correlation between faith and the law

  

Since both faith and grace do not make void the law of God, what is the relationship between faith and the law, and grace with the law? The relationship between faith and the law stems way back with Abraham with whom God made a covenant based on faith, as it is written: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Galatians 3:16-18).

So then, since the promise of the inheritance is a covenant God made with Abraham based on faith through his Seed, who is Christ, the law has absolutely nothing to do with one inheriting the kingdom. Nevertheless, the question is asked, “Is the law then against the promises of God?”
Again, the answer is, “Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:21-22).
The lesson that we are learning here is simply this, one cannot inherit the kingdom of God or receive salvation on their own merit by keeping a set of laws, because it is “by the grace of God we all have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
If one could have received salvation and inherit the kingdom of God through their own works by keeping the law, they would have a reason to boast. But the question is asked; “Where is boasting then? It is excluded: By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:27-28).
The real significance of the law is to teach us how to live, and have a relationship with God, and with one another. “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God: Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:19-20).    
Another important thing that should be noted with regards to faith and the law is that, faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. And so the question is asked, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”
“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe --- and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:14-20).  
Without any shadow of doubt, no amount of law keeping and good works can earn anyone salvation or citizenship in the kingdom of God, because it is a promise God made to Abraham through his one Seed, who is Jesus Christ, and the prerequisite is only to believe in Jesus Christ. 
Nevertheless, the promises of God and faith in Jesus Christ did not relegate or relinquish one’s responsibility towards the laws of God, because they are certainly not against the promises of God. In addition to this, the one Seed through whom the promises are obtained, when He came into the world said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).
An important point to note in what Jesus Christ said, is the fact that those who disobey the commandments and teach others to do the same, will not be inhibited from inheriting the kingdom, but unfortunately, they will be regarded as the least in the kingdom of heaven, even though the commandment which has been transgressed is the least of them all. While on the other hand, those who have obeyed even the least of the commandments and teach them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
So then, what exactly is the liberty and freedom that we have received since the advent of Jesus Christ? The freedom and the liberty that we have, is not from keeping the law of God which is holy, just and good, but freedom from the bondage of sin and death. For this is what the scriptures say, “ Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
We therefore are to stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. That bondage which we are not to be entangled with is the bondage of sin and death, and peradventure that we sin, we have the consolation which says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin (transgressing the laws of God). And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).
There is a particular way of life that is compatible to the way God has ordained for humanity and whether one is knowledgeable of it or not, observing them will result in reaping the benefits, and disregarding or violating them will automatically results in paying the consequences, because there is no partiality with God. 
And so we have been instructed saying; "For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel" (Romans 2:12-16). 

The correlation between law and grace

    

Christianity is in a quagmire, all credit to those of us who have assumed the positions of Evangelists, prophets, pastors and teachers, and whom God has gifted to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God  and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. There is no doubt that we all know in part, and we all prophesy in part, but it is  required that each one should use whatever gift/s he/she has received to serve others faithfully, administering God’s grace in its various forms. For example; If anyone speaks, or teaches, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. The dilemma which the body of Christ faces today is all due to lies and half truths, that are being promulgated by those who are entrusted to speak as one who utters oracles of God.

God’s people have a zeal for Him, but unfortunately, they are being destroyed and rip apart because of lack of knowledge. Legalism and liberalism are causing a huge gulf between the body of Christ.
The issue of Law and grace which has become the root causes of legalism and liberalism, should never have existed in the first place, because they are correlated to each other, they simply do not operate simultaneously from the same end, as it is written; “ If salvation [or whatever else for that matter] is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. But if it is of works, it would no longer be of grace; otherwise work would no longer be work” ( Romans 11:6).

Therefore, although grace and law do not function simultaneously from the same end, they are not antagonistic to each other, they rather compliment each other, as illustrated by the apostle Paul who wrote; “For sin shall have no dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not“ (Romans 6:14-15)!

Both law and grace have their rightful place in our lives. Grace did not replace the law and made it redundant , they are two close buddies, each having their specific functions. The function of grace for example, is to provide and make available to man what he could in no way achieved on his own merit; such as, eternal life, salvation, spiritual gifts, liberty, forgiveness of sins, consolation, and immortality. All these were imputed to man as God’s gift to man.

But having received all these things as a gift by grace, it does not make the law of God null and void, because the law, like grace has its specific function. The function of the law is to teach us the way of life that pleases God, and points out to us what sin is. The apostle Paul made this  illustration by saying; “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, you shall not covet” (Romans 7:7).

