What is worship?
“The proper or improper response to a god, many gods, or the one true God.”
What is true, spiritual worship?
“The proper and reverent response to the one true God because of who He is.”
Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone;1 not to angels, saints, or any other creatures;2 and since the fall, not without a mediator,3 nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.4
—1689 London Baptist Confession, ch.22, para.2
- Matthew 4:9-10; 28:19; John 5:23
- Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10
- John 14:6
- 1 Timothy 2:5
Corporate Worship 2c. “Mediation for Worship”
And since the fall, worship should not be given without a mediator...
Scripture Ref: Jn 14:6
Other Ref: Job 9:33; Isa 41:28; Ezek 22:30
Fallen man, by his sin, has no standing before a holy & just God; moreover, God is spirit (Jn 4:24) making it even more difficult for flesh & blood to appeal to a transcendent God.
Corporate Worship 2d. “Mediator in Worship”
...or by any other mediation that that of Christ alone.
Scripture Ref: 1 Tim 2:5
Other Ref: Heb 4:15; Ex 23:9
Apprehension (not comprehension) of Christ's two natures is an essential element for true spiritual worship.