When we talk about being living sacrifices to God and holy living, lest this leave no room for sinners such as us, let us say that though we make no provision for the flesh
(Romans 13:14Romans 13:14
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. ),
we do not seek to seem overly much holy
(Ecclesiastes 7:16Ecclesiastes 7:16
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?—refering to our own self righteousnesses).
We keep in mind that we have a high priest, who speaks to the Father in our favor
(1 John 2:11 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:),
Jesus Christ the righteous
(Hebrews 4:14Hebrews 4:14
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.),
who knows our failures and feels for us, takes our side because as our saviour He is our advocate and a high priest,
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. (Hebrews 5:2)
And we come boldy to His throne of grace,
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
And,
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19-20)
And,
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)
The foundation of worship in spirit and in truth is our lives devoted to the Lord. From that foundation, the activities of worship rise up. These activities are things like prayer and praise in word and song, teaching of the Word, fellowship, and celebrating the Lord’s Supper. We should join with other Christians in a local church for worship, even if we don’t feel holy enough. Jesus will not reject those who seek Him,
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)
To see an example of this read the passage of Luke 7:36-48
(key verse: 39)Here is what others though of her:
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. (Luke 7:39)
which tells of a woman others thought to be such a sinner that Jesus should have nothing to do with her, but Jesus thought otherwise. In fact He told her, with His own mouth, that her sins were forgiven. And He will tell all of us who come to Him for salvation, in faith believing, the very same thing through the words of His Scriptures and the witness of the Holy Spirit, Who is also called the Comforter.
If you have the thought to come and worship, and if you are troubled by the sense of being a sinner, that is a good thing. It is a good thing because if you had no desire to come, none of this would even be an issue. And it is a good thing because if sin bothers you it is a sign that God is working with you, the Comforter is the Holy Spirit, Jesus said He would send the Comforter to us, and He will make our sins to be troubling to us, to fear God’s judgement, and to begin to desire after righteousness,
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:7-8)
On the other hand, if sin doesn’t bother you it is a bad sign, in Romans Chapter One, Paul says twice, “… God gave them up …”. That contrasts with what we read about being chastized by God,
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:6-8)
If you are troubled by sin, ask, seek, knock. And if you are concerned because you are not troubled by sin, ask, seek, knock: (see also: Matthew 7:7-11 which is a parallel passage to Luke 11 below)
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9-13)
So after all it is too holy for us because we are sinners. But Jesus, our saviour, Who as both high priest and sacrifice, has by the shedding of His blood and death, made peace between us and God the Father. And God the Father now sees us covered with the righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ, when we by faith believe in Him, as did Abraham
(Romans 4:20-25Romans 4:20-25
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.).
It is not our holiness, but the holiness of Jesus Christ given freely to us. That is what is meant by the passage,
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:1-3)
“Without money and without price” to us, but at great cost to Jesus, the cost of His blood. Paul says this another way, he calls salvation a gift from God,
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
By God’s free gift to us
(Romans 5:15-18Romans 5:15-18
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.),
which we have done nothing to deserve (… by grace …) we are saved through faith, Christ has done it all for us,
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10)
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (born again) unto good works, and that is why Paul can say that is our reasonable worship to be living sacrifices to God
(Romans 12:1Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.).
It is too holy for us on our own, but not for God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Who dwells within us.
©FH 2012