1. What, briefly, to review or recap what we covered last
winter – spring do we remember the Old Testament [OT] saying about worship?
a. Music and singing: We know from the Books of the Law, the so-called Books of Moses or the Pentateuch, and the Chronicles and Psalms that there were musicians, singers
and even choirs in the worship. However, this appears to have only been in the Tent of Meeting, called the tabernacle, which the Children of Israel carried around with them on their pilgrimage from Egypt to the Promised Land and later, The Temple, which was only in Jerusalem. We also know that the Jews used a ram's horn, brass instruments such as trumpets, cymbals and stringed instruments such as the lyre and harp.
b. Role of priests: The worship was led by the priests who were of the tribe of Levi, hence Levites. This was a hereditary or a family position which was inherited and passed on.
c. Scripture reading: At times in what we might call worship, it also appears that there were readings from at least The Books of Moses, the Law.
d. Giving of offerings: However, perhaps one of the main features of worship was the bringing of offerings and sacrifices, some of which was burned as an offering to God for
everything from thanksgiving, e.g. for the firstfruits of your crop or your firstborn child, to atonement for sins. Some parts of the offerings where kept by the priests for their own consumption.
As we discussed
in our lesson time [Peace Mennonite Church, 2016 12 4], the OT also has many
references to being encouraged to go up to ‘the house of the Lord,’ usually
referring to the Tabernacle in earlier ties and the Temple later on. Often
these passages include invitation to ‘go up the mountain,’ referring to Mount Zion,
the hill on which Jerusalem was built and where the Temples stood. I use the
plural because there were 3 of them over the course of Israel’s history until AD
70 when Rome destroyed the last one.
2. What does the New Testament say about Worship, in terms of both manner and place? More to the point, what does the NT say that either
adds to or changes OT ideas of worship?
I looked up words
like ‘worship,’ ‘prayer,’ ‘music,’ ‘psalms,’ ‘singing’ and ‘hymn.’ Besides what
that turned up, we know that there are a number of passages in the NT that Bible
scholars believe may be from early hymns and benedictions. However, I found
that may of the last were more what I would call greetings and salutations,
even farewells, as at the beginnings and endings of many of the letters in the
New Testament. We will examine all of these. Then, at the end, we will draw together our findings with some description of what worship is and should be.
The Gospels
a. When Jesus was born, worship still included fasting and prayer:
Luke 2:37 She (referring
to Anna
the prophetess who
saw Jesus
when Joseph
and
Mary
brought
him to the
Temple for
his dedication) had
lived as
a widow
since then
for eighty-four years.
She never
left the
temple, worshiping with
fasting and
prayer night
and day.
b.
It
also included
worshiping at
the Jewish feasts:
John: 12:20 Now some
Greeks were
among those
who had
gone up
to (to
the
temple in
Jerusalem) worship
at the
feast.
c.
The
women who
discovered the
empty tomb
after the
resurrection worshiped
Jesus when
they met
him. This
is adoration:
Matthew 28:9 But Jesus met
them, saying,
“Greetings!” They came
to him,
held on
to his
feet and
worshiped him.
d. It also included giving gifts:
Matthew 2:1 After
Jesus was
born in
Bethlehem in
Judea, in
the time
of King Herod, wise
men from
the East
came to
Jerusalem 2:2 saying, “Where
is the
one who
is born
king of
the
Jews? For
we saw
his star
when it
rose and
have come
to worship
him.”
2:11 As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
e.
Jesus indicates early in his ministry, whom alone we are to worship. When tempted by the devil in the desert, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him,’” in Matthew 4:10.
f.
Then
there is
the well-known discussion with
the woman
of Samaria
at the
well of
Jacob,
where Jesus indicates place is not
important but spirit is:
John 4:19 The woman
said to
him, “Sir,
I see
that you
are a
prophet. 4:20 Our fathers
worshiped on
this mountain,
and you
people say
that the
place where
people must
worship is
in Jerusalem.”
