Manslick Road church of Christ » 2000 » January
Genesis 4 relates man’s first attempt to worship God. Abel, a shepherd, brought an offering of the firstlings of his lock. Cain, a farmer, brought an offering of the fruit of the ground. The Bible says, “And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering, but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard” (vv. 4-5). Whatever may have been the difference in this case, one thing is clear: God does not accept everything offered Him as worship.
The Concept of Worship
Worship is our acknowledgment of God’s worth. Occasionally, the Bible uses the term of everyday living which respects His will (Romans 12:2 ). Mostly, worship refers to special acts of devotion intended to express to God our regard for Him. Either way, the underlying principle is reverence for God. Worship may therefore be defined as a reverent attitude which is expressed by a life of service and special acts of devotion.
Common Mistakes
The prophets of the Old Testament had much to say about the ancient Israelites’ worship. While the forms were different back then — offering animal sacrifices, burning incense, tithing, etc. — we can still learn much from their experiences. The prophets identified three common mistakes: (1) People often mixed their own preferences with God’s instructions. Instead of honoring God by doing what He said, they added or substituted what they liked. (2) Even when people were doing exactly what God said, worship at times became a boring ritual. Isaiah called it “lip service,” “traditions learned by rote” (29:13). (3) Daily lives were too often segregated from what people expressed in formal worship. People praised God in songs and prayers but lived in complete disregard for His will. This was perhaps the prophets’ most common complaint (Isaiah 1:10-17; Jeremiah 7:1-11; Amos 4:1-4; 8:4-6; etc.). Surely you understand why God would not accept worship from people who are just going though the motions or who substitute their own will for His. How does that honor Him?
Modern Applications
Jesus taught that “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24 ). Spirit emphasizes that worship is the product of a spiritual relationship. Worship is a privilege, not a right. It is the privilege of those who are in Christ, who “through Him . . . offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Hebrews 12:15 ). Both in the formal sense and the broad sense of daily living, it is the conscious expression of a heart devoted to God. Truth emphasizes worship as God directs. Only that kind truly honors him. Omission of spirit leaves empty formalism. Omission of truth results in honoring self, not God.
The New Testament reveals several avenues of formal worship, either in individual or group settings. The history of the first-century church begins, “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42 ). Instruction in God’s word clearly has a part in our assemblies. Breaking bread refers to eating the Lord’s Supper, a memorial of Jesus’ death (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ). This is to be eaten on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7 ), the day also specified for the contribution, a means of Christians joining together to do the work God has assigned us collectively (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 ). Prayer is our means of communicating with God, both for praise and requests (1 Timothy 2:1-6 ). Singing is another means of praising God, with the added benefit of teaching and admonishing each other (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16 ).
Whether done individually or collectively, God’s honor, not our pleasure, is the goal of worship. Therefore, His word dictates what is done and how. Is it surprising that the means He has given appeal more to the spirit than the flesh? How it looks, how it sounds, how it feels — these are not the critical factors. Instead, God says, “Let all things be done for edification” (1 Corinthians 14:26 ). Remember, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24 ).
Luke 12 records Jesus’ sermon to an audience so vast that people were stepping on each other. On this occasion, some told Him about a group of Galileans whom Pilate butchered while they were in the process of offering sacrifices. Perhaps this was reported to divert attention from themselves Jesus had just sternly rebuked the multitude. At any rate, the implication was what terrible sinners these must have been!
Jesus answered, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate?” (Lk. 13:2 ). In other words, can we tell by what befalls a man what kind of man he is?
Sin’s Consequences
In one way the answer is yes. Sin has immediate consequences as well as eternal ones. Moses told ancient Israel, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23 ). Solomon observed that “the way of transgressors is hard” (Pro. 13:15, KJV ).
One who drinks alcohol is far more likely to have a debilitating or fatal traffic accident. A promiscuous man lives in fear of discovery and disease. Lying, cheating, swindling, and stealing invite others’ wrath. Divorce is laden with heartache. In this sense it is absolutely true that the more one sins, the harder his life. This is one reason Paul said godliness holds promise for the present life as well as the life to come (1 Tim. 4:8 ).
