The Worship of Faith

This week was full. I had to type papers for both my classes, one on the Reformation, the other on the Trinity. Plus I had all my Hebrew studies, which really smoke my brain! But it all blends together in my mind and heart and often God speaks or ministers to me through all of it together, plus church on Sunday. Gotta put some thoughts down to share with anyone who cares to read 'em, or maybe just so I make sure I process and remember myself. I really read some great things this week about the Reformation...

One of the biggest issues between the reformers and the Roman Catholic Church was the issue of justification by faith. How does a person really get right with God? What makes us right? Can we know we're right? I had to read what the Protestant reformers said, and then also read the findings and declarations of the First Council of Trent, which was the Roman Catholic Church's response to the Reformation.

( I hadn't realized before, but there were a lot of meetings to try and heal the split, the division that had occurred when Luther and others started preaching Reformed teachings. Some of these efforts came close, but none ever really brought the two sides together. They could not agree on this issue of justification (the other major thing they couldn't agree on was whether the Pope and Church tradition had equal authority with scripture or whether the authority was sola scriptura - the scriptures alone. But that's for another time.)

One of the greatest spokespeople for the Reformation was Philipp Melanchthon, the guy who kind of took over from Luther. In the Augsburg Confession and his Apology to the Augsburg Confession (early doctrinal statements still used by Lutherans) he wrote,  “people cannot by their own powers live according to the law of God.”  He further stated that, “Terrified hearts are unable to find rest if they are supposed to think that they please God on account of their own works or their own love or the fulfilling of the law.” They only find rest when they “are convinced that we please God because He has promised, and that God keeps His promise on account of His faithfulness, and not on account of our worthiness.”

He described saving faith as “that worship which receives the benefits that God offers” whereas the righteousness of the law is “that worship which offers to God our own merits.” (if you're interested, I can tell you where I got these quotes)The point is that Melanchthon clearly taught that justification could be received in this life with assurance, by means of faith. He said that faith was recognizing our own bankruptcy, and coming to God humbly, asking for His mercy and grace, instead of trying to offer our works, our "sanctification," our love, our character, our giving, or anything of the sort, to please God.

 The Roman Catholic Church, at the First Council of Trent, came up with their counter declarations. Their "canon 9," (you can find this online) states very clearly that to believe one’s sins have definitely been remitted is a “vain and ungodly confidence,” because “no one can know with the certainty of faith, which cannot be subject to error, that he has obtained the grace of God.” This was sad, because if you read the canons before this one, Catholic authorities said many things we would agree with about how we're only saved by grace through faith, we have to be born again, etc., etc. But then they really missed it on canon 9, and still do to this day. They said very plainly that no one can know if they've been justified, if their sins are forgiven and if they're right with God for sure. How sad!

Faith comes to God to receive blessing. Works comes to God to offer something, with the idea that God will then owe us something.

So today, we're at this new church, and we're singing the Revelation Song about being filled with awestruck wonder at the mention of God's name. I had my eyes closed, and I really seemed to see within myself (spiritually, not physically), the throne of God, the sea of glass, the 24 elders around the throne, the myriad saints, the glory of God, etc. I mean, I was seeing it inside (I know some of you can understand).

So the worship leader stops and goes into this spiel. "We're not awed by God's name anymore! We 'need' to get back to that place of being awed! When was the last time you were awed? We 'ought' to really appreciate how awesome God is. We should 'really' praise Him as He deserves. Now let's sing that again, and this time, let's 'really' sing with all our hearts! Let's tell God how awesome He is! Are you ready? Let's sing it again!"

Well, as soon as he said those things, my spirit sank! We ought? We need? We should? I believe that brother is an anointed worship leader, a seasoned warrior, and I believe he was trying to step out in the spirit and exhort us, use his gifts, get us fired up, bless us. I really think that was what he was trying to do, and I don't fault him. When we feel the Spirit moving, we want to step out in faith, say something that encourages, blesses, etc. He was trying to do that. But it really was the opposite of what I think God wanted in that moment. (I know for sure I've often tried to step out and have "missed it" too!)

