Philippians 3:3 “For we are the true circumcision,
who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in
Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”
The
devotional concludes that it is not that God wanted Israel to abandon what He said
about the form of worship. The goal, rather, was for worship to be “true” in
form and function, to be so deeply rooted within the heart that justice and
righteousness inevitably resulted; that it is truly right in the eyes of the
Lord. If worship is not leading us to repent and do good, it is not worship
from the heart. We must remember, as Matthew Henry comments, that “the
sacrifice of the wicked is really an abomination to God.”
Ephesians 2:1-5 “You were dead in your
trespasses and sins, in which you formerly
walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons
of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts
of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children
of wrath, even as the rest. But God,
being rich in mercy, because of His great
love with which He loved us, even when
we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with
Christ (by grace you have been saved).
For
clarification of terms, let’s look at the definition of the word “wicked” in
the 1828 Webster’s dictionary. Wicked: Evil
in principle or practice; deviating from the divine law; addicted to vice;
sinful; immoral. This is a word of comprehensive signification, extending to
every thing that is contrary to the moral law, and both to persons and actions.
We say, a wicked man, a wicked deed, wicked ways, wicked lives, a wicked heart,
wicked designs, and wicked works. The wicked, in Scripture are persons who live
in sin; transgressors of the divine law; all who are unreconciled to God,
unsanctified or impenitent.
The
definition of the word “righteousness” in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary is: Purity
of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the Divine law.
Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used,
is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections
of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call
justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true
religion. The active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God
is fulfilled. The cause of our justification.
As the Apostle Paul tells us: "put no confidence in the flesh and worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus". Seek truth and righteousness always.
In Christ, Brian
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