The apostle Paul said again; “What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law” (Galatians 3: 19-21).

The apostle James also gave an insight on the purpose of the law, by saying; “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).

Grace did not make obsolete the law of God, for Jesus Himself said quite explicitly; “Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass away from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18).

The law with the inclusion of the Sabbath/s were ordained to show man how to live, and it is a sign between God and His people, so that they may know that He is the Lord their God, and the One who makes them holy. It has not been made redundant, because grace demonstrates and expresses God’s love towards man, and the law demonstrates, and expresses man’s love and appreciation towards God.

Grace and law operates simultaneously from opposite ends in a reciprocal mode. Grace provides the downward thrust lavishing and bestowing God’s love upon man. “For when the kindness and the love of God toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Grace therefore demonstrates to us God‘s own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, doing what we could not have done on our own merit (Titus 3:4-7).

The law on the other hand reciprocates by providing the upward thrust, expressing our sincere love, glory and honor to God, in appreciation to what He has done for us in the way that pleases Him, as stipulated in His invitation. For thus says the Lord; “If you love Me keep the commandments.” And the apostle John wrote; “And by this we may be sure that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says “I know Him“ but disobeys His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in Him”  (John 14:14; 1 John 2:3-5).

The correlation between grace and law is comparable to the Sovereign King hosting a lavish banquet for his son. At this banquet which is figurative to God’s grace, the king enjoys the companionship and fellowship of his subjects, and bestows upon them rewards, gifts and blessings.
Attendance to this banquet is by invitation only. The Invitation is figurative to the law on which is inscribed the details and information regarding protocol, such as date, time, location, dress code, and any other pertinent information.

Everyone who receives the invitation is at liberty to attend or not to attend, there is no compulsion as illustrated by the parable of the wedding feast which states; “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, ’Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they paid no attention and went off - one to his field, another to his business” (Matthew 22: 2-5).  

Since one is at liberty to attend, or not to attend the banquet, absenteeism is not regarded as sin,  for sin is not imputed where there is no law. However, absenteeism is a displeasure to both the king and his son, and demonstrates dishonor and ingratitude to the sovereignty of the king, and the sacrificial love of the son. It demonstrates a lack of respect, a lack of appreciation, and dis-loyalty to the king and his son's sovereignty, by giving something or someone else priority over them.

This can also be a provocation to jealousy, and a guilt of idolatry; since the King Who is the sovereign Lord says; “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourselves a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments (honor my invitations).

One can add further insult to injury by dishonoring, and out-rightly rejecting the day and occasion stipulated in the king’s invitation, and chose to designate another day not stipulated in the king’s invitation, to supposedly honor and glorify Him, and to this kind of insult the king says; “When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you, this trampling of My courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense [prayer] is an abomination to Me. The New moon and Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies - I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.’
“Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they have become a burden to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread forth your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

Grace and law are not antagonistic to each other, they function harmoniously together, each operating from it’s designated end. Grace bestowing upon us the love and the blessings of God, and law offers to God our love with grateful thanks, in appreciation of His amazing grace.
Copyright © 2014 by Lucius Joseph
All rights reserved

 

Are we guilty of vain worship (part 4)

 

The irony of truth is, since no one can say “I have no sin” or “I have not sinned:” No one therefore can present him/herself before the Father without a sin offering being offered on his/her behalf. This offering is not offered automatically, but by the individual’s free will. (Leviticus 1:3-4).

The appointed times to offer to God his food, the bread for his offering, his sweet smelling aroma has not been left to chance, or left in limbo as to how often is often, but it is clearly defined as morning and evening for the regular daily thanksgiving offering, on the seventh Day Weekly Sabbath, on the New Moons, and on the annual Festivals which the Lord regards as My Feasts (Read Numbers Chapters 28 and 29).

A common mistake make by most believers is that, they do not realize that forgiveness, and cleansing of sin, are entirely two different processes that are intertwined to each other. It is written; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Understanding spiritual things are not beyond man’s comprehension since, “What may be known about God is plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

If a person who spills milk on the floor brake the glass, begs for forgiveness, and grants forgiveness, negated automatically from cleaning the messy floor? Absolutely not! Without picking up the broken pieces of glass, clean the floor with water and detergent, the floor remains unclean and hazardous. In like manner, confession without the application of the blood of Christ through the cup of the new covenant which Christ instituted on the night before he was led to be crucified, there is no forgiveness.