Fortunately, the pastor got up and said, "I think what a lot of you need is to just be still and know that He is God today."  I thought he was right on with that. The service went on and it was good. But let me share with you what came to me about it all. I told my wife this when we were riding home, and it actually brought tears to my eyes. I hope it'll bless you.

I feel that I clearly got to see the two kinds of worship, the worship of faith and the worship of works, in that service today. What I was reminded of was Cain and Abel. You know, Cain and Abel brought offerings to God. Abel brought a lamb or sheep, and he sacrificed it. Cain was a farmer and he brought the vegetables or grain of his harvest, whatever it was. God was pleased with Abel's offering, but not with Cain's. You know the story. I've often kind of struggled with that story. Well today I saw it in the light of what I've been reading about the Reformation, and I think I understood better. I saw it as faith versus works.

I believe Cain had this kind of attitude: "God, here are the fruits of my labors. I did all this work, you see, and I'm bringing it to you. Aren't you proud? Aren't you pleased with me? Look at all I did for you! This is my effort to please you. You should be glad!" (Maybe he even thought, "You kind of owe me for doing all this for you God, ya know?")

I believe Abel had a different heart entirely. He knew he had nothing to offer of his own that was any good or any use to God. So he brought a substitute. He put an innocent animal to death and brought that to God. It was like he was saying, "God, I know I'm not good enough. I can't be what you want me to be. So I'm not coming to you to boast or to demand or to say you owe me. I'm coming believing that you'll accept me based on this substitute. I'm coming to you that you might bless me. I'm coming as a bankrupt sinner, with nothing of my own righteousness. I'm coming for you to bless me as I look to you humbly, with nothing but my faith in your goodness and righteousness, and in your mercy. God be merciful to me, a sinner."

God was pleased with Abel's offering, but not with Cain's. God is pleased with faith. He cannot and will not accept any human works, for they are as filthy rags in His sight. It's not that He doesn't want us to do good works. He does (Titus 2:14). He's pleased when we do what's right. But He's not pleased when we wrongly think our works buy us His favor or His salvation. He's not opposed to effort, just earning, (a quote from Dallas Willard) the idea we earn our salvation or He owes it to us.

In Ps. 116:12, 13, David asked what he could do to repay the Lord for His goodness. And God basically answered him that what he could do would be to just lift up the cup of salvation and call upon Him. David wanted to build God a house, but God said, "I will build you a house, David!" God wanted David to drink His cup of salvation, mercy, grace. He wanted David to receive from Him, not to offer works to him.

Likewise, when Jesus walked the earth, some people asked Him what they could do to work the works of God (Jn. 6:28, 29). He said the work of God was for them to believe on the One God had sent, the Lord Jesus. God doesn't want our works! He wants us to receive from Him. He doesn't want us to think we can earn our salvation, that we can build His Kingdom, that we can be good enough or do enough things to finally be good in His sight.

This is one of the key lessons He restored to us in the Reformation. We are only justified if we come to Him humbly in faith, and receive what Christ has done for us. If we believe in Him who "justifies the ungodly." (Ro. 4:5) Our faith in His goodness and mercy is our only proper form of worship. God is pleased when we recognize His glory and humbly receive what He wants to give us.

I am so blessed to know that. "Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, oh Lamb of God, I come, I come!"

Melanchthon said hearts are terrified if they think they have to do enough or be good enough to please God. But they/we find rest when we understand the worship of faith! Just think - God is pleased when we understand we're bankrupt and we come with open hands to receive what He has offered! He's pleased when we enter into that rest of faith. Without faith it's impossible to please Him. But when we humble ourselves and receive and simply bask in His presence, that is worship He accepts! I can offer that kind of worship! I'm not good enough to please Him by my efforts, but I can come and tell Him I will receive His blessing for me.