In my last posting we looked at the great sin of King Jeroboam, the King of the northern kingdom of Israel.  Desperate to prevent his people from worshiping God in Jerusalem and defecting to the southern kingdom of Judah, King Jeroboam setup golden calves in strategic places of worship (Dan and Bethel) to provide alternate places for Israel to worship.  This was very displeasing to the Lord and the fame of Jeroboam’s sin would eventually be the measuring rod for the behavior of the kings that followed. 

One of the kings who followed Jeroboam in the sin of idolatry was King Ahab.  At the time King Ahab ascended to the throne, he led the kingdom of Israel  even further down the precipitous slope of idolatry.  Not only did he follow in Jeroboam’s sin continuing the idolatrous worship of the golden calves, but he also married Jezebel, a pagan princess, who brought Baal temple worship into the land of Israel.  So egregious was his behavior that the Bible tells us that Ahab provoked the Lord to anger more that “all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:30-33). 

Because of King Ahab’s idolatry, the Lord sent Elijah to confront Ahab in his idolatrous rebellion.  Challenging Ahab, Elijah summoned the 450 prophets of Baal to meet him at the top of Mount Carmel in the presence of all the Israelites.  Elijah suggested to the prophets of Baal that both sides prepare two bulls upon two separate altars of worship.  Then he issued the following challenge: 

“You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh. The God who answers with fire, He is God.” – 1 Kings 18:24 

Both sides agreed and the contest was on.  

The prophets of Baal began to call on Baal from morning to noon as they danced around the altar with no response.  Imagine the sound created by 450 prophets calling upon their god!  At noon, Elijah mocked them saying, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” (1 Kings 18:27).  So sincere and passionate were the prophets of Baal in their praying that they shouted ever louder, cutting themselves with knives and spears until their blood flowed.  Into the evening they continued calling upon their god to no avail.  Their god was silent. 

Then it was Elijah’s turn.  Building the altar with twelve stones (representing the twelve tribes of Israel), Elijah dug a trench around the altar and filled four water pots and poured the water on the offering.  Then he filled four additional water pots and soaked the altar again.  And if there was any doubt as to the drenching of the altar, Elijah once again filled four additional water pots and poured so much water on the altar that the water completely filled the trench!  Then he prayed for the Lord to answer his prayer “so that this people will know that You, Yahweh, are God and that You have turned their hearts back” (1 Kings 18:37).  

God answered Elijah by sending fire down from heaven which consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, and the water.  When the Israelites saw it they fell facedown and said “Yahweh, He is God!  Yahweh, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).  Then Elijah had all of the prophets of Baal slaughtered. 

Such a dramatic story: 450 prophets vs. 1 prophet of God.  How might this story help us in our battle with idols today?  After all, this story reminds us that if God’s people can stray and worship idols so can we.  We may not worship other gods in the sense of pagan gods and golden calves like Israel did, but we hold onto idols of various kinds nonetheless.  What idols might you have in your life?  Can you name them?  What you struggle with may be sinful at its root (greed, pride, lust, etc.) or it may seem somewhat neutral (food, money, TV, video games, etc.).  However, when these things become so important that they demand our full attention, affections, and have first place in our lives, they take God’s rightful place on the throne of our hearts.  And whatever sits on the throne of our hearts is served and worshiped – it becomes an idol.  In speaking of the temptation for earthly treasures, Jesus said something noteworthy: 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21

Where is your heart today, friend, and what do you treasure above all things?  Is your heart set upon an idol – an idol which promises a lot but delivers nothing but emptiness inside?  Or have you set apart Christ as Lord in your heart (1 Peter 3:15)?  You may think there is no hope for your circumstance.  Be encouraged – there is hope!  God is much more powerful than we can ever imagine – even more powerful than the idols we serve.  

What is the ultimate message in this Bible story?  Should we attempt to publicly call down fire on altars to prove that God is real?  Probably not.  Rather, he wants us to know that he alone is God, and he alone has the ultimate power and authority over all things.  He is the one able to crush and destroy the idols in Israel.  And if he can do that, he can certainly crush and destroy the idols in your life as well if you allow him.  He is THAT powerful!  

Let all who name Christ’s holy name

Give God all praise and glory

Let all who own His power proclaim

Aloud the wondrous story

Cast every idol from its throne

For Christ is Lord and Christ alone

To God all praise and glory 

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

“Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” – Exodus 20:4-5a 

Most of us do not think too much about idols today especially within the context of modern worship.  Generally speaking, while we live in a culture of varying religious practice and expression, most Christ-followers recognize the apostasy of following after idols in religions which use them.  In fact, when we hear the word “idol” many of us inevitably envision ancient people from the Near East bowing before statues and other objects of worship.  So far removed from that period of ancient history that we simply do not think too much of idolatry.  