Also, an offence or a transgression is not resolved simply by acknowledging one’s guilt and confessing to a Lawyer. The matter is resolved only when it is brought before the Magistrate or Judge, where the lawyer intercedes or pleads on behalf of the offender.

In like manner, sins are not forgiven unless Christ intercedes on our behalf. He does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. But like every high priest He is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices on behalf of our sins, and this offering is the bread of God and the cup of the new covenant of His blood which only can satisfies the will of God.

To be continued

with brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we guilty of vain worship (part 3)

 

3. Are we appearing before God without presenting to Him His food for His offerings?

What is of intrinsic importance to know is that, the main objective for having a holy convocation is to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings. For thus says the Lord, "These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day" (Leviticus 23:37).

It is also important to note what the Psalmist wrote in the Psalms saying. “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; bring an offering and come into His courts” (Psalms 96:8).

But what sort of an offering are we suppose to bring to the Lord when presenting ourselves before Him in this New Testament dispensation?

This is what the Lord said to Moses, “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day – a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the Lord by fire” (Exodus 29:38-40).

This pleasing aroma with all its paraphernalia is called the burnt offering. It consists of the Lamb, with its grain and drink offering. The Lamb was figurative to Jesus Christ himself, the grain offering was figurative to the broken body of Jesus Christ in the form of the Unleavened Bread, and the drink offering was figurative to the shed blood of Jesus Christ in the form of the wine. This demonstrates the expression of Christ’s love for us who “Gave Himself up for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God as a sweet smelling aroma” (Ephesians .5:2).

Now, concerning this offering, the Lord said to Moses, “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly (continuously, often) at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by My glory. So I will consecrate the tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.

They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God” (Exodus 29:42-46).

As clearly shown, this offering is the prerequisite, the pass code so to speak, to present ones self before God, before He speaks to His servants, before the place of meeting is consecrated, and before the Lord takes residence among His people.

The Apostle Paul expressed a similar sentiment when he wrote; “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way open for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

In concluding religious directions the apostle Paul gave the following instructions; “The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore” (Hebrews 13:11-13).

This offering is of paramount importance. It is the offering which the High Priest is appointed to offer on behalf of man’s sins, and it is the only offering which can cleanse the worshiper from a guilty conscience, and present him/her holy, blameless, and irreproachable in the sight of God (Hebrews 5:1; 8:3; Colossians 1:14, 22, 1 John 1:7).

This offering is so important to God that He instructed Moses saying; “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them; “ My offering, My food [bread] for My offerings by fire, My pleasing odor, you shall take heed [be careful] to offer to Me at its due season” (Numbers 28:1-2).

Not only can it be confirmed that Jesus Christ is indeed that fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, but Jesus Christ also confirmed the fact that He is the bread of God which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. 

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we guilty of vain worship (part 2)

 

Here are four areas to prove to ones’ self whether or not he/she is worshiping God in vain.

1. Is there any biblical truth to support and validate the day and occasion you appear before God to worship?

Remember, those who worship God must worship him in spirit and truth. For example the Lord says; “When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

Bring no more futile [vain, worthless] sacrifices; incense [prayer] is an abomination to Me, the new moons, the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your [not My]New Moons, and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them, when you spread out your hands, I will hide My face from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

2. Are you appearing before the Lord at His appointed [ordained] times?

The Lord said to Moses; “These are the Feasts of the Lord, holy convocations [sacred assemblies] which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23: 4). Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed [ordained] Feasts of the Lord beginning with the Seventh Day weekly Sabbath, the Passover/Unleavened Bread, First fruits, Feast of Weeks/Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles. (Leviticus 23:1-44).

You may have been deceived or misled in believing that these Festivals were designated only for the Jews, and are not relevant to the Gentiles, but I write and speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what the scriptures say in regards to salvation for the Gentiles.

This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is close at hand and My righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

“Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely exclude me from His people.”

“For this is what the Lord says: To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant – to them I will give within My temple and its walls a memorial and a name better that sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.’

‘And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve Him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to My covenant – these I will bring to My holy mountain [kingdom] and give them joy in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:1-7).

Gentiles are instructed to glorify God together with His people, and not in isolation. They are instructed to, “Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.”

Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to Him, all you peoples” (Romans 15:7-11).

Our God is not a God of confusion. “Jesus Christ is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-18).