Sin and Suffering
We go too far, however, when we always equate one’s suffering with his sin. This was the mistake of Job’s friends, who argued that only sinners suffer in life, while the righteous always do well. That has never been true.
One may face hardship as the result of another’ sin, not his own. Or, hardship may not at all be directly related to anyone’s conduct, as in the case of the blind man in John 9 (note v. 2). Conversely, since God “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mt. 5:45 ), He may allow the wicked to prosper materially. The point is, God’s estimate of a man is not necessarily revealed by the man’s lot in life.
Worse Sins and Sinners
Jesus’ answer built on this truth. Were these greater sinners? “I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3 ). He then cited a similar circumstance and reiterated His conclusion (vv. 4-5). In so doing, the Lord returned the drifting focus of His hearers to where it was needed: on themselves. It is not another’s sins but my sins that I need to assess.
It certainly is true that some people are greater sinners in that they sin more often. It is also true that in certain ways, some sins are worse than others. Some have greater temporal consequences on self or others (I would rather live next door to a glutton than a murderer!). But the sober truth is, any sin separates us from God, and any sinner who does not repent will be lost eternally.
Sin, by definition, is violation of God’s law (Romans 4:15; 1 John 3:4 ). The penalty for sin is death, eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23 ). Sin, therefore, is no small matter. Its grave consequences demand that we take it seriously.
Satan’s oldest lie is that violating God’s law is not so bad. He told Eve, “You shall not surely die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5 ). She believed him, disobeyed God, and died.
Each of us alone bears the responsibility for our sins. The devil cannot make us sin (James 4:7 ). We sin because we choose to. And we dare not deceive ourselves about the seriousness of our choices. Sin is always wrong. It is wrong…
Even if we do not know better. Ignorance does not excuse. The Jews who crucified Jesus did it in ignorance (Acts 3:17 ), yet it was still sin, and required repentance (v. 19). Paul said the Gentiles were without excuse for their sins because of what they should have known about God through His creation (Romans 1:20 ). That being true, how much more are we without excuse, we who enjoy the full revelation of God’s will in the Bible? It is our obligation to learn what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17 ), then obey it.
Even if we do it with a clear conscience. Conscience is the mental faculty God gave us to judge our own conduct. It judges according to our conception of right and wrong. If that conception is off, conscience will approve us, even though the thing we are doing is wrong. Paul lived his life with a perfectly good conscience (Acts 23:1 ). However, that included the period in which he persecuted Christians, at which time he was the “foremost of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15 ). Though conscience approved Him, sin was still sin.
Even if it is legal. Some folks have the idea that as long as they obey the laws of the land they are right with God. To be sure, God expects us to submit to civil rulers (Romans 13:1-7 ). However, civil law may allow many things that are plain violations of God’s law. Drunkenness, homosexuality, divorce, and abortion are a few obvious examples. False religion should also be included under this heading. Just because government gives us the right to worship as we please does not mean God does.
Regardless of who approves it. Some are willing to let a church or a preacher define sin for them. If their preacher says it is okay, it doesn’t much matter what the Bible says. But sin is still wrong, even if some or most preachers say otherwise. Sadly, preachers have a tendency to say what people want to hear instead of always preaching the truth (2 Timothy 4:3 ). That is why John warned, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 ).
Even if “no one gets hurt.” This is a popular justification for sin. We constantly hear about “two consenting adults” — whatever they want to do is all right because they are consenting and no one is getting hurt. Gambling uses the same rationale: since all players are consenting, no one gets hurt. Friend, sin always hurts its participants. They just do not always have sense enough to know it! “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23 ). Sin has inherent consequences that come back to haunt us in this life. And as we noted at the beginning, it has eternal consequences of the worst sort.
Even if we do not get caught. Parents do not always see the wrongs their children do. Teachers miss some of the mischief that goes on in school. The government admittedly catches only a small percentage of criminals. You may be able to hide your sin from your neighbors and co-workers, even from your spouse and closest friends. But it is no less wrong. Do not think you are all right because you have not been caught. God knows. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13 ).