In the history of the nation of Israel we know that idolatry was a serious problem.  Following the death of King Solomon who himself had turned to follow the many gods of his pagan wives, the kingdom was divided into north and south, and idolatry continued to worsen.  King Jeroboam became king of the northern kingdom of Israel.  In an effort to keep his people from leaving the north and defecting to the south to worship in Jerusalem, King Jeroboam instituted alternate places of worship in strategic locations in Dan and Bethel (situated in the northern and southern regions of his kingdom) and built altars with golden calves for the people to worship.  This was reminiscent of the initial rebellion in the desert when Moses was delayed in coming down from Mount Sinai.  In that case the Israelites created and worshiped an idol of their own making – a golden calf who became the “god who brought you up from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 32:4).  So, too, King Jeroboam designated the golden calves at Dan and Bethel and said, “Going to Jerusalem is too difficult for you. Israel, here is your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:28).    King Jeroboam also established a festival on the 15^th day of the eighth month to simulate and replace the sacred Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles instituted by God to be celebrated in Jerusalem.  From that point on in the history of the kings of Israel, all the sins of the kings who reigned after Jeroboam would be compared to his great sin of leading the nation into grievous idolatry. 

What was the root cause of King Jeroboam’s sin?  Like many politicians who are driven to stay in power, self-preservation and the desire to maintain one’s position of authority often results in corruption and compromising one’s values.  This was certainly the case for King Jeroboam who was supremely concerned that the people of his northern kingdom would “go back to the king of Judah” in the south (1 Kings12:27).  

How many of us allow the desire for self to rule on the throne of our hearts rather than allow God to have rightful place as Lord of our lives?  The pull of the world is strong, and its tempting symbols of status, selfish ambition, power, and materialism can often divert us from our true calling as disciples who leave all to follow Christ.  How strong is our sense of self-preservation?  It is strong enough to draw us away from Christ to follow idols. 

“Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle-is not from the Father, but is from the world.” – 1 John 2:15-16 

“But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and lie in defiance of the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.” – James 3:14-17 

“But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” – 1 Timothy 6:9-10 

King Jeroboam was led astray by his need for power and selfish ambition.  It led him to turn from the Lord and cause others to do the same.  The road traveled in such circumstances inevitably leads to sin of all kinds and compels one to serve the idols of one’s own making.  In King Jeroboam’s case, the idols of his own making resulted in placing golden calves in strategic locations to keep his people from traveling out of his kingdom and cleverly inventing a religious festival “he had decided on his own” (1 Kings 12:33). 

What idols of your own making have you decided to serve?  Although we may not be worshiping ancient Near Eastern deities, our idols are just as real nonetheless and demand our worship and allegiance.  The choice before us is ours to make each and every day – will we follow Christ or follow our own sinful desires?  As worshipers, our calling is to surrender the throne of our hearts to the one whose rightful place it belongs.  

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23 

“so that He might come to have first place in everything.” – Colossians 1:18b 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

One of the key elements of worship in the Old Testament included a prescribed place where the Hebrew community could worship and offer sacrifices to God.  After leading the children of Israel to Mount Sinai to receive God’s covenant, Moses received instructions from the Lord regarding the building of a holy place for worship – a tent of meeting or tabernacle where God would make his divine presence known and dwell in the midst of his people. 

“They are to make a sanctuary for Me so that I may dwell among them. You must make it according to all that I show you-the design of the tabernacle as well as the design of all its furnishings.” – Exodus 25:8-9 

“These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things…” – Hebrews 8:5 

In the instructions given to Moses regarding the building of the tabernacle, God was revealing something that would be instructive to all those seeking to worship him.  The earthly model would serve as a shadow to greater heavenly realities.  What can we learn from this earthly model? 

First, the tabernacle communicated the holiness of God.  The materials used for the building of the tabernacle and its furnishings revealed a movement towards God’s holy presence.  Situated in an enclosed rectangular-shaped courtyard, the tabernacle tent housed two separate rooms divided by a veil or curtain.  This curtain separated a priestly area known as the Holy Place from a restricted area known as the  Most Holy Place (holy of holies) in which the ark of the covenant resided and where God’s presence dwelt.  The beauty and value of the precious metals and fabric increased as one would get nearer to the place of God’s presence.  While the priests were allowed to enter the Tabernacle to serve in the Holy Place, only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place of God’s presence and that was done only once a year.  

