The Holiness Of God In Worship

I just received this book Worship in the Presence of God and have been reading it in bits and pieces. I turned to the chapter on worship and preaching; immediately came across  this quote:

When God is loved only for His love-necessary as noble as that is in itself-, the time will come when the 'why's' will rise up in one's heart. Divine providences, which tend to push all men to the breaking point at one time or another (Jam. 1:2), will precipitate cries such as "Why, oh God? Do you not love me anymore?"

Such cries, however tempting, are indicative of a man- centered attitude and preclude worship, which is God-centered. The 'why's' to God will silence the worship by definition. To love God centrally for His holiness is to escape that trap. In light of the awesome purity of God, man sees himself in his ruined state (Is. 6:5), which admittedly deserve eternal damnation. In the face of any providence of God, even the kind that seemingly presses the last drop of blood out of an individual, the response of anyone who acknowledges his ruined state as his own fault and damnation as his just desert will never be 'Why?' but rather 'Why Not?'. This response, and this response alone, which can not be produced except through a vision of God in His holiness, will pave the way for worship that seeks God (John 4:23) and with which He is satisfied.

In fact, love for God in His holiness always goes hand in hand with a desire for holiness before God. That ultimately will produce thankfulness, not just in spite of or in the circumstances, but because of the circumstances. After all, everything in the lives of those who love God aims at their 'good,' that is, their transformation into the image of Christ, their sanctification (Rom. 8:28-29). Never do 'bad' things happen to good people. To complain that something bad is happening  to 'me' is to imply 'I' am a bad person. For God's people there are literally no stumbling blocks to worship. Everything fosters it!* 

Soli Deo Gloria!

*Frank J. Smith and David C. Lachman, Worship in the Presence of God (Fellsmere, FL.; Reformation Media Press, 2006), p. 158

  

Thoughts On The Love Of God And Jonathan Edwards

On  July 8, 1741 Jonathan Edwards preached what has become his most famous sermon- Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Of course such a message would not sit well in many churches today. Might as well do as Dr. James White says, and hang a sign outside of your building with these words: "this church is part of the church shrinkage movement.'

Any sermon similar to that would not go over well in most congregations today. Immediate charges of "hell-fire and brimstone," "fundamentalists," "mean spirited," "coercion," "unloving," "spiteful" would come forth. The sentiment is that that is the God of the Old Testament while the God of the New Testament is much nicer and "loving."

But one can certainly read in the Old Testament how loving God is; the issue there reveals that love is not God's most revealed attribute. His holiness is. God's greatest desire is for His own glory both in judgment and salvation. Like wise in the New Testament we find people like Ananias and Saphira whose lives were taken directly by God for lying to Him (Ac. 5:1-6). Or one need simply to read all the warnings about hell from Christ. Even a superficial reading of the book of Revelation testifies that the God of the Old Testament is immutable and therefore the same God in the New. We come across passages like this:

Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Re 6:15–17).

 Does not the above passage sound similar to this one found in Ezekiel 28:22-23:

Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Sidon, and I will manifest my glory in your midst. And they shall know that I am the LORD when I execute judgments in her and manifest my holiness in her; for I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets; and the slain shall fall in her midst, by the sword that is against her on every side. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Is there a very real reason for this consistency? Absolutely! It comes from what God says about Himself though His Word- "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb 13:7–8).

One of the most troubling things is that, today, many Christians cannot give an account for this. Many seem to not even care about God's holiness revealed in the Old Testament. They would rather sit in John 3:16 (even though His holiness is found there in the damnation of those that reject Christ) or similar passages that speak of God's love and mercy. They implicitly and unknowingly present two different god's. One of the Old and one of the New, while they seem to be embarrassed and make apologies for the God of the Old Testament. It is very saddening and un-biblical.

There is only one God in three distinct and eternal persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Again, the God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New. The second person of the triune God- Christ Jesus- took upon Himself humanity and completely satisfied and glorified the Father by providing and securing the redemption of all those whom that Father has given to Him ( Jn. 17:1-26).

Of course Jonathan Edwards was very well aware that God was revealing how infinitely holy, holy, holy He is in the Old Testament (and in the New). That all the judgment found there is to testify that God is perfect in every way and abhors all sin. People need to fear Him. Sinners need to look upon Him in submission and awe; in fear and trembling. Those Old Testament saints were looking  forward to the promise of the coming Messiah. In the New Testament we see God Himself breaking into His creation to restore redeem His people. We see the climatic point in history where Christ took the full judgment and wrath of the Father on the cross for all that flee to Him in repentance and faith. His resurrection secures our justification. Sin and death defeated by the King! All those acts of judgement in the Old Testament which were to direct our attention to the holiness and justice of God were but a glimpse of the fury of God in eternity yet for those in Christ it was poured upon Him in full. What love, oh what love!

