  The language is strikingly similar to what we see in 1 Corinthians 16:2 where we read, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him“.  Freewill offerings under the law of Moses were part of their worship.  Our giving is not for God, rather it is for our fellow man.  The spiritual contact for us is to our fellow man and through it we strengthen and uphold each other. 

3.  The Lord’s supper is a spiritual point of contact between us and Jesus as the communion of the body and blood of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16) and reflecting inward as we examine ourselves and our relationship with the Lord while we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us. 

4.  Congregational praying is a spiritual point of contact from the whole congregation to God, indicating a priestly function wherein one man with one voice represents the people to God. 

5.  Preaching/Studying is a spiritual contact originating with God and moving to the congregation through the teacher or preacher.  Those who teach and preach are required to speak as the oracles of God, meaning we are to speak as if He were the one who was talking.  The Greek word for “oracles” means an utterance of God.  The teacher or preacher is one person communicating the will of God to the congregation.  This is the only way that God has a voice through His word to us.  The spiritual point of contact is therefore God speaking His will to us in the assembly. 

These five approaches to God, properly accomplished serve to completely furnish us with what we need to live our lives acceptably, grow in our knowledge of Christ and to make the world a better place.  We have with our worship made spiritual contact with God, each other and ourselves.  We have been edified and strengthened.  we have subjected ourselves to an inner examination.  We have reached out to our fellow man through our giving and laid our petitions at the feet of God’s throne as a congregation, and received instruction from an oracle of God.  These ways of approaching God are simply referred to in scripture as worship.  When considering worship, it is important to understand that God does not need it.  Acts 17:24-25 reads, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things”  God does not need anything including our worship, but He knows that we do need it.  He wants it because He knows that it is good for us.  Everything God does for man is for man’s ultimate benefit and is a reflection of His just and loving nature.  Think of our worship to God as a spiritual feast wherein we are fed.  We provide physical food for our earthly children and we require them to eat it because of our concern for their well being.  We do not need for our children to eat in order for us to exist, but we want them to so that they will grow up and be healthy and live.  God likewise provided a spiritual banquet for the feeding of our souls, not because He needs it, but because He wants us to grow up and be spiritually healthy and live.  God’s providential care for man is evident in everything He has ever done and our worship to Him is a reflection of His desire to provide us with the things we need to live the Christian life in full assurance of our hope to the end. 

And lastly, let’s consider the throne scene in Revelation 4 with the saved of all the earth gathered around the throne in the presence of God in heaven.  All singing praises and glorifying God together as the heavenly host.  Our worship today in song and praise to God is a picture of what we will be doing when we get to heaven.  The assemblies on the first day of the week is the closest we can get to God and Heaven this side of the grave. 

We approach God, we sing, we praise Him, we adore Him, we glorify Him and we reverence Him through our worship in the only way we can this side of eternity.  In heaven, we’ll actually get to see Him.  We will get to stand in the glory of His presence and we will get to worship Him face to face in His presence.  Until then, we assemble and receive that which we need to inherit our eternal home and help others along the way. 

Posted in David Hersey | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Worship in Spirit and in Truth