Secondly, the tabernacle reminded the worshiper that sacrifice and mediation was required in order to draw near to God.  Outside the Tabernacle stood a bronze altar used to sacrifice burnt offerings.  This altar served as a stark reminder that entrance into God’s presence required an atoning sacrifice for sin.  Nearby stood a bronze basin filled with water used by the priests for ritual washings which reflected the need for inward spiritual cleansing.  Inside the tabernacle stood a lampstand to light the way toward God’s presence, the table of showbread signifying the covenant fellowship the tribes of Israel shared with God, and the altar of incense in which burning coals from the bronze altar would be placed along with incense symbolizing the intercessory prayers associated with each sacrifice. 

On the holiest day of the Jewish year, the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would sacrifice a goat representing the punishment for the sins of the entire nation of Israel.  With the blood of the representative goat he would enter the Most Holy Place which would already be filled with a thick cloud of incense.  The High Priest would then take his finger and sprinkle the blood of the goat on the mercy seat of the ark where God’s presence was manifested.  Once accepted by God, the High Priest would exit and release a second goat called the scapegoat into the wilderness signifying the taking away of Israel’s sins never to be seen again. 

It is important to note that these rituals were shadows of something greater yet to come.  In fact we are told in the Scriptures that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:3) – the holiness of God demanded much more.  These animal sacrifices served only to remind the people of their sins and cover over those sins previously committed until such a time when those sins could be permanently taken away.    

The fulfillment of these things can be clearly witnessed in Christ Jesus.  Jesus not only serves as our High Priest but our sin offering as well.  The writer of Hebrews speaks to the ministry of Jesus as he entered the Most Holy Place in heaven with his own blood to seal the new covenant in his blood.  Jesus Christ fulfilled the only acceptable payment for sin – a sacrifice so complete it would never again need to be repeated.  

“Now the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), He entered the holy of holies once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” – Hebrews 9:11-12 

“For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.  He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.  Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” – Hebrews 9:24-26 

What good news!  In fact, this is the best news ever!  Jesus has made possible something which was simply not possible beforehand – unhindered access into the very presence of God.  In Christ there is no longer any barrier separating us from God – we have now been brought near into the Most Holy Place!  The apostle Paul writes that “through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand” (Romans 5:2).  The door to draw near to God has been flung wide open for you, friend! 

In the very moment Jesus died upon the cross something amazing happened in the Temple.  The gospel writer Mark records that “the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom” (Mark15:38).  In his death Jesus has opened the way into the presence of God!  And he extends an invitation for you to boldly worship God with a clean conscience and assurance of faith.  Let nothing stop you, friend – God is waiting for you to come into his presence. 

“Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He has inaugurated for us, through the curtain (that is, His flesh); and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.” – Hebrews 10:19-22 

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

One of the most significant developments in the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan involves the call of Abraham.  Abraham was a descendent of Noah’s son Shem and lived in Ur of the Chaldeans which was located near Babylon.  In Genesis 12:1-3 God called Abraham out of his land and told him to go the land that he would show him – the land of Canaan.  God would make a covenant with Abraham that would involve three things: 1) land, 2) seed, and 3) blessing.  All of these promises would set the foundation for the nation of Israel as the people through whom God would bring forth his promised Seed, the Messiah, who would become a blessing to all the nations of the world.  

As Abraham obeyed God we see him marking the places of worship by building altars and worshiping the Lord through sacrifice.  

“But the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.” – Genesis 12:7 

From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshiped Him.” – Genesis 12:8 

“He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram worshiped the Lord there.” – Genesis 13:4 

It is interesting to note that at this time there were no prescribed places of worship.  The tabernacle/temple had not yet been revealed.  Abraham honored the Lord through sacrificing and worshiping at the altars he built.  As a result of Abraham’s obedience and trust we read that God credited his believing faith as righteousness (Genesis. 15:6; Hebrews 11:8).  

As we consider Abraham’s example of sacrificial worship, we take notice of one particular altar of worship where Abraham would be given the ultimate test of faith.  Miraculously, Abraham and Sarah were given the promised child, Isaac, through whom God would fulfill his covenant promises.  And yet, God would test Abraham by instructing him to take his son Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah.  The test: would Abraham still surrender to God if God required his dearest possession as the sacrifice?  That is a crucial question for each one of us as we approach God in worship.  In this case, Abraham and Sarah had been given the promised son Isaac even though Sarah was beyond the age of childbearing.  Now God was requiring their son’s life to be offered as a burnt offering.  

