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 unpack what the Bible articulates by way of a strategy toward accomplishing this greatest endeavor.
In order to help us remember the important principles that
we will learn as we go along, w are going to conceive of the church
in this series as a large ship facing a tumultuous sea—our present culture. For
the vessel to continue on in its search and rescue mission (helping the lost
and drowning know Christ, grow in Christ, and show Christ), the crew is going to
need to employ the use of their hands appropriately. Today, we are going to
begin in this first installment by looking at present hands—or hand that show up.
The hands God has redeemed are not going to be of any use unless they arrive for work! The
writer of Hebrews talks about such in Hebrews 10:19-25 when he discusses the phenomenon of corporate worship. Let us turn there now, observe three components of
corporate worship, and learn about the importance of having all hands on deck.
I. The Conditions for
Corporate Worship-10:19-21 & 22b-c
Hebrews 10:19-22 (which articulates the first component of
corporate worship in this passage) is actually 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. 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. To this end, the first
encouragement offered concerns 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. The author believes that the encouragement he
hopes to bring will have more staying power if what has been done to make corporate
worship possible is revealed first, “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 Hebrews presence for granted, for
those in this author’s audience, this was a relatively revolutionary idea!
Jesus’ blood is the believer’s ticket 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 passes 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 chartered vessel. Because
God own the boat and Jesus is its captain, anyone Jesus says is clear to board
can do so knowing full well that his/her name appears on the ship’s manifest (having
been invited by the one who matters most). I wouldn’t dream of boarding a
random vessel and would probably be thrown off as so as I did so if I was not
an invited guest of the captain/owner. For the church, God is the owner, Jesus
is the captain of the vessel, and every believer’s ticket has been bought and paid
for. Therefore, all can board with
confidence!
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 purchased our tickets and
invited us on board, He is a mediator and advocate for us (passengers) to God (the
owner). 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 thorough 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
purchase our admittance onto the ship called the church and mediates on our
behalf as the greatest captain before the vessel’s owner, He has clothed us
with righteousness, rendering us suitably dressed for service and celebration
while on board. All of these conditions give believers the ability to answer
the call of corporate worship given in Hebrews 10:22a, 23-24.
II. 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 our trip and mission
aboard God’ vessel is not a solo tour. Instead, it is mission for and by a group—all
the redeemed.
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 (“hold
fast”) 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 (knowing God).
Holding fast the confession of hope identifies the inward direction of worship
(growing in Him), thereby satisfying
the second part of the church’s 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 (upward) and hold fast (inward), they are to be
about the business of spurring each other on to love and good deeds (outward).
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. The Character of
Corporate Worship-10:25
The third component of this passage 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 tragic finale, the author of Hebrews, even 2000 years
ago, understood the vital role encouragement of the saints would be. Friends,
the waves grow larger with every day, the winds blow more fiercely with every
passing season, and the forecast is ominous. Therefore, those on board the vessel
must be about the business of showing up on deck to provide much-needed encouragement.
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.
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