4:21
Jesus said
to her,
“Believe me, woman,
a time
is coming
when you
will worship
the Father
neither on
this mountain
nor in
Jerusalem. 4:22 You people
worship what
you do
not know.
We worship
what we
know, because
salvation is
from the
Jews. 4:23 But a
time is
coming – and
now is
here – when
the true
worshipers will
worship the
Father in
spirit and
truth, for
the Father
seeks such
people to
be his
worshipers. 4:24 God is
spirit, and
the people
who worship
him must
worship in
spirit and
truth.”
Here
Jesus makes a couple of key pronouncements. First, he says that there will come
a time when worship will neither occur on Mount Gerizim, which the Samaritan
woman was referring to, or in Jerusalem. The second important thing he states
is that true worshipers will worship in
spirit and truth. Both of these statements taken together suggest that one
can worship anywhere, as long as one is in the right spirit in terms of one's
relationship with God.
g.
Jesus'
disciples worshiped him when they
recognized him
as the
Son of
God after
he came
to them
in the
night walking
on the
water:
Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” This indicates that
worship can be inspired by recognition of the presence of Jesus, or even God or
the Holy Spirit, as well as significant acts that demonstrate God's power.
Likewise, a man
who has healed from his blindness worshipped Jesus: John 9:38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Indeed, we can find many references in the New Testament
to where people praised God, references to individuals being healed and the
observing crowds around them worshipping God and Jesus in gratitude in response
to healing, deliverance from evil spirits and raising from the dead, e.g.,
Matthew 15:31 As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the
mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing,
and they praised the God of Israel.
Similarly, the disciples also worshiped Jesus after his ascension:
Luke 24:52 So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 24:53
and were continually in the temple courts blessing God.
h.
Futile worship: Jesus quoted Isaiah 29:13 in Matthew 15:9, when he rebuked the Pharisees for worshiping, or thinking they were doing so, when they were "teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men." In other words, if your lives don't match your words, including your professed actions of worship, it is useless to worship.
i.
References to
music or singing in worship in the
gospels are few. We often remember, probably because we hear this passage every
Easter, Matthew 26:30: After
singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
A number of NT passages lend themselves to speculation
that they might be, have come from hymns, or have been made into hymns. Among
these are:
a.
From Jesus’ Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem: Mark 11:9 Both those who went ahead and those who followed kept
shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 11:10
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in the highest!”
b.
Mary’s hymn
regarding her coming child in Luke:
1:46 And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
1:49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his
name;
1:50 from generation to generation he is
merciful to those who fear him.
1:51 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose
pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up
those of lowly position;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away
empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
1:55 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants
forever.”
1:56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to
her home.
c.
Zechariah’s song
about his new son’s role:
Luke: 1:67 Then his
father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
because he has come to help and has redeemed his
people.
1:69 For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his
servant David,
1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,
1:71 that we should be saved from our enemies,
and from the hand of all who hate us.
1:72 He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant –
1:73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.
This oath grants
1:74 that
we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
may serve him without fear,
1:75 in
holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.
1:76 And you, child, will be called the
prophet of the Most High.
For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
1:77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of
their sins.
1:78 Because of our God’s tender mercy
the dawn will break upon us from on high
1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
d.
There is the song
of the angels at Jesus’ birth:
Luke: 2:13 Suddenly a
vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
2:14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among people with whom he is
pleased!”
e.
Simeon’s praise
when seeing Jesus in the temple:
Luke: 2:28 Simeon took
him in his arms and blessed God, saying,
2:29 “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to
depart in peace.
2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation
2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
2:32 a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people
Israel.”
f.
Some even say the
Apostle John’s lyrical prologue might be in part based on hymns, as in
John: 1:1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 1:2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 1:3 All things were
created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been
created. 1:4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind. 1:5 And the light
shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
And: 1:10 He was in the
world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. 1:11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him.