Abraham obeyed the Lord without questioning.  As he came to the mount of sacrifice, Abraham built an altar and tied up his son and placed him on the wood.  Taking his knife in hand, he prepared to slay his son.  What do you think it took for Abraham to lift that knife in obedience to the Lord?  It must have been extremely difficult and heart-wrenching to be brought to that place of trust and surrender in sacrificing his promised son.  And yet it was in the lifting of that knife when Abraham committed everything and where the sacrifice of worship truly took place in his heart.  God knew Abraham’s heart was his and he intervened at just the right moment.  

“But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me.” Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.” – Genesis 2:10-13 

At just the right moment God provided the substitute ram sacrifice for the burnt offering.  What are the lessons that can be gleaned from the sacrifice of Abraham?  In a broad sense we see how God provides the ultimate sacrifice for our sins in the blameless Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world – Jesus Christ.  He is the one who died in our place – the eternal punishment and death that we deserved.  At just the right time God intervened and provided the perfect sacrifice required for sin (Romans 5:6; 1 John 2:2).  

Another lesson that can be gleaned regarding the essence of sacrificial worship is that God calls us to surrender our whole selves to him in our worship – he wants first place.  Nothing less will do.  He is to be preeminent in all things.  The essence of sacrificial worship is that we leave everything on the altar of worship including our wills, desires, and affections (Romans 12:1-2).  How do we gain the perspective that helps us see that this kind of surrender makes sense?  Just look at the cross, friends, and we find the answer. 

                    When I survey the wondrous cross

                    on which the Prince of Glory died;

                    my richest gain I count but loss,

                    and pour contempt on all my pride.

                    Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

                    save in the death of Christ, my God;

                    all the vain things that charm me most,

                    I sacrifice them to his blood.

                    See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

                    sorrow and love flow mingled down.

                    Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

                    or thorns compose so rich a crown.

                    Were the whole realm of nature mine,

                    that were an offering far too small;

                    love so amazing, so divine,

                    demands my soul, my life, my all.

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

In my last posting we learned something about the emergence of sacrificial worship in the offerings of Cain and Abel.  We learned that more important than the sacrifice was the faith and heart behind the offering.  In Psalm 51:16-17 we discover what kind of sacrifice God is ultimately looking for from his worshipers: 

“The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.” 

It is this spirit of worship that set Noah apart in the midst of a world that had multiplied both in numbers and in wickedness.  In fact, so sinful had man become during the time of Noah that the Bible says that “every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time (Genesis 6:5).”  As God’s judgment began to loom against the world and all that he had made, one faithful follower caught his attention.  Described as a “righteous man, blameless in his generation,” Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord. 

We know the story and what happened next.  God told Noah his plans to destroy all living things on the earth through a flood and his intent to rescue Noah and his family.  God instructed Noah to build an ark to house himself, his family, and representatives of every kind of animal and creature in order to preserve their existence.  As expected Noah obeyed the Lord’s command.  

But that wasn’t all.  After the ark was completed God gave Noah one very specific instruction.  He was to take seven pairs of “clean” animals/birds along with one pair of “unclean” animals/birds (Genesis 7:2-3).  It is worth noting that this is the first time in Scripture that we see a distinction made between that which is “clean” and “unclean.”  God was revealing an important truth about his holiness.  It spoke of the sacredness of God’s presence and the requirement for a spotless sacrifice to be offered in order for a sinful worshiper to approach a holy God.  In this moment God was preserving “clean” specimens to keep their offspring alive on the earth in order to provide for future sacrificial worship.  What a shadow of grace which would ultimately be displayed so gloriously in the provision of Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for sinners!  

“For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.” – 1 Peter 1:19 

After God’s judgment was exacted upon creation the ark eventually came to rest and the Lord instructed Noah to depart the ark along with all of his family and the animals and creatures.  What a sight that must have been!  I can imagine it was quite a relief after several months of sea travel to finally let the animals go!  Even for the avid sailor it would have been an incredible moment to be back on dry land after such an ordeal.  But for Noah and his family this was so much more.  Noah walked with God, and God rescued him from the brunt of his wrath against the sin of the world.  In grateful response Noah poured out his heart in worship to the Lord. 

In Genesis8:20 we read:

“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” 

Think about the magnitude of this offering to God!  This gigantic burnt offering included a sampling of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird representative of the newly redeemed remnant of creation!  By making such a sacrifice Noah demonstrated his thankfulness and submission to God and his trust in his saving grace.  The offering gave tribute to the one who redeems and restores life.  The nature of the burnt offering would symbolize the complete consecration of the worshiper to God.  God was pleased with Noah’s extravagant worship.  He was pleased with his heart, his belief and trust, and in his heartfelt expression of thanks. 

