What is God's prerequisite for worship? What comes before worship that makes worship meaningful? It might be helpful to restate that question in a larger context. What does God look for first and foremost in every human being? Is it faith? Obviously faith is essential but something else comes before faith in order for faith to be sincere. Consider Isaiah 66:1-2: "Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." So God tells us plainly: build the biggest, most ornate church you can, what is that to me? Show up for worship in the most expensive suit you can buy, what do I care about that? I created all of those things. Then God tells us his prerequisite for worship, what he looks for first and foremost in every human being. "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." Notice that it's not a laundry list of things like faith or love or patience. Those are requirements for every Christian, but God says it all starts with one thing: our attitude (that is, our heart). Propriety in worship (and in life) begins with a humble and contrite spirit.
In response to that statement someone might say: "I'm a good person. Why should I be humble and contrite?" The concept of being a "good person" is a popular myth invented by men, a way of looking at ourselves through rose colored glasses. 1 John 1:8-10: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." So anyone who claims to be a "good person" is just fooling themselves. The Scriptures are clear: other than Jesus there is no such thing as a good person. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Sin is the great equalizer. We're all sinners, from the most devout God fearing Christian to the murderer on death row, and therefore ultimately only the Lord's blood has the power to justify us before God. Not that works are unnecessary or irrelevant, but they are never sufficient to cleanse us of sin.
Consider the example of King David and you can see why God said David was a man after his own heart. When the prophet Nathan confronted him about Bathsheba, rather than denying his guilt or making excuses, he wrote these words: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment." (Psalm 51:1-4) He also understood what God required of him, and it wasn't something external or physical. Psalm 51:16-17: "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
"For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me." When we look at ourselves objectively and consider our complete lack of merit before God, those words should be the first ones that come to mind. Boasting and arrogance are incompatible with Christianity. Visualize the Lord, the perfect Lamb of God, bearing the sins of the world on the cross. In the face of that, who would have the nerve to boast about their own accomplishments? Or how could they make a valid argument for their own moral superiority? As Paul writes in Galatians 6:14: "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." If you're here tonight, whether you're a Christian or not, you're a sinner, and the only thing that can justify any sinner before God is the blood of Jesus Christ. If you're not a Christian, come forward, repent of your sins, confess your faith, and be baptized into Christ tonight, and God will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. If you are a Christian and you've gone astray or you're struggling with some burden in life, the invitation is extended to you as well. No matter who you are, no matter what you've done, come forward with a broken and contrite heart and God will not turn you away. Come as we stand and sing.
In response to that statement someone might say: "I'm a good person. Why should I be humble and contrite?" The concept of being a "good person" is a popular myth invented by men, a way of looking at ourselves through rose colored glasses. 1 John 1:8-10: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." So anyone who claims to be a "good person" is just fooling themselves. The Scriptures are clear: other than Jesus there is no such thing as a good person. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Sin is the great equalizer. We're all sinners, from the most devout God fearing Christian to the murderer on death row, and therefore ultimately only the Lord's blood has the power to justify us before God. Not that works are unnecessary or irrelevant, but they are never sufficient to cleanse us of sin.
Consider the example of King David and you can see why God said David was a man after his own heart. When the prophet Nathan confronted him about Bathsheba, rather than denying his guilt or making excuses, he wrote these words: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment." (Psalm 51:1-4) He also understood what God required of him, and it wasn't something external or physical. Psalm 51:16-17: "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
"For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me." When we look at ourselves objectively and consider our complete lack of merit before God, those words should be the first ones that come to mind. Boasting and arrogance are incompatible with Christianity. Visualize the Lord, the perfect Lamb of God, bearing the sins of the world on the cross. In the face of that, who would have the nerve to boast about their own accomplishments? Or how could they make a valid argument for their own moral superiority? As Paul writes in Galatians 6:14: "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." If you're here tonight, whether you're a Christian or not, you're a sinner, and the only thing that can justify any sinner before God is the blood of Jesus Christ. If you're not a Christian, come forward, repent of your sins, confess your faith, and be baptized into Christ tonight, and God will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. If you are a Christian and you've gone astray or you're struggling with some burden in life, the invitation is extended to you as well. No matter who you are, no matter what you've done, come forward with a broken and contrite heart and God will not turn you away. Come as we stand and sing.
