Proper Worship of Our God
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 1/31/2016 AM |
Text: | Habakkuk 2:18-20; Lord's Day 35 |
Psalters: | 17, 307, 32, 375 |
- The concept.
- The Reformed churches prohibit images of God from three perspectives.
- One, the use of images of God is an incomplete break from paganism, and almost inevitably leads to outright idolatry.
- Two, what God has revealed of Himself in Scripture is sufficient for a vibrant religious life for His people.
- Three, God’s attribute of spirituality implies that any attempt to portray Him visibly will misrepresent Him.
- However, let us realize that though God is spirit, Scripture gives us the hope of seeing Him because of divine revelation.
- There are Scripture promises that God will be seen by His people (Ps. 17:15; 27:4; John 14:9; Heb. 12:14; Ex. 33:18,22).
- It seems that in heaven we will see Him in the face of Jesus: I John 3:2.
- The Reformed churches prohibit images of God from three perspectives.
- God requires that He be worshiped, loved, and thanked accurately, i.e., as He has revealed Himself.
- God gives a revelation of Himself to all men in creation (Rom. 1:18,20) and puts the work of the law in them (Rom. 2:14,15).
- But natural man is able only to know about (not "know") God (I Cor. 2:14; Rom. 1:18b, 21-23).
- God further reveals Himself in His Word and in the preaching of His Word (I Cor. 1:21).
- This commandment establishes the "regulative principle" of worship.
- He determines how man will serve Him, so we include in worship only what God commands.
- The characteristics of public worship are: spirituality, simplicity, solemnity, orderliness, and stability (I Cor. 14:33,40).
- God gives a revelation of Himself to all men in creation (Rom. 1:18,20) and puts the work of the law in them (Rom. 2:14,15).
- The commandment gives powerful motivations and encouragements to obey Him.
- First, God declares Himself to be angry with those who don’t worship Him as He commands, declaring that they hate Him.
- Second, God declares that disobedience to this command bears fruit on our children.
- God promises to show His mercy on those who serve Him as He commands, thus encouraging obedience.