Worship in Truth

Introduction. The Son of God, Our Lord and King to whom God has given all authority in heaven and earth, has commanded us to worship God in spirit and truth. It is the only type of worship God seeks and those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:23-24).

God’s word is truth (Jn. 17:17) and since today God speaks through his son (Heb. 1:1-3), those who abide in his word in their worship are truly his disciples who know the truth and are made free (Jn. 8:31-32). Not only do we have this direct command from the Lord, but God has shown many times he won’t accept worship from those who are not trusting and submissive.

Cain’s offering rejected; later called evil because he did not offer by faith (Gen. 4:3-8; Heb. 11:4)
Nadab & Abihu struck dead for offering “strange fire God did not command them.” (Lev. 10:1-3)
David moved the ark without “seeking him according to the ordinance” God rejected the method. (2Sam. 6:1-11; 1Chr. 13:1-14: 15:1-4; 11-13)
Saul offered the burnt offering contrary to God’s law and was rejected as king (1Sam. 13:8-14)
Saul rejected God‘s commands in order to offer worship and was condemned (1Sam. 15:1-23),
Jeroboam changed God’s worship, creating a grave sin for all who participated. (1Kings 12:26-33)
Uzziah sought to offer an offering only the priests could offer and was struck with leprosy. (2 Chr. 26:14-21)

If we do not want to make the same mistakes in worship they made, we must carefully study His word and follow the clear commands revealed within it. Anything more or less than this is condemned by Jesus as a command/doctrine of men.

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Mt. 15:8-9
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men Mk. 7:7-8

What else could it be, but a doctrine of men when it is not revealed in Scripture as a command of God? Those who set aside God’s commands and hold to traditions created by men are condemned by Jesus our Lord as worshiping in vain. Thus our acts of worship must be commanded and revealed in God’s word. If we can’t find them there, they can only be traditions of men.

Breaking Bread. Jesus himself revealed the importance of breaking bread. The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all record His words at that final Passover meal the night before his death. He broke the bread and gave it to them, commanding that they partake of it in remembrance of his body. He then told them to divide the fruit of the vine (grape juice) among themselves and drink it in remembrance of his blood. Paul made it clear this was something the church did:

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 1Cor. 11:23-26

Paul said “as often as” because there was a frequency that churches came together to break bread. Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, (Acts 20:7). The church in the first century came together every first day of the week to break bread in the manner described by Paul and revealed by Jesus. To worship in truth we must follow their example.

The Offering.

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 1Cor. 16:2-3

Again the frequency and the day are mentioned first. It is to be on the first day (Sunday) of every week. Thus the day and frequency are clearly established in the truth of God’s word. If we are to worship the Father in spirit and truth, it must be on the first day of every week. This is what the Hebrew writer warned against, calling it “wilful sin” to forsake it:

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Heb. 10:24-27

Those who do not consistently attend do not worship in spirit and truth. By “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” “we sin wilfully” and await “a certain fearful expectation of judgment.” So the church came together on the first day of the week to break bread and to give as prospered. It is up to us to “by faith offer a more excellent sacrifice” by submitting as Abel did.

Before each “first day of the week of every week,” the true worshiper carefully considers how they were prospered that week. What blessings did they receive? How much money did they make? Then, the amount they will lay aside is determined, gathered and brought to the assembly to be offered to God.

Singing.

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. Col. 3:16-17
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Eph. 5:19

During the assembling of ourselves together, we are also commanded to sing:

Psalms (inspired songs found in the book of Psalms).
Hymns (songs of praise, honor and respect to extol God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit).
Spiritual Songs (all the songs that teach and admonish us about spiritual things(working for the Lord, being faithful, praying, teaching the lost, personal consecration, etc.).

We are to sing these songs in a manner that both “teaches and admonishes” those who are singing and “makes melody within the heart to the Lord.” Thus we learn the melody, the meaning of the words, and how to feel about their meaning as we sing them.

Praying.

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, 1Tim. 2:8-9

Although somewhat controversial in our current culture, the command is clear and to worship in truth it must be accepted by faith and acted upon. When we assemble together to worship God on the first day of the week, it is for him and in submission to him. Hence “men” and not “women” pray in every place. Look carefully at the command. Where else but in our public worship would prayer be limited to men and not to women. It is obvious that it is not in the home, but in the public worship where women should be dressed modestly. These prayers are to be offered by men whose hands are holy and consecrated to the purity and righteousness of the Lord.

Hearing/Preaching.

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, 2Tim. 4:1-3
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Jas. 1:19-21

This is the final thing in Scripture that is commanded of Christians when they gather together on the first day of the week. For the one who is speaking, he is to preach only the word, urgently, reproving, rebuking and exhorting with all longsuffering. This preaching is to be only “sound doctrine.” While the one proclaiming the word is doing so in the manner above, those who are listening are also given instructions. The hearer is to be “swift to hear” which demands careful attention to the words with the intent of making application, changing whatever needs to be changed. In this manner they receive the word that will save their souls.

Conclusion. As cultures change, each of these acts of worship become more or less desirable. They become boring to some and ridiculous to others. Yet whatever “good reason” one has to set them aside or to add more to them, it only results in vain worship based on the teachings of men and not the word of God. Cain tried it in the beginning, as did David, Nadab and Abihu, and Saul. When man presumes to bring in his own wisdom to “jazz it up” and seek to give it more power to move, it will only end in failure. While it may be more desirable to us, it is an abomination to God.

Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Eccl. 5:1

For further information in our topical archives, see:

"A" for "Attendance"
"L" for "Lord's Supper"
"G" for "Giving"
"S" for "Singing"
"P" for "Prayer" and "Preaching"