Or: 1:14 Now the Word
became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of
the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
j.
If we think about
worship as prayer, we know that
Jesus prayed in many circumstances. If he, as the son of God, felt it necessary
to do this, giving us an example of what we ought to
do, how much more ought we, as mere humans, to pray.
Luke 4:42 4:42 The next morning Jesus departed and went to a
deserted place. 5:16 Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. 6:12 Now
it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he
spent all night in prayer to God.
It is noteworthy that Jesus seemed to do this particularly
after expending a lot of energy teaching and healing, or before some
significant event, such as calling and commissioning the disciples, which
follows this last reference. The most notable example of this of course is when
he agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest and
crucifixion.
Indeed, along this line we have the example of Jesus
rebuking the disciples when they could not cast out an evil spirit, suggesting
they had not been spending enough time in prayer to arm themselves for these
demands Mk 9:28-9.
Of course, too, we know that Jesus also taught his disciples how to pray, as
recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4, the so-called Lord’s Prayer.
He also had advice
on praying: Matthew 6: 5-8 – doing so in private, not for show and with few
words. Jesus also talked of asking for things, persisting in prayer, as in Matt. 7:7-11, 11:5-13 and the parable
of the persistent widow Luke 18:1-8.
In Matt. 9:38 Jesus tells his disciples to pray for workers for the harvest.
Jesus also demonstrated the practice of praying before meals, as when he fed the
multitudes Matt14:19 and 15:36. He also did so at the ‘Last Supper’ Luke 22:17.
Indeed, this custom seemed so typical of him that it was what made some
disciples recognize him at Emmaus after the resurrection Luke 24:30 When he had taken his place at the table with them,
he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 24:31 At this point
their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” It is significant that even as
the risen Lord, Jesus still saw fit to continue the practice of ‘saying grace.’
The Apostles:
a. On more than one occasion when they were witnessing,
the Apostles had to remind people not to worship them as mere humans:
Acts: 10:25 So when Peter came in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. 10:26 But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too
am a mere
mortal.”
Then we have the experience that
Paul and Barnabas had on their missionary journey to Lystra as described in
Acts 14: 14:12 They began to call Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes,
because he was the chief speaker. 14:13 The priest of
the temple of Zeus, located just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands
to the city gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about
it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 14:15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men,
with human natures just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so
that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made
the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. 14:16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go
their own ways, 14:17 yet he did not leave himself without a witness by
doing good, by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you
with food and your hearts with joy.” 14:18 Even by
saying these things, they scarcely persuaded the crowds not to offer sacrifice
to them.
b. An example of telling people where they were mistaken in their worship was when Paul was in Athens:
Acts
17:23 For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore, what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you. 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, 17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. 17:26 From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, 17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 17:28 For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ 17:29 So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination.
c. Another reference to worship is where the Jews, in this case in Corinth, were obviously picking up that the Christian worship was changing from theirs:
The deacon Stephen, in the speech before he was stoned
also said: Acts: 7:44 Our ancestors had the tabernacle of testimony in the
wilderness, just as God who spoke to Moses ordered him to make it according to
the design he had seen. 7:45 Our ancestors received possession of it and brought
it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before
our ancestors, until the time of David. 7:46 He found favor
with God and asked that he could find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. 7:47 But Solomon built a house for him. 7:48 Yet the
Most High does not live in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says,
7:49 ‘Heaven is my
throne, and earth is the footstool for my feet.
What
kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is my resting
place?
7:50 Did my hand not
make all these things?’
In
Acts 18:13 it is Paul the Jews are accusing, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God in a way
contrary to the law!”
Again, when Paul is making his defense before Gov. Felix, he talks about whom he worships and how (according to
The Way) and why:
Acts 24:14 But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets. 24:15 I have
a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
At the same time, when Paul is speaking of the benefits of being a Jew,
he says the following, listing the blessings given to them which include worship:
Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed – cut off from Christ – for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen, 9:4 who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.
In Philippians, he talks about who are the true Jews now in connection to worship:
3:3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials.
Later, also in Hebrews, the writer again compares worship under the old covenant with the new:
Indeed, the writer to the Hebrews also talks at length of the
inferiority of both the tabernacle and the temple: Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling,
take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess, 3:2 who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in
God’s house. 3:3 For he has come to deserve greater glory than Moses,
just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself! 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is
God. 3:5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a
servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken. 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. We are of his house,
if in fact we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope we take pride in.
9:1 Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary. 9:2 For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. 9:3 And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. 9:4 It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod
that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 9:5 And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail. 9:6 So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. 9:7 But only the high priest enters once a year
into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 9:8 The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing. 9:9 This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. 9:10 They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came…
9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.
Then, there is also this passage:
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands
– the representation of the true sanctuary – but into heaven itself, and he
appears now in God’s presence for us. 9:25 And he did not
enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the
sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, 9:26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the
foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the
consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.
10:1 For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship. 10:2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? 10:3 But in those sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins year after year. 10:4 For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. 10:5 So when he came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.
10:6 “Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.
10:7 “Then I said, ‘Here I am: I have come – it is written of me in the scroll of the book – to do your will, O God.’”
10:8 When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them” (which are offered according to the law), 10:9 then he says, “Here I am:
I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first to establish the second. 10:10 By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 10:11 And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins. 10:12 But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, 10:13 where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. 10:14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.
Hebrews 12:28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.
In a similar vein, harking back
to Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman, Paul writes of proper worship
in:
Philippians: 3:3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of
God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials
d. Another indication of
whom it is proper to worship or not is found
in Revelation, where an Angel tells John not to worship him:
19:10 So I threw myself down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “Do not do this! I am
only a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
And again:
22:8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw them, I threw myself down to worship at the feet of the angel who was showing them to me. 22:9 But he said to me, “Do not do this! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. Worship God!”
In fact, in Colossians, Paul appears to speak against the worship of angels:
2:18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you.
In Second Thessalonians, he also warns apparent against worshiping Satan:
2:4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God.
The writer of The Hebrews speaks of the angels in fact, rather than being the objects of worship, being adjoined to worship Jesus at his birth, indicating that that is appropriately it and even command of
God:
1:6 But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him!”
e. In Corinthians, Paul talks about worship in the context of prophesying, including a reference to ‘song’:
Corinthians 14:25 The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.” 14:26 What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When
you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a
tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening
of the church.
f. References to music
and singing are few in the writing of the Apostles and the Letters. We know
from the Matthew quote above and Acts that Jesus and the Apostles did sing:
Acts: 16:25 About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of
the prisoners were listening to them.
Another quote from I Corinthians 14:26 tells us that
singing was part of worship: 14:26 What should
you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song,
has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all
these things be done for the strengthening of the church.
Another quote is from Paul in Ephesians: 5:18 And
do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, 5:19 speaking
to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music
in your hearts to the Lord, 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Also, in Colossians: 3:14-16 And
to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. 3:15 Let
the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as
one body to this peace), and be thankful Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 3:17 And
whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Then, in James we read: 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good
spirits? He should sing praises.
The reference to praising God in the temple in Acts
might point to singing as well:
2:46 Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the
temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad
and humble hearts, 2:47 praising God and having the good will of all the
people.
Then again, there are other passages that bible
students believe might have been hymns, come from hymns or have later become
hymns:
Romans: 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all
things. To him be glory forever! Amen.
I
Corinthians: 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the
weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
I Corinthans 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom
are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom
are all things and through whom we live.
All
of I Cor. chapter
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of
men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging
cymbal. 13:2 And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and
all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do
not have love, I am nothing. 13:3 If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order
to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.
13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious.
Love does not brag; it is not puffed up. 13:5 It is not
rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. 13:6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. 13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things.
