The Scriptures are very full of instruction on worship, although there is much ignorance on the subject among many Christians. For example, some feel that listening to sermons is one of the highest forms of worship. It is quite true that the presentation of truth may lead to worship, but there is a vast difference between the act of worship and listening to the truth. In preaching (assuming that it is God’s truth that is being presented), the servant comes with a message from God to those who listen; in worship, saints are led into the presence of God to present their adoration and praise. The two things are therefore of an entirely different character.
Prayer
Prayer is not worship; a suppliant is not a worshipper. If I go to the king with a petition, I am presented before him in that character, but if I am admitted into his presence to render homage, I am no longer a petitioner. So when I unite with other believers in prayer and intercession, we are before God as those who are seeking special mercies, but when we bow before Him in worship, we give rather than receive. We are before Him wanting nothing, but with full hearts overflowing in adoration at His feet.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is very intimately connected with, although not the essence of, worship, for thanksgiving is the consequence of blessings received, whether in providence or in redemption. The sense of God’s goodness and grace in thus ministering to us, in blessing us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, constrains us to pour out our thanksgivings in His presence. Then, necessarily, we are led to reflect upon the character and attributes of the God who thus delights to surround us with the tokens of His love and care, and consequently thanksgiving passes over into worship.
But in worship, considered in its proper significance, we lose sight of ourselves and our blessings, and we are occupied with what God is in Himself and what He is for us as revealed in Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, we rise above ourselves and contemplate God in all His varied attributes and glories, for while “no man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” (John 1:1818No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)), and, overwhelmed by the display of His holiness, majesty, love, mercy and grace, we cannot but bow at His feet, as we render, in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, the homage of our hearts.
This will be seen more clearly if we turn to the teaching of the Scriptures. The woman of Samaria questioned our Lord as to the place of worship, and in His reply, He went far beyond the limits of her question. “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-2421Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:21‑24)).
No Special Place on Earth
In the first place, our Lord here plainly teaches that there would be henceforth no special place of worship on earth. Jerusalem had been the place where the temple of God had stood, but consequent upon the rejection of Christ, their house, hitherto the house of God, was left unto them desolate (Matt. 23:37-3937O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:37‑39)), and never since that time has there been a material house of God upon earth. The church is now the habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)), and our place of worship is now inside the rent veil, in the immediate presence of God.
Who Can Worship
Second, He tells us who can be worshippers — those who shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, and such the Father was seeking. That is, only believers, whom He would bring into relationship with Himself as His children, could worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Apostle affirms the same thing when he says, “We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit [or, as many read, who worship by the Spirit of God], and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:33For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)) — all evident characteristics of believers. Indeed, as the epistle to the Hebrews teaches (see ch. 10), it is impossible for any to approach God until their sins are gone from His sight, and again, since none but believers have the Spirit of God (see Rom. 8:14-1614For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:14‑16); Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)), none other can worship in spirit or by the Spirit of God.
In Spirit and Truth
Third, the Lord defines the character of worship. It must be “in spirit and in truth.” Now to worship “in spirit” is to worship according to the true nature of God and in the power of that communion which the Spirit of God gives. Spiritual worship is thus in contrast with the forms and ceremonies and all the religiousness of which the flesh is capable. To worship God “in truth” is to worship Him according to the revelation which He has given of Himself. The Samaritans worshipped God neither in spirit nor in truth. The Jews worshipped God in truth, so far as this can be said of a revelation which was imperfect, but in no sense did they worship Him in spirit. To worship God now, both are needful. He is to be worshipped according to the true revelation of Himself (that is, “in truth”) and according to His nature (that is, “in spirit”).
The Person and Work of Christ
But the revelation of God to us is in the Person and connected with the work of Christ, for all that God is has been manifested at the cross. The death of Christ is therefore the foundation of all Christian worship, for it is by the efficacy of His precious blood that we are qualified to enter into the presence of God. Inasmuch as that death is the revelation to us of all that God is — His majesty, holiness, truth, grace and love — it is through the contemplation of that wondrous sacrifice that our hearts, wrought upon by the Spirit of God, are led out in adoration and praise. Thus worship is connected in a very special way with the Lord’s table, because it is when we are gathered around it, as members of the body of Christ, that we show forth His death. To quote once more the words of another, “It is impossible to separate true spiritual worship and communion from the perfect offering of Christ to God. The moment our worship separates itself from its efficacy and the consciousness of that infinite acceptance of Jesus before the Father, it becomes carnal and either a form or simply delight of the flesh.”
The Degeneration of Worship
Wherever the Lord’s table has lost its true character or place, the spring and motive of worship are obscured. Of what are we specially reminded at the table of the Lord? It is His death, and it is in that death we are enabled to see what God is for us and what Christ is to God, as well as the infinite efficacy of His sacrifice in bringing us without spot into God’s immediate presence — in the light as He is in the light. The grace, the eternal love of God, and the grace and the unquenchable love of Christ are alike displayed to our souls, as we remember the One who glorified God in His death on the cross, where He bore our sins, and having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, we bow and worship before God.
E. Dennett, adapted