“When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, He said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, even though man’s inclination is evil from his youth. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.” – Genesis 8:21 

As you worship this week in your church, let Noah’s example guide your grateful response to the Lord.  Noah was fully aware how much God had blessed him, and he showed that awareness in the way he worshiped.  How about you?  Take a moment to consider the magnitude of God’s unconditional love for you, his complete forgiveness of your sin-debt in full, and the incredible spiritual blessings that you already have in Christ Jesus.  Thank him for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that was made on your behalf to take away your sin.  And offer to him that which he wants most from you – your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.   

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

As we continue to explore the biblical roots of sacrifice our journey takes us out of Eden into a fallen world in which sacrificial worship begins to take shape.  In Genesis chapter 4 we see two worshipers approaching God with sacrifice – the two brothers, Cain and Abel.  Their story reflects the very first act of worship recorded in human history.  

As recorded in Genesis 4, Abel was a shepherd responsible for watching over flocks while his brother Cain was a farmer who tended the fruits of the ground.  In verse 3 we read about the brothers coming together “in the course of time” indicating that both brothers were coming together for the purpose of acknowledging God in their respective labors at a particular moment.  As sons of the first parents, Cain and Abel were likely taught the need for sacrifice as Adam and Eve knew firsthand the damage that had been done by sin.  In addition, it is also quite reasonable to suggest that the Lord himself may have also communicated instructions to the family as well.  According to the story, God would speak directly to Cain in response to his offering indicating that this kind of dialogue was not unusual (Genesis 4:6). 

The nature of their sacrifices is not entirely clear.  The Mosaic Law which would include unique offerings for specific purposes had not yet been revealed.  However, we see elements of a first fruits-type of offering as Abel brought forth the firstborn of his flock along with all the fat portions.  In this way Abel was presenting to God something that represented the very best that he could bring – an offering which revealed the supreme value of the God he worshiped.  Likewise, Cain brought forth a representative portion of his harvest, an offering of the fruit of the ground.  We are told that the Lord looked acceptably upon Abel and his offering while rejecting Cain and his offering.  

After Cain’s offering was rejected, he reacted to the Lord with anger and despondency.  In verse 6 we read the Lord’s response: 

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent?  If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” – Genesis 4:6-7 

Cain would indeed yield to sin’s desire and murder his brother as a result.  In his actions we witness once again the great damage done to the worship of God by sin.  The intrusion of sinful desires into the sacred space of worship would force humanity to come to grips with not only what is offered to God in worship but also how our worship is offered.  In the New Testament, Cain’s approach is presented as a clear example of what not to do: 

“For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” – 1 John 3:11-12 

Cain’s works are identified as evil unlike his brother’s actions which were deemed righteous.  What made Abel’s works righteous in the sight of God?  

As we explore Scriptures that shed light on this question we are brought to one of the great chapters in the Bible – Hebrews 11.  In this inspiring chapter we read about the heroes of the faith – people like Abraham who believed the word of the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness.  Heroes like Moses who trusted in the promise of God when he led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt.  In the eyes of God, these heroes were commended for their faith in the promise of God ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  For the Old Testament saints this was a forward-looking faith.  And as we read through the esteemed list of faith-heroes we are struck by one important yet unassuming testimony of faith: 

“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.” – Hebrews 11:4 

In this commendation we see Abel’s brief act of worship expressing a faith that pleased God and resulted in righteousness.  Abel was not approved as righteous simply by the quality of his offering but by the faith that would accompany the sacrifice.  Throughout history there has been only one way to please God and have righteousness credited to one’s account and that is through faith: 

“But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness.” – Romans 4:5 

Abel exhibited the kind of faith that rested in the one who declares the ungodly to be righteous.  He trusted God as the one who ultimately forgives sin and in his ultimate promise to do so through the promised seed of the Messiah.  He placed faith in what God had revealed about himself and expressed that faith through his worship.  And this legacy of faith, according to Hebrews 11:4, continues to bear witness to us today.

As we consider how sacrifice informs our present worship, we are reminded that the ultimate sacrifice for sin has already been made “once for all” on our behalf – Jesus Christ, the righteous one (Hebrews9:26).  He is the propitiation or satisfaction for the penalty of our sins in the sight of God.  “It is finished” was the cry from the cross.  Our faith expressed in our worship is one that believes and trusts upon the sacrifice already provided for us and rejoices in light of its truth.  

Now we are freed to sacrifice with a whole new focus and intent.  The curtain of the Temple has been torn, and we have been granted full access into the presence of God.  Our grateful response to God’s grace is to offer our whole selves to him in worship.  Everything we have and are belongs to the Lord and for his glory.  The sacrifices of our worship today ultimately honor God through our lives, words, and actions.   

“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.” – Romans 12:1 

“Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.  Don’t neglect to do good and share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”-  Hebrews 13:15-16 

As you worship this week, take time to give thanks for the grace and mercy God has shown you in Christ Jesus.  Come to him humbly with great faith in his faithful love.  Rejoice and give praise for the redemption that is yours through Christ’s sacrifice for your sin.  And offer yourself anew to the Lord surrendering your heart, mind, soul, and strength for his purposes and glory.  For with such sacrifices God is pleased. 

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

Throughout the Scriptures we see a common theme as it relates to the worship of God – the theme of sacrifice.  The notion of sacrifice has existed for thousands of years and is not limited to Christianity alone but extends to other pagan religions as well.  What is it about the human condition that compels sacrifice as a response to worship?  It is interesting to consider that the idea of sacrifice seems to have been planted deep inside each one of us.  There is the sense that God has put an awareness of his presence and the knowledge of sin deep within our hearts, and this awareness instinctively calls us to consider sacrifice as part of our response to worship.  

In order for us to explore the biblical roots of sacrifice and how that informs our worship today we have to go back to the beginning of God’s worship story.  In fact, the first suggestion of sacrifice can be traced to Adam and Eve’s fall into sin in the Garden of Eden.  Created in the image of God, Adam and Eve were placed in Eden and were given the responsibility to rule over the creation.  In the Garden the man and woman experienced unhindered access and fellowship with their Creator.  There was a pattern of sinless worship, obedience, and dependence upon God that was good and right.  Unfortunately, however, sinless worship would ultimately experience brokenness through the disobedience of Adam and Eve as they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, ate the forbidden fruit, and introduced sin into the world.  This act of disobedience had an enormous impact upon all of creation – in fact, we are told that through Adam’s sin we have all become guilty before God. 

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.” – Romans 5:12 

Prior to the entrance of sin into the world, Adam and Eve were naked and felt no shame.  The creation and everything in it lived at peace with one another, and God and humanity experienced perfect fellowship together.  But everything changed the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard You in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” – Genesis 3:7-10 

There is a significant connection between sin and shame.  In fact, we can glean from this text that the shame of Adam and Eve’s nakedness was directly related to their sin.  It was the immediate awareness of their nakedness and sin which prompted them to make loincloths sewn from fig leaves.  Why would Adam and Eve have this immediate need to cover themselves?  We can conclude that they sinned, felt the weight of their shame and guilt expressed through their nakedness, and sensed the need for their guilt and shame to be covered.  In fact, so aware were they of their guilt and shame that they immediately hid from God hoping to avoid being exposed to the eyes of the Almighty. 

God would confront their disobedience and address their guilt and shame by pronouncing sin’s consequences upon Adam and Eve, Satan, as well as the entire created order.  In fact, so great was the impact of sin upon Adam and Eve’s relationship with God that it would be necessary for God to expel them from the Garden completely in order to separate them from his holy presence.  The consequences of Adam and Eve’s disobedience (sin and death) were so devastating to the entire creation that it left everything reeling in its wake.  

Thankfully, God did not leave Adam and Eve without hope and provision for covering their sin and shame.  In fact, the Lord would reveal the first glimpse into his plan to redeem the world through Jesus Christ right there in the Garden.  Speaking to Satan the serpent, God announced news that would bring incredible hope to a broken and ruined world: 

“I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” – Gen. 3:15 

Unveiling a glimpse of his sovereign redemptive plan, God speaks of one who would ultimately come from the seed of the woman.  This seed is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Gal. 4:4-5).  This descendent of Eve would experience a strike from Satan on his heel, a depiction of Jesus Christ being stricken and afflicted for the sin of the world as he offered himself upon the cross.  However, this stricken one would also emerge victorious over Satan, sin, and death through the power of his resurrected life thereby striking Satan’s head rendering him powerless. 

You may be asking what all of this has to do with sacrifice and worship.  In light of the devastating effects of the fall we are left to consider one additional action that God took just before banishing Adam and Eve from the Garden and his presence.  In Genesis3:21we read that God took initiative and provided a basic need to address Adam and Eve’s shame for their nakedness and guilt of sin.  

