Worship Begins With God

Romans 12:1 – 2 defines true worship with the first phrase of verse one, “Therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God…” Everything that Paul has written in Romans 1 – 11 leads up to the definition of worship because everything he has written has been a revelation of the mercy and grace of God the Father.

Worship is a response to the revelation of God, of Himself in Jesus Christ. The book of Romans is a revelation of God and His mercy and grace toward us who believe. In Romans 1 – 3, Paul writes about the revelation of God in nature to everyone and in the Law to the Jews. In both he says that they suppressed the truth of God’s revelation for their own purposes rather than the purpose of God. The key verses in this section is 3:23 – 24, “…for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”

In chapter four, Paul expands on the faith and right relationship that is the fruit of God’s revelation using Abraham as the prime example. But again, man is not the focus of the revelation, God is. We so want to make everything about us, we miss the revelation of God, even when reading and studying the Bible. The promise of God to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world is about the mercy and grace of God. The one and only aspect of Abraham that is highlighted is his faith, but even that has come from God, by His speaking to him, according to His mercy and grace!

Chapter five is a hinge summing up 1 – 4 and introducing 6 – 8. The transition begins the focus on the life of Jesus given for us in order for us to have as our life. The major section of Romans is 5:12 – 8:39. I recommend that people read this section regularly in their daily Bible reading. It reveals how to walk in the Spirit, by the Spirit, to overcome the power of sin in your life. This is essential and is done by receiving the revelation of God, or Himself in Jesus Christ.

The section that seems out of place is Romans 9 – 11 until you understand that it is about God rather than about the Jewish nation. This powerful section shows us the amazing mercies of God like no other. Look how it concludes, “For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” 11:30 – 33.

It is in the light of the revelation of God, of Himself in Jesus Christ, that we are invited into God’s presence to marvel and bow and be delightfully amazed at who He is and the eternal grace of Himself toward us in Christ! Worship begins with God’s revelation of Himself in Christ Jesus our Lord. If it does not begin with God, it is not of God. If it is not of God, it is of the world, the flesh, and the devil, something we are already too familiar with.

Tomorrow, we will examine what we bring to worship in spirit and truth.