Worship Articles by Ron Man Pastor of Music and Worship, EXW Contributor September 13, 2006

A. Romans 1

In Romans 1 Paul deals with the issue from the negative side as he describes the fate of fallen man because of his rejection of God.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature [His glory] have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks [a good summary of worship], but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [Now we see the downward spiral] Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God [about His glory] for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Now of course Paul, in these early chapters of Romans, is portraying sin in all of its blackness so that the light of the gospel might shine all the more brightly in contrast as he expounds is beginning in chapter 3. But he has also already hinted at the glories to come in 1:16-17, where he speaks of the gospel being "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."

That salvation through faith in the power of the gospel will in effect reverse the downward spiral of sin which Paul describes in chapters 1 &2. Looking again at Paul’s words indicting fallen humanity, we can recast them and reparaphrase them and see something of God’s purposes in redeeming and restoring lost men and women:

(Paraphrase of Romans 1:18-25)

For the grace of God is revealed from heaven to fallen and sinful men who have accepted the truth of the gospel, to those whom God has drawn to Himself. For now not only is the power and the majesty of God evident through what has been made, but He has also revealed His love, mercy, compassion and grace through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ His Son, so that men may be saved.

And now they not only know God, but they also honor Him as God and give thanks, their minds filled with thoughts of Him and their hearts filled with devotion to Him. Acknowledging themselves to be fools, they became wise, and exchanged images and false objects of worship for the glory of the incorruptible God.

Therefore God indwelt their renewed hearts with His Spirit unto purity, so that they might present their bodies as living and holy sacrifices unto Him. For they exchanged a lie for the truth of God, and now worship and serve the Creator rather than the creature, to the glory of His name. Amen.

This grand reversal effected through the redeeming work of Christ brings forth worship in the lives of those who find new life in Him. The foundation of sin is the failure, actually the refusal to worship God and give Him the honor and thanks He is due; it’s a refusal to glorify Him. But as the culmination of His saving work He returns believing people to an attitude and lifestyle of worship.

God intended for the revelation of His glory in creation and in redemption to issue forth in a response of worship on the part of those enabled by grace to do so.

B. Revelation 5

Let us now make a rather drastic shift from Paul’s dark picture in Romans to the glory of the throne room of heaven in Revelation 5. Here we see another picture of the centrality of worship.

(By the way, these scenes of heavenly worship in Revelation 4 & 5 are not just instructive for us; in a very real way we have the privilege in corporate worship in the church in joining our hearts and our voices with that of the heavenly host, taking part in their worship-- we have that right and that privilege because, as Paul tells us in Philippians 3:20, "our citizenship is in heaven"-- we are citizens of heaven, and enjoy the rights and privileges of that citizenship even while we are sojourners and aliens living in a strange land.)

Here is the scene in heaven which the apostle John portrays for us in Revelation 5: God the Father on the throne, along with the Lamb, in the center; the four living creatures around them, then the 24 elders, outside of them "myriads and myriads of angels," and then John says every created thing in the heavens, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea-- all saying:

"To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." (v.13)

And then we read:

"And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped"(v.14)

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good job best i have seen on worship. many scripture references. really thought out and worth reading. thanks, ron...more Submitted by: susan Location: amarillo, tx Pastor Of Worship This is one of the best articles on worship I have read in a while. Ron Man is right on in his teaching and writing. Outstanding!!...more Submitted by: Steven Location: Farmington, NM
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