Edwards's sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is a masterpiece. Ironically he was far more prone to preach on the "sweetness of Christ" than on the coming judgment of God. But since this sermon was so powerful (because it is true) it stands out from among his normal preaching. The key for Edwards, which we've been trying to point out, is that to really grasp the "sweetness of Christ" and His love, mercy and grace it must all be viewed thought the scope of His holiness. If you are in Christ read his words with the cross of Christ in mind; in sheer amazement gratitude and praise for Him. If your are not in Christ read these words knowing that this is your current condition. This is where you are now. Laugh, delude yourself that it is all a joke but it is the sheer truth of where you stand in God's hands:

The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow on moment from being made drunk with your blood... The God that holds you over the put of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed  to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you were suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God's hand held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.

Oh that we would here more of this kind of preaching. That unrepentant sinners would be stripped bare of any self-confidence and self-righteousness and call upon the name of Christ to be saved. That people of Christ would fall down in worship and reverence for God in gratitude for the cross of Christ. That we would say along with the Apostle Paul, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith”(Ro 1:16–17).

Do not tell me that Jonathan Edwards knew nothing of the love of God. This very sermon is a testament to the fact that he did. His knew first and foremost that God is holy, holy, holy. He wanted unrepentant sinners to be convicted of their utter sinfulness that they are under the wrath of God and therefore in need of Christ. In short he was lovingly driving them to Christ. One does not flee from something to someone (Christ) unless they first see the danger that they are in. Hence the importance of that sermon.

Sadly many mock Jonathan Edwards and that sermon. Dr. James White writes:

Without a context such words can be used to make Edwards look like a maddened character from a Poe novel, and this is surely the purpose of many today as they seek to make any kind  of preaching of God's judgment on sin a sick novelty of past, unenlightened generations. But this is to distort grossly the truth about Edwards and all who, like him, preached the judgment of God with trembling heart and soul. A fair reading of Edwards's works shows him a mild and compassionate, often dwelling upon the "sweetness of Christ." He is taken in with God's love, His grace and mercy. Yet Edwards was a man of the Word. He knew what must be preached again today: God's love shines with its full and proper glory only when it is seen in its biblical context-against the backdrop of God's holiness and hatred of sin.*

It is true- This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Ac 4:10–12). 

Recommended reading: Sinners in the Hands of a Good God by David Clotfelter and The God Who Justifies by James White.

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando


* James White, The God Who Justifies (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2001), p. 46

Thoughts On The Love Of God And Adam and Eve

It hasn't been until the last two centuries that the love of God that, instead of His holiness helping define His love, His love has defined His holiness. In other words many Christians believe and present the notion that God is holy because of the way He loves. The idea says that God loves us the way no one else can and will. Therefore, in large, that is what makes Him holy.

It is true that God loves sinners in a way that only He can. But that is a far cry from understanding His holiness. It is one thing to say that God has infinite love and compassion on people that cannot be experienced elsewhere. But it is quite another to identify His holiness or His being in primarily (or only) those terms.

It has never been that way biblically and historically. Men have always had a difficult time understanding how an absolute holy God could love people of whom He says, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds" (Je 17:9–10). 


Adam and Eve post fall were no different. Before the treachery, the great rebellion, the act of defiance they enjoyed the interaction they had with God. He loved them and they loved Him and interacted with Him. But after they sinned and betray their God we find that they fear Him. They attempt to hide from God in fear and terror:

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 

 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself” (Ge 3:6–10 emphasis mine). 

Oh, something changed. Now they were hiding in fear of God. I believe it was genuine fear. Not as some assert that it was they were embarrassed only because they disappointed God. Although I believe that has some bearing but they really did now fear God. The act of sin changed everything. They (and all humanity with them) became "dead in their trespasses and sins." Their hearts, thoughts, emotions all effected by sin. They became corrupt. They defied their Maker. The One that loved and created them. He kept them in His presence and interacted with them. Then they become turncoats. Traitors. Committing evil against Him.

That is why they cowered in fear. They knew how infinitely holy He is. They know nothing evil or wrong resides in His being. He is pure, righteous, just and good. They on the other hand mad themselves the exact opposite.

What was God's  response? It wasn't just to brush it all aside and say, "don't worry I love you." No, His holiness takes precedence in the account. He immediately brings justice and pronounces curses on all guilty parties:

The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return "(Ge 3:14–19). 

Clearly the holiness of God is emphasized here. It is on display. He acted for His own sake. He brings swift justice and judgment so that we may know He is the Lord. God's concern is for His glory because He is, "holy, holy, holy." There is none, nor will ever be, any like Him.

After the display of His holiness in there judgement we see Him turn and act in love. After bringing curses upon them He then turns and provides a temporary atonement to foreshadow the ultimate atonement of Christ. A promise given back in the curse of the serpent (Ge. 3:15). They needed to be clothed (proof of the need for the imputed righteousness of Christ). We find God lovingly, graciously and mercifully providing it through through the killing of an animal and covering them with the skins. Of course this was to foreshadow the killing of His own Son to glorify His name in the salvation of His people; by washing them in His blood and clothing them with His righteousness (imputation).

Do you now see how much more God's love is meaningful viewed in light of His holiness? How much more glory He receives in lavishing it upon His sheep? How much more loved we are than the overly humanistic idea of what passes for "love?" How much more His love says about Him than us yet does not nullify the meaning of His love for us?

This is why we can plead to the stead fast love of God. Why we can at the same time plead that He do it for His own goodness. That it is about His glory but yet He glorifies His name in His love for us:

   Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great (Ps 25:7–11 emphasis mine).

The problem we are encountering today is the notion of "self-love" from understanding God's "love" for us.
Here Alistair Begg notes:

Consider the preoccupation so many have with finding a church that will "meet their needs," matched by the feverish attempt of many churches to find out what their "customers" want and then to supply it. And what about the almost wholesale acceptance of the notion that learning how to love ourselves is the key to loving God and others? What the apostle Paul described to Timothy as an essential problem-"in the last days [people] will be lovers of themselves" (2 Timothy 3:1-2)-has come to be seen as a solution. How different this is from the perspective of John Calvin: "Man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God's face, and then descends from contemplating Him to scrutinize himself."*

The sovereign Lord is indeed, "holy, holy, holy" and his love must be understood in light of it. His holiness should not be understood in light of His love. May we say along with David, "For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great."


Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

*Alistair Begg. Made For His Pleasure: Ten Benchmarks of a Vital Faith (Kindle Locations 74-75). Kindle Edition.

It Is Dangerous To Presume Upon God

And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God (2 Sa 6:5–7).

Uzzah's seemingly innocent and well- intentioned act had a disastrous outcome. He was killed by God for presuming upon Him. Uzzah's act of reaching out his hand to stabilize the ark of God was, indeed, a very noble one. His intentions were good. He certainly did not want to see the ark crash to the ground. Therefore he presumed upon God that it was acceptable to violate His command (Num. 4:14) since the situation allowed for it.

That presumption cost him his life. It kindled the Lord's anger who then took Uzzah's life. What's the big deal? Wasn't it a good thing for Uzzah to help the Lord by preventing His ark from falling to the ground? It seems such a trivial thing for such grave consequences.This of course would be the argumentation from much of contemporary Christianity. It even seems that David momentarily had that attitude (as many of us do today) for he became angry with the Lord for taking Uzzah's life (v.8).

Of course when we take that attitude it is because we are not viewing things in their proper perspective. We are looking more upon the seemingly innocent actions of Uzzah rather than upon the holiness of God. God is a holy God. "Holy, Holy Holy" cry the seraphim. This same holiness of the thrice holy God moved Isaiah to cry out "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 

A failure to always view God in light of His holiness is a reason why Uzzah presumed upon God with his actions but also why many Christians today do the same also. Especially in worship services, evangelism, preaching, discipleship and so on. We presume upon God. We tend to think as long as we are sincere and our motives and intentions are well meaning then it must be acceptable to God. We may even tack on that "it is for His glory." But we really ought to learn from the biblical examples as we are told to do in 1 Corinthians 10:11. The examples of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-4) and Uzzah should serve as instruction for us not presume upon God. The severity of the outcome of their actions should remind us just how holy, holy, holy the Lord Almighty is. They should serve as a warning from presuming upon God in our worship practices, methodologies and allowances.

We must ever be examining our traditions in light of the Lord as revealed in His Word. We all have traditions and as Dr. James White often says, "He who says he has no traditions is the most enslaved to them." But how many people will examine their traditions according to the Bible? It is a very serious thing to consider how many of our traditions stem from presumption. Altar calls, the sinners prayer just to name a couple. There are fewer things nowadays that spark the ire of people more than tampering with their traditions. Whether these be doctrine or practices. How times have we heard "We've been doing this for (insert large number) years" or "I've been studying the Bible for (insert large number) years." Have you ever pondered that you have been doings things wrong for (insert large number) years? Or that you may have studied the Bible wrongly for (insert large number) years? Is not that an arrogant thing to say? Is not that a form of presuming upon God? In fact that form of presumption is really saying that since I or my church has been doing it this way for however many years, then it surely must be right?

I pointed out earlier that even David became upset with God for taking Uzzah's life. Yet the text also says that David was "afraid of the LORD" (v. 9). Though he momentarily became upset with the Lord, David was reminded of the holiness of God. Yes, David feared the Lord. He saw the Lord consume Uzzah and trembled before the Lord Most High. The fear of God stems from knowing the holiness of God. A failure to view God in his holiness is to fail to fear Him and leads to much presumption. Presuming upon God, my friends, has serious consequences.


Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water” (Re 14:6–7).
Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando