How the Gospel Affects Worship

                This morning’s emphasis in the worship service was on the gospel of Jesus Christ and its implications for worship. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul refers to the gospel (Christ died, was buried, and resurrected) as being that of “first importance.” Have you ever stopped to think that if it were not for the gospel we would have no desire to worship and no means to worship?

                As human beings we have no inclination whatsoever to worship God. Yes we are creatures designed to be worshipers, but we naturally turn our worship to those things that are created rather than to the Creator (Romans 1). We naturally desire to worship anything but God. The gospel places those who believe in Christ. Since we (as believers) are in Christ and therefore are made partakers of the promise (Galatians 3) our passions and desires have been changed. According to Romans 6:6-7 the “old self was crucified with him (Christ) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” Therefore, Galatians 5:24 says, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  We are free from sin! Not only have we died to the body of sin, but we have also been risen to a new life. Romans 6:5 says, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” We have died to sin and have become alive to God! We have new passions and new desires given us by the power of God living in us which is the Holy Spirit. With these new desires comes a new found desire to worship the one, true Creator God! This new life allows the psalmist to say, “Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!”

                Not only does the gospel give us the desire to worship God, but it also gives us the means with which to worship God. 2 Timothy, chapter 2 tells us that “there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” We, as sinful beings, cannot enter the presence of God on our own. Our sin prevents us from even approaching the God of the universe with any kind of offering. But it is through that same crucifixion of the old man and the resurrection of the new man that allows us to enter the presence of our God. Since believers are now found in Christ we have bold access into the very presence of God. Not bold as in proud or self-confident, but rather bold in the sense that we do not have to tremble in fear because of our sin. Our sin has been taken away through Christ on the cross and now when God looks at us he sees the righteousness of Christ. It is through Christ that we can offer praise and worship to God.

                I pray that we never forget that our worship ought always to be gospel focused. This is not only the worship that occurs on Sunday mornings although this time of worship is by no means excluded. Rather, this includes all of our worship whether it is our own private devotional time or the work that we do during the week. All these things can be acts of worship if we do them for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). May our worship be always gospel centered.

Quote from Vaughn Roberts

"If music could take us into God's presense, God would have sent us a musician rather than a Savior."

It is not through music that we are ushered into the presense of God. It is only through the shed blood of Christ that we are brought near to God.

Yes, music can be used as a tool in our worship, but we must be careful that we do not give our music inappropriate esteem. Music can be used as a means of worship, but it is not the only means. Worship can happen in simple quiet meditation, scripture reading, washing the dishes, shoveling the sidewalk, playing the guitar, or any other daily activity that we do. These activities, if done according to 1 Corinthians 10:31, are all acts of worship.

"...I will sing with my mind..." (1 Corinthians 14:15)

Music has a profound affect on a person. Through it one can be moved in their spirit and in their emotions. Music is something that everyone can, and does, participate in even if one is simply a listener. Music touches us all.

Music is an important part of our coporate worship today as it was back in the days that the Children of Israel worshiped God in the Tabernacle. Throughout the Old Testament we read of God's people worshiping Him through songs and music of praise. The Psalms are a collection of songs that were often sung by the Israelites in praise to God. Today you can hardly find a church service anywhere that does not have a time dedicated to singing.

In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul makes one simple statement concerning music. This statement comes in the midst of his teaching on the topic of the use of tongues in the chruch. Paul sums up his teaching with two phrases; "Let all things be done for building up" (vs. 26) and "...all things should be done decently and in order." These two statements not only refer to the use of tongues within the church, but to all aspects of coporate worship. That includes our singing. Looking back at verse 15 Paul writes, "I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also." Paul's emphasis on the use of the "mind" in our singing implies that the content of our singing is important. Our songs are not to be filled with pithy lyrics that have no solid theological content. This is the focus I want to have with this blog. I want to look at the songs that we sing and evaluate them from a biblical perspective, seeking to draw out the biblical truths from their lyrics.

I hope and pray that this blog will be one more way in which the body of Christ can be edified and built up.