I
continue this week on the theme of worshipping God under the New Covenant. Jesus said there was time coming when we
would ‘worship in spirit and truth’.
To worship Him in truth speaks to the fundamental truths of the new
covenant position we have by faith in Jesus. Jesus said ‘I am the way’. These
truths ‘make a way’ to enter into the
holy of holies; to approach the throne of grace.
First,
to worship Him ‘in truth’ means we worship from a position of righteousness. Christ
is the end of the Law so that there may be righteousness for everyone
who believes (Rom.10:4). This righteousness from God comes
through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Rom.3:22). Sin separated God from man from the time
of Adam until the time of Jesus. Sin
was and is ‘unrighteousness’. However, from the cross forward sin no
longer separates believers from God because Jesus took all sin and became
sin on our behalf. Now we
have righteousness in our spirit-man because we believe in Jesus. We are righteous;
therefore we worship from that position of righteousness, His righteousness is
IN us!
Second,
we worship as ones holy and worthy
to enter the holy of holies, i.e. to come close to God. Under the Old Covenant sacrifices of blood would
come from animals deemed worthy. Jesus was the perfect or worthy sacrifice of atonement for sin, thus positioning
believers to be made holy and worthy to enter the presence of God. He sets aside the first (covenant) to
establish the second (covenant). And by that will, we have been made holy
through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:9,
10) Further on in Hebrews it says…..because
by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made
holy. (Heb. 10:14)
Third,
we worship as sons of the Father.
Jesus is the first born of many brothers (Rom. 8:29) We believers are the
second born, i.e. the second to experience resurrection life through being
‘born-again’. Therefore we approach the Father from the truth of being a ‘son’. Yet
to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right
to become sons (children) of God--- born not of natural descent, nor of
human decision, or a husbands will but born of God.(John 1:12, 13) Think
of how young boys and girls adore their Dad. They brag about him at school.
They desire to be with him…..just in his presence while he is working or
playing. As sons and daughter we worship our Father knowing we are family
members like Jesus. We worship knowing the Father loves his sons and daughters
completely and unconditionally. This powerful
position of truth under the new covenant frees us to worship freely!!
Lastly,
we worship with open access to heaven’s
blessings. Jesus made a way where there was no way. Jesus said he was ‘the
way, the truth, and the life’.
Jesus
made the way past the veil of the holy of holies to the mercy seat of the
Father. His divine power has given
us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who
called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us his very
great and precious promises so that you may participate in the divine nature……
(1 Pet. 1:3) As sons and daughters we come to Him and have BEEN given His blessings, favor,
abundance and provision for life. All we do is receive them!
Praise
be to our Father that we can worship Him in spirit and TRUTH! We live in a time and dispensation of great
freedom, great responsibility, and great blessing. Worship Him today in
TRUTH!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment