What must we believe in order to come to God?
(Psalms 5:7; 15; 96; 101; 134; John 4:23-24) Blog 17-23 Mar. 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: The Lord is in his holy temple in heaven. As a righteous and merciful judge, he brings deliverance to his people and defeats their enemies. His mercy and goodness inspire our praise and we desire to live in harmony with his Law even though we continually fall short of perfect obedience.
Coming to God
1. With what attitude do the psalmists come to worship God? The psalmists come to worship God with an attitude of anxious desire & gladness (Psa. 40:16; 42:1-2; 122:1).
2. According to the book of Hebrews and seen in the Psalms, what must we believe in order to come to God? Those that come unto God must believe that he is & that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Psa. 27:13; 71:1-3; 86:5; 116:5; Heb. 11:6).
3. What were the psalmists’ condition when they came to worship God? When they & we come to worship God, we are poor, sinful & needy (Psa. 40:16-17; 86:1; 106:6).
4. How does God receive those who when they come to worship feel no need? Those who feel no need when they come to God’s temple are like the Pharisee who when he prayed asked for no forgiveness & received no justification from God (Job 35:13; Psa. 101:5; 138:6; Luke 18:11-14; Rev. 3:17).
5. Who do not desire to approach God? The wicked have no desire to seek God for they want no judge for their actions (Psa. 10:4-6).
6. How does God deal with our imperfections when we come to worship him? When we come to worship him, God works to correct our imperfections & make us perfect (Psa. 138:8; Phil 1:6).
7. What question does David ask in Psalm 15? In Psalm 15 David does not ask who may come to worship God. Rather he asks & answers who may dwell with God eternally (Psa. 15:1-5).
8. How does the psalmist answer his question as to when to join others in worshipping God? The psalmist says that he joins others to worship God on God’s “holyday” (Psa. 42:1-4).
Ingredients of Worship
9. What is the meaning of the word “worship”? Worship means to give value, honor, or worth to some thing or some person. It also means “to serve” (Ex. 20:4-5; Matt. 4:10; Luke 14:10).
10. With what attitude should we come to worship God? When we come to worship God it should be with an attitude of reverence as shown by kneeling before him as our Maker (Psa. 95:6; 99:5; Matt. 2:11; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 4:10).
11. What do Psalm 95 and 96 include in worship? Psalms 95 & 96 include singing, thanksgiving, declaring God’s wonderful works, bringing an offering, & joyful praise in worship (Psa. 95:1-6; 96:1-9).
12. What things does Psalm 138 say that we should praise God for? Psalm 138 says we should praise God for his lovingkindness, for his truth, for elevating his Word, for answered prayers, & for the strength he gives us (Psa. 138:1-3)
13. What important aspects did Jesus include in worship? Jesus included doctrinal instruction (truth) & a right spirit as part of worship (Mark. 7:7; John 4:23-24; Rom. 1:25).
14. What should the direction of our worship be? Our worship should be directed to God’s holy temple in heaven where God dwells (Psa. 5:7; 138:2; Isa. 27:13; John 4:23-24; Rev. 11:1).
Continual Worship
15. Why did God say that sacrifices and offerings were not pleasing to him? God was not pleased with sacrifices & offerings when they were presented as only a form without understanding their meaning. Sacrifices represented the shed blood of Jesus & offerings represented his perfect life. Without faith in these it is impossible to please God, for the life & death of animals could not take away sin (Psa. 40:6-8; 50:13-15; 51:15-19; Heb. 10:4-10).
16. How did Jesus illustrate the idea of worthless offerings? Jesus said: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt. 15:8; John 4:23-24).
17. How does Micah describe what God desires of his children? Micah says that God desires perfect obedience with humility from his people (Deut. 10:12-13; Mic. 6:7-8; Matt. 5:48).
18. What are the sacrifices that please God that we are to offer on heaven’s altar? We are to offer the sacrifices of praise to God, of giving thanks to his name, of doing good, & of communicating the Gospel to others. These are the sacrifices that please God (Heb. 13:15-16; 1 Pet. 2:5).
19. Why do so many Psalms speak of a new song? The new song refers to the song of redemption that is offered in the new covenant: the song of the great salvation that Jesus purchased for us by living a perfect life & dying an atoning death. His blood also purifies our feeble efforts in worshipping & serving God (Psa. 96:1-2; 98:1-3; 144:9-10; Eccl. 7:20; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:5).
20. Whose worship will God’s people eventually give up? Eventually God’s people will stop worshipping every strange god (Psa. 81:9).
21. Will there ever be a time when all human beings worship God? Yes, every knee shall bow & every tongue confess that God is Lord when the righteous & wicked gather at the holy city at the end of the millennium. Then after the final destruction of Satan & all his followers, the entire universe will continually worship God alone (Psa. 22:27-29; 66:3-4; 86:9; Isa. 66:23-24; Rom. 14:11; Rev. 15:4).
22. How can we make our worship more pleasing to God & more pleasant for us?