Crystal Spring Baptist Church exists so that people will
KNOW Christ, GROW in Christ, and SHOW Christ to others. Though this is a clever
reflection of the very real biblical mandate for all disciples, a mission
statement is merely a goal or intention if it is without a strategy to
accomplish it. Therefore, I want to take a few weeks to demonstrate what I
believe the Bible says is necessary to accomplish this mission in South Roanoke
and around the world, for “your direction not your intention determines your
destination” (Andy Stanley).
In order to help us remember the important principles that
we will learn as we go along, I have decided to adopt and acrostic: C.R.O.S.S.
to guide us. Today we will be dealing with C, which in this case stands for Corporate Worship. Corporate worship is something the Bible mandates, in
part, to help move the mission of God forward. However, why is corporate
worship worth our time? How vital is it? Where does the Bible say I have to go
to church? In what ways does what we do on Sunday morning help us accomplish
our goal? The answers to these questions are found in the three elements of Corporate worship delineated in Hebrews
10:19-25.
I. ELEMENT#1: The
Conditions for Corporate Worship-10:19-21 & 22b-c
Hebrews 10:19-22 (the first element of corporate worship) actually
exists as one long sentence in the original language. The length of this
sentence does not merely emote complexity of thought, it also demonstrates the
intensity of the appeal made in its words. The author of Hebrews begins a new section
in verse 19 as indicated by “therefore, brethren” and introduces something in
response to what has just been discussed (namely, the superiority of the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ). Having explained that Christ is the greatest ever
sacrifice and that His sacrifice is sufficient once for all, the author moves
to encourage his audience in light of the supremacy of Jesus. First, he
encourages an active, vibrant, corporate worship life.
However, before the content of this encouragement is made
known, the author establishes the conditions that render corporate worship a
possibility in the first place. In his mind, the encouragement he hopes to
bring will have more staying power if he first reveals what has been done to
make corporate worship possible, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence
to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus” (10:19). The key word in this
passage is “confidence,” meaning “authorization” to enter into the holy place. While
before Jesus’ death, the holy place was reserved for the select few who were
appointed as high priests, all believers because of Christ’s sacrifice are able
to confidently enter into the presence of God because of his blood (emphasized
as the last word in the phrase). Though today we often take the free corporate worship
of God in His presence for granted, for those in this author’s audience, this
was a relatively revolutionary idea! Jesus’ blood is the believer’s pass into
the presence of God. Our worship of God is a most wondrous privilege that we
can only dream of enjoying because of the most expensive tickets ever
purchased, salvation through the blood of Jesus.
The author continues to explain why the believer has
confidence to enter into worship of God in verse 20, “by a new and living way
which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh…” Jesus Himself is the “new and living way”
through which believers have access to the Father. This idea of Jesus as the
“way” evokes the same idea of an entrance or doorway found in John (see John 10:9,
14:6).
John 14:6-“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no
one comes unto the Father except through Me.”
John 10:9-"I am the door; if anyone enters
through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”
A simple illustration of Jesus’ role in creating this
confidence before the presence of God might involve a first date with a
potential boyfriend/girlfriend. Though previously intimidated by his/her
presence and perhaps even kept at an arm’s length because of who he or she is,
someone who knows the person personally might sacrifice his/her time and energy
to make it possible for you to sit down with this individual. Not only that, but
when you arrive to speak with this man or woman, your friend walks with you and
introduces you, giving you all the confidence in the world that you will not be
turned away and every reason to enjoy your time with that person without fear.
This is similar to what Jesus has done for every believer. Jesus has sacrificed
a lot to make it available for disciples to meet God and enjoy relationship
with Him in worship. In fact, He has even ushered them into His presence. This
should give all believers confidence before God as they celebrate Him in
worship.
Confidence is the first condition of our worship. Disciples
worship in part because they have confidence in the presence of almighty God
through the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no true worship of God without
confidence in His presence.
However, not only has Jesus introduced us to our forever mate,
He is a mediator and advocate for us in His midst. The second reason why
believers can worship God in a meaningful way is because they have a cleric,
“and since we have a great priest over the house of God” (10:21). Jesus as “a
great high priest” is the mediator between us and God—the bridge between God
and man—the advocate pleading the disciple’s case. Without Him, God would immediately
dismiss each disciple from His presence. However, Jesus steps in, speaks for believers,
and defends their legitimacy as worshippers, thereby captivating the Almighty’s
approval.
Confidence is the first condition of a believer’s worship.
The second is a supreme cleric who acts as the believer’s greatest defense.
Without Him, God would not give us the time of day. However, there is a third
condition the writer of Hebrews spells out for worship.
The third condition of worship is “cleansing” (“having our
hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience”) (10:22b). This act of spiritual cleansing happens on
two levels. First, the heart is cleansed from an evil conscience. This describes
a washing of the inner self, complete with its nefarious motives, impurities,
and general predisposition toward sin. This radical cleansing of the inner man
is accomplished through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ described earlier in
Hebrews 10 and echoed in Psalm 51:2.
Psalm 51:2-“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and
cleanse me from my sin.”
However, not only has the heart been cleansed by Jesus, so
has the body, “and our bodies washed with pure water” (10:22c). Parallel to
“hearts sprinkled clean” this describes a consecration of the flesh or the
outer man. Though this remains to be realized existentially, essentially God
looks upon believers as those who are totally pure because of Jesus sacrifice
(inside and out).
Therefore, Jesus Christ has not only sacrificed Himself to
set us up with God and advocated on our behalf in His presence, He has clothed
us with righteousness, rendering us suitable for the occasion of true worship.