“The Lord God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.” – Genesis 3:21 

When Adam and Eve admitted their sin, God replaced their temporary fig-leaf coverings with animal skins revealing the cost of their sin – death.  In order for animal skins to be used for coverings innocent life would have to be taken and blood would have to be shed.  By the Lord’s actions, Adam and Eve were being shown that the shedding of blood was required to cover the guilt of their sin.  And by God’s grace and mercy extended to each one of us, the ultimate lesson in this example of God-initiated sacrifice is the model of the Messiah who would be given to humanity as the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.  

This sensibility of sacrificial worship would continue throughout Genesis and the entire Bible.  In our next posting, we will move out of Eden into a “post-Eden” world to discover how this sacrificial sensibility further expressed itself in the worship of God’s people.  Unfortunately, we don’t have to look very far to realize how deeply sin impacted worship.  Stay tuned as we take a closer look at the sacrifices of Cain and Abel.  

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

Last month we looked at the first of two worship themes (creation) found in the heavenly worship song depicted in Revelation chapter 4.  In this posting we will examine the second theme of worship that emerges through the heavenly worship song as found in Revelation chapter 5.  In these two amazing chapters, a great drama unfolds replete with incredible sights and sounds, visions of rainbow colors, transcendent rumbles of thunder, and very deliberate postures and actions of worship. 

In Revelation 5 we see the fulfillment of God’s prophetic plan represented as a scroll with seven seals waiting to be opened.  No created thing in heaven, on earth, or under the earth is found worthy to open its seals and bring forth its judgments.  But there is one who is found worthy.  This lone exception is identified as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb – Jesus Christ.  And in one of the most powerful portraits of worship, the heavenly congregation falls down in a corporate united expression of worship as Jesus receives the scroll to open its seals.  And a new song is sung in response to this incredible revelation: 

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.” – Revelation 5:9 

“They said with a loud voice: The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” – Revelation 5:12 

And so the second theme of heavenly worship is revealed – redemption.  Jesus is worthy of worship because of the price he paid to redeem a people for God by his own blood that was shed on the cross.  This redemption from the ravages of sin’s effects upon humanity extends to include a people from every national, ethnic, and language group.  Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus connects the very life-blood of the righteous Lamb of God as the way our redemption was secured: 

“We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.” – Ephesians 1:7a 

In my last posting we looked at the fact that creative power is a distinguishing mark of divinity.  Similarly, redemptive power is also a distinguishing mark of divinity.  We know from Scripture that no man has the ability to ransom or redeem the life of another (Psalm 49:7).  Instead, only God who created the universe could step in and bring redemption to his creation – and he did so through Jesus Christ his one and only Son: 

“For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things in heaven.” – Colossians 1:19-20 

As we look at the two themes of Revelation 4-5 it becomes clear that one who creates is the one who redeems.  Both works are attributed to God and God alone.  God breathed life into this world and spoke it into existence.  As the creator, God uniquely has the ability to redeem his creation.  No one else can make it new except the original designer.  The promise of redemption lies in the fact that through Jesus Christ and our union with him through faith we are indeed made new creatures through the new life he has given to us. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses.” – Ephesians 2:4a 

Not only are we made new in the sense of being made alive to God in Christ, but we have been given the deposit of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our inheritance as the people of an entirely new created order (Ephesians 1:13-14).  This promise of future redemption extends to our physical bodies and even to the world around us – but it is a promise that has not yet been realized.  It is yet a future hope.  Through Scripture we see this promise of redemption extending to the physical cosmos which is currently waiting with anticipation to be set free from its bondage to decay (Romans 8:19-20).  One day because of the redeeming work of Christ this physical world will be set free from the effects of sin and will be made new and brought to its fullness in Christ Jesus.  

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” – Revelation 21:1-5 

What an incredible story – it is God’s story!  It is the story of worship.  It is the story of: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation.  As we take our place in this story, we acknowledge that we belong to God as his creatures, we confess our sin in light of his holiness, we trust in the redeeming work of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and new life, and we look with an eye toward the future redemption that is still yet to be.  

“For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6 

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

Revelation Song 

One of the most powerful glimpses of the worship of God in the heavenly realms is the account of John’s vision in the New Testament book of Revelation chapters 4-5.  In this descriptive drama we see the throne of God taking center stage in great splendor and glory along with rumbles of thunder, rainbows of colors, and a crystal sea of glass.  Surrounding the throne of God are four living creatures eternally worshiping and singing about his holiness.  It is an awe-inspiring scene that would certainly bring us to our knees in worship.  