It is unequivocally clear that the times which God ordained for sacred assemblies are still in force. The bible is replete with evidences where both Jesus Christ and the apostles kept the seventh Day Sabbath.

The apostle Paul admonished the brethren to celebrate the Feast of the Passover/Unleavened Bread by saying; “Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth”(1 Corinthians  5:7-8).

It is quite evident that the disciples kept the Feast of Pentecost, because it is written; “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1).

The Apostle Paul who, became converted fourteen years after the original apostles also kept the Feast of Pentecost. It is stated that, “Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible by the day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16).

On another occasion Paul said, “I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me” (1 Corinthians 16:8).

Jesus Christ kept the Feast of Tabernacles. It is written: “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37-38).

During the millennium survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will have to go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Those who refuse to keep the Feast will be severely punished. (Zechariah 14:16-19).

Are we guilty of vain worship

 

I pose this question with no malice intent to cause offense or condemnation. I recently came to this realization and conviction through the study of the inspired word of God, and therefore my intent is to provoke the desire for a deeper study of the matter, peradventure the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know how to truly worship Him in spirit and truth.

Let me state from the outset that, the question of vain worship is by no means related to false worship, neither does it pertains to one’s free gift of eternal life and salvation. For as every believer should know, it is by grace we have been saved, through faith – and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We need to stress on these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

One of the good works God prepared in advance for us to do is, to worship Him; that means, coming before Him and expressing our relationship to Him in reverence, gratitude and adoration.

For example it is stated in the Psalms, “Oh come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” (Psalms 95:6-7).

Ascribe to the Lord O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord Glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the Glory due to His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him all the earth” (Psalms 96:7-9,  29:1-2).

It is imperative that the matter of vain worship be thoroughly examined by all true and sincere believers, because the worse indictment which is labeled on those who worship the one and only true God is that of worshiping the true God in vain.

Jesus, quoting from the prophet Isaiah said to the Pharisees, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written; ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men; for laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men.” And He said to them, “You have let go the commandments of God and are holding on to the traditions of men” (Mark 7: 6-9).

True worship in our new dispensation is defined as, “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).

As believers we have been given the prerogative to judge ourselves; for if we judge ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. It is therefore imperative that we all judge ourselves so as to assure ourselves as to whether or not we are worshiping the true God in vain.

Are we distinguishing the difference between the clean and the unclean

 

4. Are you appearing before God without distinguishing the difference between the holy and the profane?

This is the word of the Lord which came to the prophet Isaiah concerning the sins of Jerusalem, “Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them” (Ezekiel 22:26).

Again the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel concerning the house of Israel and said. “O house of Israel let us have no more of all your abominations. When you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary to defile it – my house – and when you offered my food, the fat and the blood, then they broke my covenant because of all your abominations. Thus says the Lord God; ‘No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter my sanctuary, including any foreigner who is among the children of Israel” (Ezekiel 44:7, 9).

The prophet Jeremiah also received a word from the Lord saying, “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the Lord!

‘Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name, and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations?’

‘Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold I, even I, have seen it; says the Lord” (Jeremiah 7:9-1).

In the New Testament, believers are categorized as, “A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special people, in order that they may proclaim the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9).

The Lord’s instruction to this holy nation is, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

For you are the temple of the living God as God has said; I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate says the Lord, do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Christian fellowship is not just among believers, because according to the apostle John, it is also with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, since Christian fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ who is light, and in him there is no darkness at all, anyone who is not walking in the light, and is not prepared or willing to have his/her sins forgiven, and be cleansed by the blood of the New covenant, should not be a part of the fellowship.

For, “If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:6-7).

It takes only a little bit of leaven to leaven the whole dough. It takes only one in the midst of the worshipers whose sins have not been forgiven to corrupt, contaminate and defile the worship service, and cause it to be an abomination before God. This is why the offering we are asked to bring and come into His courts is of such intrinsic importance. It is only through this offering can we worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.

When someone tries to obey the Lord’s command which says, “My offering, my food [bread] for my offerings by fire [zeal], my pleasing odor, you shall take heed to offer to Me in its due season;” others regard this effort as enslavement. But here is what the word of the Lord says; “Thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin [man’s independent nature, doing what seems right in one’s own eyes], you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin [man’s independent nature] and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

In closing I ask the question again, are you guilty of worshiping God in vain? Let the word of God and our conscience Judge us.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Essentials Of Life Ministry Inc.

Email: essentialsoflifeminintry@gmail.com