This is not unlike a friend who makes you a reservation with a girl or boy of
your interest, takes time to advocate on your behalf to him or her, and makes
sure you look appropriate for a first date. Jesus has given His disciples
confidence, acts as a Cleric, and has cleansed believers so that they might
worship appropriately. All of these conditions give believers the ability to
answer the call of corporate worship given in Hebrews 10:22a, 23-24.
II. ELEMENT#2: The
Call to Corporate Worship-10:22a, 23-24
In light of the conditions given, the author of Hebrews
moves to capitalize on the sense of wonder and awe created by what Jesus has
done by calling all disciples to “draw near with a sincere heart in full
assurance of faith” (10:22a). This is the imperative upon which all of the
conditions hang. In other words, the appropriate response to all Jesus has done
is to make the most of the relationship He has paved the way for by drawing near
to God with total assurance of faith and sincerity of heart because, as stated
earlier, the heart has been cleansed by Jesus. Also the plural form of the verb
for draw near (“let us draw near”) suggests that this date with God is a group
date, to be enjoyed by all of the disciples that the author of Hebrews is
encouraging.
Therefore, corporate worship involves drawing near to God
with faithful assurance because of a cleansed heart. Drawing near to God
identifies the vertical direction of
worship (knowing Him) and therefore satisfies the first part of the mission (Know,
Grow, Show).
The second part of the call to worship involves “hold[ing]
fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is
faithful” (10:23). Not only are disciples to draw near to God in worship
together because of a clean heart, they are instructed here to hold fast to
their hope in light of the confidence that Jesus has provided. Agreeing in form
and function with the imperative before it (let us draw near), this word means
to continue to believe, with the implication of acting in accordance with such
belief. Continuing in belief implies a love for understanding and growth of
knowledge concerning the things of God (growing
in God). Because “the one who promised is faithful,” the believer has every
confidence in their relationship with God and can unswervingly hold to the hope
that comes with such a bond—the hope of eternity, the hope of life, the hope of
blessing, etc.
Therefore, worship also involves inward conviction of the
promises of God. Holding fast the confession of hope identifies the inward
direction of worship (growing in Him),
thereby satisfying the second part of the mission (Know, Grow, Show).
However, there is a third part of worship, the aspect
directed towards others, “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to
love and good deeds” (10:24). This solidifies the corporate aspect of worship
within the context of this passage and the occasion of Hebrews as a whole. Not
only are believers to draw near (disciple-God) and hold fast (disciple-self),
they are to be about the business of spurring each other on to love and good
deeds (disciple-disciple). The kind of activity described here, of actively
encouraging one another toward love and good deeds seems to support a communal
aspect of worship that has more recently been underappreciated.
Perhaps ever since Martin Luther’s Sola Scriptura idea was mis-appropriated, the church has valued
personal pursuit of God over and above a corporate pursuit of God. This has led
to an unhealthy and unbiblical view of spiritual autonomy that is never
described in Scripture. This coupled with the growing self-centeredness of our
culture has driven people away from each other in copious ways. However, the
writer of Hebrews explicitly states that part of true worship of God involves a
dynamic community of people who are encouraging one another to the things of righteousness
(love and good deeds).
Therefore, the worship that has been made possible by all
that Jesus has provided (confidence, a cleric, and cleansing), is upward
focused (drawing near to God {knowing
Him}), inward focused (holding fast to the confidence {growing in Him}), and outward focused (stimulating one another on {showing Him}). However, how is this
supposed to be done?
III. ELEMENT #3: The
Character of Corporate Worship-10:25
The third element answers this question as it provides the
character of corporate worship, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as
is the habit of some” (10:25a). Regular assembly is one way in which this kind
of worship is accomplished. Forsaking
the opportunity of meeting together, as is the habit of some (according to the
writer), is prohibited as it dilutes the worship experience and fails to take
advantage of all Jesus has provided. The character of corporate worship (the
upward, inward, and outward elements [knowing
God, growing in God, and showing God]) requires the assembly of
believers.
If forsaking the
assembly of believers is forbidden, what is called for? The answer is found in
the end of verse 25, “but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see
the day drawing near.” “Showing God” to others is not limited to demonstrating
Him to unbelievers. It includes showing God to those inside the faith by
providing encouragement to one another. This is especially significant in light
of the end that is drawing near. As the world heads toward its end, the author
of Hebrews, even 2000 years ago, understood the vital role encouragement of the
saints would be.
So What?
The conditions, the call, and the characteristics of
corporate worship all point to its significance in the life of a disciple of
the Lord Jesus Christ. The conditions cause us to appreciate all that Jesus has
done to allow for the corporate worship of God; the call to corporate worship
commands us to give ourselves readily to drawing near, holding fast, and
encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ; and the characteristics compel
us not to forsake this opportunity, but to, whenever possible, assemble
together for the purposes of encouraging one another through knowing God,
growing in Him and showing Him to others through love and good deeds.
When we think about the nature of God, the significance of
corporate worship should not surprise us. He Himself is in relationship with
Himself in the Trinity and is constantly in a state of corporate worship. As
those who are made in His image and those who have had their image renewed by
Jesus Christ, one way that we reflect Him is by meeting together and
worshipping Him corporately.
Therefore, your attendance in this assembly, is not based on
tradition, ritual, or casual organization. It is an opportunity paid for by
Christ’s blood for you to worship God in community. DO NOT NEGLECT IT. God wants
to be worshipped, and you and I need to be encouraged as the world draws near
to its end. Our corporate worship is not just a routine, but an active way
Crystal Spring Baptist Church seeks to accomplish the Mission of God to know Christ, grow in Christ, and show
Christ to others.
No comments:
Post a Comment