13:8 Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they
will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is
knowledge, it will be set aside. 13:9 For we know in
part, and we prophesy in part, 13:10 but when what
is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. 13:11 When I was a
child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. 13:12 For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we
will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as
I have been fully known. 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
Ephesians: 5:14 For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
I Timothy 3:16 And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation:
He was revealed in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among Gentiles,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
II Timothy 2:11 This saying is trustworthy:
If we died with him, we will also live with him.
2:12 If
we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we deny him, he will also deny us.
2:13 If
we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.
Titus 3:4 But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind
appeared, 3:5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we
have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth
and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 3:6 whom he poured
out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. 3:7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs
with the confident expectation of eternal life.”
Hebrews 1:1 After God spoke long ago in various portions and in
various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, 1:2 in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed
heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. 1:3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his
essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had
accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty
on high.
Hebrews 2:12 saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in
the midst of the assembly I will praise you.” 2:13 Again he says,
“I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am, with the children God has
given me.” 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and
blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could
destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), 2:15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their
fear of death. 2:16 For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is
concerned for Abraham’s descendants. 2:17 Therefore he
had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could
become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make
atonement for the sins of the people.
I Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving
an example for you to follow in his steps.
2:22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his
mouth. 2:23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he
suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges
justly. 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you
were healed. 2:25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have
turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Some also include in this
speculation the great Christological
passages:
Ephesians: 1:3 Blessed
is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 1:4 For
he chose us in Christ before the
foundation of the world that we
may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. 1:5 He did this
by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to
the pleasure of his will – 1:6 to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has
freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son. 1:7 In him we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to
the riches of his grace 1:8 that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. 1:9 He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according
to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 1:10 toward the
administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ –
the things in heaven and the things on earth. 1:11 In Christ
we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined
according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to
the counsel of his will 1:12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on
Christ, would be to the praise of his glory. 1:13 And when you
heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in
Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, 1:14 who
is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own
possession, to the praise of his glory.
Philippians: 2:5 You
should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
2:6 who though he existed in the form of God did not
regard equality with God as something to be grasped,
2:7 but
emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and
by sharing in human nature.
2:8 He
humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a
cross!
2:9 As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every
name,
2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on
earth and under the earth –
2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God
the Father.
Colossians: 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
over all creation,
1:16 for
all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether
visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or
powers – all things were created through him and for him.
1:17 He
himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.
1:18 He
is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn
from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.
1:19 For
God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son
1:20 and
through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the
blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
g. There are also the benediction passages that could be hymnal:
Acts 20:32 And
now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is
able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are
sanctified."
Romans
1:7 “Grace and peace to
you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Rom. 8:38-39 -
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things
present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Rom. 11:33, 36 -
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him
and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God. Romans 12:2
Rom. 15:5-6 -
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony
with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one
voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom. 15:13 -
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by
the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Rom. 15:33“The God of peace be with you
all. Amen.”
Rom. 16:20 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
I
Corinthians 1:3-6 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ. I give thanks to my God always for
you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in
every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every
kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- "
I Cor. 1:9 "God is faithful; by him you
were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
1
Corinthians 2:16 "‘For who has
known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of
Christ."
1 Corinthians 3:16, "Do you not know that you are God's
temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
21-23...all things are yours, whether (of) ...
life or death or the present or the future--all belong to you, and you belong to
Christ, and Christ belongs to God."
1
Cor. 8:6 "...yet for us there is
one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one
Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we
exist."
1 Cor. 15:58 -
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
I Cor. 16:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus
be with you.
II Cor. 1:2-5 Grace to
you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us
in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any
affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our
consolation is abundant through Christ."
II Corinthians 9:8 God is able to make
all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good work.
II
Corinthians 4:6 "For it is the
God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ."
II
Corinthians 7:1 "Since we
have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement
of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in
the fear of God."
II Cor. 9:15 Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift!