Thankfully, we are privileged to observe some of the themes of worship present in this heavenly worship service.  In this case, as the heavenly host responds to the revelation of God in his holiness and glory, two primary themes clearly begin to surface and guide the unified content of the corporate singing: 1) creation and 2) redemption.  In this first posting we will explore creation as the first theme of heavenly worship and how that informs our worship here on earth. 

“Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created.” – Revelation 4:11 

In this amazing account, the 24 elders of Revelation 4:11 fall down before the throne casting their crowns before the Lord in worship.  The song of worship the elders sing declares that all glory, honor, and worship belongs to the Lord our God.  Why do you suppose that God is the only one worthy to receive these things?  We could probably put together a long list of valid reasons.  However, in this passage only two reasons are cited: 

1) “because You have created all things” and

2) “because of Your will they exist and were created.”    

This is a big God that we worship!  After all, not just anyone can accomplish these two feats!  As we reflect upon what it takes to accomplish the miracle of creation, it becomes obvious that creative power is a distinguishing mark of divinity.  Only God can accomplish something so magnificent.  And our triune God was active in creation in the Genesis account calling into existence things that were not.  We see God the Father speaking, the Spirit hovering over the waters, and Jesus the Son playing a most prominent role:

“In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.” – John 1:1-3  

“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.” – Hebrews 1:1-2 

“He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:15-16 

In this incredible scene of worship in the book of Revelation we are brought back to remember our origins – “In the beginning, God created….”  Everything that exists today can trace its origins back to God in that first moment.  God alone initiated creation and brought forth the universe from nothing.  He alone breathed life and made humanity in his own image.  No other living thing or non-living entity has ever or will ever duplicate the miracle of creation.  

What significance do these truths have in our worship today?  Huge!  All of creation owes its existence to God the creator.  Remember, it is by his will that we were created and have our being.  We are his handiwork and were made for his purposes.  In fact, we were made by him and for him.  Our worship should acknowledge this truth as we take our rightful place in the created order expressing our allegiance to the only uncreated one, the wholly other, who sits enthroned above all that he has made.  All of creation is called to worship God the creator (Psalm 148).  Let’s join together in the song of creation! 

In my next posting we will look at redemption as the second theme in heavenly worship.  In the meantime, let me give you a question to ponder:

Is there a reason why God is worshiped as creator then redeemer? 

Worshiping with you,

Paul Rogers

In my last posting we explored some of the implications of Christ as the mediator of our life of worship.  We looked at the role of Jesus as our High Priest (and our offering) as he represents us before the Father (Hebrews 9:11-12).  We also reflected upon the ministry of intercession that he eternally provides on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).  In this posting we will examine how Jesus mediates the revelation/response of our corporate worship to the Father and how we can rest in the truth that our worship is always in and through Jesus.

3.  Jesus mediates the revelation/response of our worship to the Father.

“I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation” – Hebrews 2:12

Here we see one of the implications of Christ’s continuing incarnation as he mediates our life of worship.  In this verse we find illustrated the biblical pattern of revelation and response.  Both the revelation of God and his name/nature to us as well as our response of worship is facilitated through the mediating ministry of Christ. 

As we worship corporately, we find our place in the complete perfected offering of Jesus Christ to the Father.  Through the ministry of the Word in its preaching, teaching, and singing, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is there mediating the revelation of the Father to us – “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers.”  But Jesus doesn’t stop there.  He also serves as the mediator of our response to God as well – “I will sing hymns to You.”  Not only does Jesus receive our worship but he stands with us, those whom he has redeemed, and leads our thankful response of worship to God the Father through the perfected offering of himself.

This is a profound truth that frees us to rest in the sufficiency of Christ to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

4. Our worship of God is always in and through Jesus Christ alone.

“Offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 2:5

“Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.” – Hebrews 13:15

“For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” – Ephesians 2:18

Jesus replaced the old system – the Levitical priesthood which was insufficient – with a new eternal priesthood in the order of Melchizadek (Hebrews 7:11).  We are told that this unique priesthood continues forever on the basis of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16).  In other words, Jesus’ resurrected life made possible a permanent priesthood because Jesus as High Priest and the incarnate Son of God lives forever.  As mediator between the divine and human, Jesus takes our feeble worship and makes our worship acceptable to God the Father through his own offering on our behalf doing for us what we cannot do alone.  This is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

When we consider the fact that Jesus does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, we cannot help but turn our eyes toward the Savior who has done so much for us!  Everything we are and hope to be is found in Jesus Christ.  We live, serve, and worship with freedom knowing that he has done it all.

Worshiping gratefully with you,

Paul Rogers