We draw near to God, not presumptuously, not as if we are the ones initiating worship, not inviting God to come down and join us, not concerned with pleasing ourselves, not concerned with making worship “feel” exciting. No, we come with humility and meekness, recognizing that we do not deserve to be in God’s presence; we come only at his command and through the means that he has provided to give him the glory he deserves and to renew our gospel covenant with him.
All five Solas of the Reformation find their fullest expression in the public worship of God’s people. We can see this in just two verses in Hebrews 12:
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
In previous articles, we have seen how Scripture alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and faith alone are all embedded in the biblical idea of acceptable worship.
Finally, acceptable worship is worship that brings glory to God alone. There are two ways in Hebrews 12:28–29 in which the public worship of God’s people is the fullest expression of this Sola as well as the others.
First, once again, the word “acceptable” highlight the fact that worship is for God’s glory alone. The word translated “acceptable” comes from a root that means, “to please”—we saw the same term in chapter 11—without faith it is impossible to please God. We are to offer worship to God that pleases him.
It’s his worship after all. It’s for his glory alone. God created all things for his glory alone. Before the foundation of the world he chose a people for his glory alone. He sent his Son to redeem that people for his glory alone. And he calls his people to worship him acceptably for his glory alone.
Worship is not for our glory; worship it not ultimately to please ourselves. Worship is meant to please God alone.
But second, worship is acceptable only when it is offered in a particular manner that brings God glory alone. Often Christians assume that as long as we worship the right God and we do so by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, then the manner of our worship does not matter. All he cares about is the sincerity of our hearts. We may worship in whatever manner pleases us. Whatever manner makes us feel close to God.
But on the contrary, what does verse 28 say? “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”
There is a standard for the manner of our worship, and that standard is not us. The standard is not what makes us feel near to God. The standard is not determined by the culture around us, or what is familiar and comfortable to us.
According to the standard of God’s authoritative Word, there is a manner of worship that brings God glory alone, and it is worship in reverence and awe. This involves more than just the object of our worship, more than just the means by which we offer God worship, more than just the sincerity of our hearts. To offer God worship in reverence and awe encompasses everything about the manner in which we draw near to God.
We draw near to God, not presumptuously, not as if we are the ones initiating worship, not inviting God to come down and join us, not concerned with pleasing ourselves, not concerned with making worship “feel” exciting.