II Cor. 13:11 -
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree
with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with
you.
II Cor. 13:14 -
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Galatians 1:2-5 …and all the brethren who
are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He
might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God
and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
Galatians 6:15-16 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts
for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! 6:16 And all who will behave in
accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of
God.
Gal. 6:18 -
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Ephesians 1:1-2 And those who will walk by
this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Grace to
you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 3:17-19 -
(May) Christ dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and
grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is
the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ
that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Eph. 3:16-21 - I pray
that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his
Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have
power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and
deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Amen.
Eph. 6:23-24 –
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love
incorruptible.
Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians
2:3-5 "Do nothing from selfish
ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,"
Philippians
2:12-13 "Therefore, my beloved,
just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now
in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is
God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good
pleasure."
Philippians
2:16-17"It is by your holding
fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not
run in vain or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a libation
over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with
all of you--"
Phil. 4:7 -
(May) the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians
4.23 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Colossians 3:15 –
17 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were
called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And
whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now may our God and
Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the
Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do
for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our
God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Th.
5:23-24 - Now may the God of peace himself
sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful;
he will surely do it.
II Th. 2:16-17 -
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and
gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and
establish them in every good work and word.
II Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's
love and Christ's perseverance.
II Thess. 3:16 “Now may the Lord of Peace
himself give you peace at all times and in every way. the Lord be with all of
you.”
II Thess. 3:18 "The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with all of you."
I
Timothy 1:2 “Grace,
mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I Timothy 1:17 Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor
and glory forever and ever! Amen.
I Tim.
6:14 to obey this command without fault or failure until
the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 6:15 – who’s
appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
will reveal at the right time. 6:16 He alone
possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever
seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.
I Tim. 6:21 Grace be with you.
II
Timothy 4:22 “The Lord
be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”
Titus 3:15b "Grace be with all of you."
Philemon 6- 8 "I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when
you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received
much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints
have been refreshed through you, my brother. "I have indeed received much
joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have
been refreshed through you, my brother. For this reason, though I am bold
enough in Christ to command you to do your duty,"
Philem. 25 -
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Hebrews 6:18-20 "so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is
impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be
strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure
and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind
the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having
become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
Heb.
13:20-21 - Now may the God of peace who brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the
blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do
his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus
Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Heb. 13:25 Grace be with all of you.
I Peter 1:1-3
according
to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit,
for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and
peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1
Peter 1:5-9 [Now unto you] "who
are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little
while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your
faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may
be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see
him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your
souls."
1
Peter 1:13 "Therefore prepare
your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace
that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed."
1
Peter 1:14-19 "Like obedient
children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in
ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all
your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ If you
invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their
deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you
were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with
perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ,
like that of a lamb without defect or blemish."
I Peter 5:10-11 "the God of all grace, who
has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm,
strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
I Pet.
5:14 “Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”
II Peter 1:2,3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you
through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine
power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
II Peter
1:8 For if these things are yours
and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
II Pet. 3:18 -
(May you) grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 John 1:3 -
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus
Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
Jude
1:2
"May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance."
1:20-21 Beloved,
building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life.
Jude 1:24-25 -
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless
before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority,
before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Revelation
1:4-5 “Grace and peace
to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven
spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
the first born from the dead, and the rulers of the kings of the earth.”
Rev. 1:5b-6 -
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a
kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever
and ever. Amen.
Rev. 22:20-21 -
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come,
Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
g. Perhaps no other book in the New Testament gives us a glimpse of worship, particularly in eternity, as Revelation. It contains so many hymns,
sung by various representatives of the heavenly realm.
Examples include:
4:8 Each
one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around
and inside. They never rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful,
Who was and who is, and who is still to come!”
4:10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying:
4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
since you created all things,
and because of your will they existed and were created!”
5:9 They were singing a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals
because you were killed,
and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God
persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
5:10 You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand – thousands times thousands – 5:12 all of whom were singing in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the lamb who was killed
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and praise!”
5:13 Then I heard every creature – in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them – singing:
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!”
Verses 12-13 have also been called a benediction
passage for the church.
5:14 And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.
7:9 After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count,
made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. 7:10 They were shouting out in a loud
voice,
“Salvation belongs to our God,
to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
7:11 And all the angels stood there in a circle around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground before the throne and worshiped God, 7:12 saying,
“Amen! Praise and glory,
and wisdom and thanksgiving,
and honor and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
This last verse has also been called a benediction
passage for the church.
11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying:
“The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord
and of his Christ,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
11:16 Then the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and worshiped God 11:17 with these words:
“We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful,
the one who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
11:18 The nations were enraged,
but your wrath has come,
and the time has come for the dead to be judged,
and the time has come to give to your servants,
the prophets, their reward,
as well as to the saints
and to those who revere your name, both small and great,
and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
11:19 Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,
“The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
the one who accuses them day and night before our God,
has been thrown down.
12:11 But they overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
12:12 Therefore
you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea
because the devil has come down to you!
He is filled with terrible anger,
for he knows that he only has a little time!”
14:6 Then I saw
another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 14:7 He declared in a loud
voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!”
15:2 Then I saw
something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God. 15:3 They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and astounding are your deeds,
Lord God, the All-Powerful!
Just and true are your ways,
King over the nations!
15:4 Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and glorify your name, because you alone are holy?
All nations will come and worship before you
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
16:5 Now I heard the angel of the waters saying:
“You are just – the one who is and who was,
the Holy One – because you have passed these judgments,
16:6 because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets,
so you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!”
16:7 Then I heard the altar reply, “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!”
19:1 After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast
throng in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
19:2 because his judgments are true and just.
For he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality,
and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!”
19:3 Then a second time the crowd shouted, “Hallelujah!” The smoke rises from her forever and ever. 19:4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: “Amen! Hallelujah!”
19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
“Praise our God
all you his servants,
and all you who fear Him,
both
the small and the great!”
19:6 Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns!
19:7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him glory,
because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
19:8 She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen” (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).
19:9 Then the angel said to me, “Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Then, John appears to be writing about the earthly Jerusalem:
11:1 Then a measuring rod like a staff was given to me, and I was
told, “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there.
Then, there are among the final words of Revelation where this is written:
21:1 “Then I saw
a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. 21:2 And I saw
the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist anymore – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.”
21:5 And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am
making all things new!” Then he said to me, “Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.” 21:6 He also said to me, “It is done! I am
the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of life. 21:7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will
be his God and he will be my son.”
So, if we look at
all this, what can we say are the
elements of worship? I think we can summarize them nicely as follows:
i. Praise – song and music, even spoken word,
individual and corporate
3. Preaching – reading scripture, individually
and corporately, and the proclamation of messages or sermons could all be
included here.
4. Prayer – private and public, individual
and corporate, audible and silent; of praise, thanksgiving and supplication or
request. This can also include listening for God to speak to us.
5. Penitence – this would include
confession and repentance. Sacrifices made in the Old Testament were to obtain
atonement, having one’s sins forgiven. Now we do this mainly through prayer.
6. Presents – not the best word for giving, or
receiving the offering as we often refer to it. However, it is a ‘p!’ We do offer presents or
gifts to God, sometimes of a sacrificial nature, although no longer burnt offering
‘presents’ as in the old Testament.
We also spoke of what
worship really is. Even looking at a thesaurus
to get synonyms or words similar to ‘worship’
gives us clues and more. It refers to: adoration, reverence, respect, devotion,
adulation and veneration and prayer. Indeed, worship as we have come to
understand it includes all of those things.
We come together in
respect and reverence to express our praise, our adoration, our adulation to
and for God, who He is and what He does. We come apart from the din and
distraction of our everyday world to take a time apart to do this.
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