Even if it is not as bad as what someone else did. It is man, not God, that categorizes sins as big and little. God says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one oint, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:9 ). It is man, not God, that sees an offense as inconsequential in view of the enormity of another’s guilt. Do you remember Jesus’ story of the Pharisee who thanked God that he was better than other people (Luke 18:9-14 )? He was lost.
Even if we were trying to do good. Some folks think that as long as their motives are good, God will overlook disobedience. Sincerity, they reason, is all that matters. But sin is still wrong, no matter what our intent. Uzzah is a good example. When the ark of the covenant nearly fell from the ox cart on which it was being carried, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady it. Surely he meant nothing disrespectful. Nevertheless, he violated God’s law by touching that sacred piece of furniture, and God struck him dead for it (2 Samuel 6).
Even if someone else influenced us. When God confronted Eve about her sin she responded, “The serpent deceived me . . .” (Genesis 3:13 ). Yes, he did, but Eve was still wrong. It was under the influence of Jewish brethren that Peter and Barnabas quit associating with the Gentile Christians at Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14 ). Did that make it any less hypocrisy? God knows that people can be influenced to do wrong. That is why He warns us about choosing our associates carefully (1 Corinthians 15:33 ). But another’s influence in no way changes my disobedience nor lessens my responsibility for it. Sin is always wrong.
The theme of the Bible is God’s plan for our salvation. God formulated His plan before He created the world (2 Timothy 1:9 ). For centuries He worked to bring about just the right circumstances into which Jesus, His Son, could come to earth and complete the divine provisions.
Our need
The word salvation implies peril. The problem is sin. Sin, by definition, is any violation of God’s law (1 John 3:4 ). One of the consequences of sin is that it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2 ). It does not matter how much one sins or how great his sins are. Any sin makes us guilty before God (James 2:10 ). And the end result of separation from God is eternal punishment. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23 ). Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23 ), all need salvation. I need it, and so do you.
Our opportunity
Why doesn’t God just forgive all sins and put an end to the problem? Some think He will. But it is not that simple. Yes, God is certainly loving and merciful enough to want to forgive all. However, He is also infinitely just, and true justice does not permit acquitting the guilty. God’s dilemma is, How can He be just and the justifier of sinful man? His answer: A sinless man could die in place of others. That is what Jesus came to do.
Jesus left heaven and became a man. He was tempted just as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15 ). When He died on the cross 2,000 years ago, He paid the price for our sins. John the baptizer introduced Him as “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 ). His death was a public display of atonement, vindicating God’s righteousness in forgiving our sins (Romans 3:25-26 ). It gives us our only opportunity to be right with God again.
Our response
God desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4 ) and has made ample provision. Yet not all will be saved. Why? Salvation is conditional; that is, God has some requirements of us before Jesus’ blood will cleanse us. Meeting these conditions in no way means we earn salvation. It is still a gift by His grace.
What are the conditions? What must I do to be saved? The answer you most commonly hear is “accept Jesus as your personal Savior” or something similar. There is an element of truth in that phrase, but it is neither precise nor complete.
What God requires is that we become disciples or followers of Jesus. That begins by putting our confidence in Him — who He is and what He has done for us. He said, “Unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:28 ). This is faith. Since faith comes by hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17 ), we must be taught about Jesus and believe in Him. Our faith must be strong enough to produce in us a change of heart toward sin, a determination to put it away and live as Jesus directs. This is repentance. It is just as vital to forgiveness as faith is. “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19 ). Romans 10:9-10 adds that salvation is the result of verbally confessing our faith in Jesus. Then, Romans 6:3 teaches us that we are baptized into Christ, into His death. The remainder of that chapter explains that baptism is a likeness of what Jesus did for us, which results in a new life. Baptism is immersion in water for forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38 ).
Those who through faith are baptized into Christ are born again, risen to live a new life as His disciples. They are anxious to learn all that Jesus commands them and ready to put it into practice (Matthew 28:18-20 ). Faithful adherence to Him throughout life is essential to discipleship and results in freedom from sin. “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32 ).
The gospel invitation is to all, including you.“And now, why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16 ).