What's the Most Important Thing to Understand About Worship?

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Your hosts are author and seminary professor Dr. Michael Horton and Pastor atrial Sanchez call right now with your question. At 1833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 and now here's atrial Sanchez hello and welcome back to the core. Your questions about the faith. I'm Pastor Adrian Sanchez, joined by Prof. Michael Horton important is the local church to you going to likely research, 65% of Protestant churchgoers say that they can walk with God without other believers. 36% agreeing strongly doubted Grady had really wild.

Many of them also states important to have Christian relationships and encouragement, but you get the sense more and more today that we we as Christians in the United States is that we don't really need the church either by Christ.

I'm a Lone Ranger just get online and do my Christianity, by extension, like that's what we got. I have all the books I need you. I got the Bible. I have my devotional. I got in all these other things to limit say something of the church wasn't man's idea. You hear that over and over again. Well you know the church is man's ideal churches are corrupt the church was God's idea, and it's Jesus's body. Now is the body of Christ.

And so that's one of the reasons why I think this perspective really has to change. But what would it be like if we as believers here in the United States had a high view not just of Jesus and his word, but of his body, and that's what the word of God should do should give us a high view of the body of Christ as well were being driven by American culture and not the Scriptures that we want to do is dig in the Scriptures. Now we have a Facebook message from Raymond in first Corinthians 15 verse 50 it says. I tell you this, brothers, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. I'm really confused about this because it sounds like Paul is saying that sin is tied to our body.

I would answer Raymond yeah Raymond, this is a really sometimes difficult passage to interpret what Paul says first contents 1550 to 57. I tell you this, brothers, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the trickling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, we shall be changed for this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory over death, where is your victory death, where is your sting. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are a pagan reading this and unfortunately in the in the world today. Most people including most Americans would read this the way most pagans would've heard it when Paul first set it, namely death is a good thing were saved by dying. Finally, our soul, which is divine is liberated from this tomb of our body, the soul is holy and clean and pure and bright and beautiful.

The body is corrupt. That's not what Paul is saying here.

The problem is that we are embodied, but that we are guilty and the answer to our condition isn't becoming disembodied, but the resurrection of the dead. Paul's whole point in this chapter is to tell people who believe the resurrection is only spiritual know it's bodily it's physical were not looking forward merely to going to heaven when we die escaping our body. We believe in the salvation of our body. We believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. So, verse 56 tells us that we die because we are guilty we were created to die.

Death is not salvation. Death is a curse. We were meant to die, but when the guilt is removed, so is the sentence the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law condemnation has been canceled. The law no longer has any reason to declare us condemned.

Therefore death no longer can be a curse for Christians than what is death. Well, death is putting to an and the body that has been really the victim, not the victimizer but the victim here of the souls in penitence. It's the soul that has crafted all kinds of sins, even sins against the body of Jesus said that it's not what comes to a person from outside, but what's inside what's in the heart. I think we tend to think as Americans. Well, it's deep deep down I'm a good person.

It's it's all that external stuff the people you hang around with people, so-and-so hangs around, but deep down there good person know Jesus says, deep down, it's worse than on the outside, you can make yourself look pretty good on the outside is on the inside that your corrupt.

What we need is resurrection we need not a different body, but our bodies in a different condition and our soul as well.

Our soul is to be saved, but so is our body. And when the resurrection occurs. Finally, we will be raised together, body and soul, not with a new soul or a new body, but in the body that has been born, lived and died on on earth. We will be raised with that same body but in a new condition.

Notice that Paul says here that the perishable must put on imperishable of the that this mortal body must put on immortality. He doesn't say we must exchange this mortal body for an immortal body. He says this same body. Now when a condition of mortality must put on immortality. That's why Paul says we will all be changed, not not all of us will be dead when Christ returns, but all of us will be changed. Whether those who are in the grave, or whether you're walking around eating a sandwich. Your you're going to be changed at the same moment, everybody who belongs to Christ is going to be instantaneously changed and you won't have a new body, you will have a the same body in a totally brand-new condition beyond the reach of sin and death. But first, this body in its condition right now has to be put to death.

It has to disintegrate before God can raise it together with Christ in glory sex really is just given us such good news. And every time I I read that passage in first Corinthians 15 where it talks about the sting of death thing removed and reminded when I was a kid we used to go fishing off of the pier here in San Diego and we would always catch stingray and my stepdad on one occasion he pulled one and he was trying to take the hook out and he got stung and it was pretty painful. He threw it back in.

But from that point on. Every time we cut stingray he would break off their stinker that I don't allow even the correct kink that didn't have a steer anymore, but he would tell himself. Well you I don't want anybody to get stunned because you just pulling up in a whole day but he removed the stinger from the stingray, and hopefully I'm not getting him in trouble with some sort of you know, fishing agency right now but that's what Jesus did with death. It can't sting this anymore. He's removed the something or from death. Sin no longer has power over us because he took our death for him. Some that's really a minutes.

This wonderful hope we have in the resurrection that the were being given there by the apostle Paul death no longer has this thing over God's people is a call he received from DD about good works. Let's listen in her crying and I were wondering about where under direct kind of salvation I want Andre to work exactly and arm time try to understand God more you great question Dede. Yeah, I'm glad you're growing in your face and wanting to understand God's word more and more I think were right there with you DD so that the verse that immediately comes to mind.

With a question like this is Titus chapter 3 verse five he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit is a right there in the apostle Paul makes it very clear it's not because of works done in righteousness, that we were saved. So if what you mean by our good works are part of salvation. If what you mean by that is today contribute to our justification does God save us on the basis of our works done righteousness. The answer is a resounding no. Bring up another good question, though. What are good works. And there's this wonderful document called the Heidelberg catechism which you can find online has been just a great definition of good works and excellent job defining list was and what it says it says good works are those only which proceed from true face and are done according to the law of God unto his glory and not such as rest on our own opinion or the commandments of men. I think this is really helpful. I don't get to make up my own good works. They have to be in accordance with God's law and they have to flow from true faith and the Pharisees saw that they were stacked with good works that had all sorts of man-made rules that they Traditions that they had invented, but God said, I don't need all that ultimately what they lacked was faith in Jesus Christ and true obedience to God's law and use of the law of God is summed up in this love God and love your neighbor. That's what good work it's it's love, it's love that flows from the heart because of faith because of the gospel that here's the thing that love can't be the basis for your salvation because it's not perfect. There isn't one. Good work that we do as believers in Jesus that isn't still tainted with sin. How often do we do a good thing for the Lord and then the thought creeps into our mind, one who was watching me and didn't he see that Charles Spurgeon he once said that he had to pray to God to forgive his prayers, just like I have for little kids and they love drawing pictures and they bring you a picture is okay. I think that the person I can make that I am happy to receive it. But it's not. It's not perfect you know and that's our good works are before the Lord, you know that that they can't be the basis upon which our judgment stands. We can only stand because of the goodness of God in Christ, the free forgiveness of our sins and so good works. Don't contribute to our salvation the sense that were saved because of our righteousness. Titus 35 and good works are those works that flow from true faith and are in accordance with God's law. My dad was a airline mechanic in World War II and he could fix anything he he built a boat once I made this guy was.

He was a carpenter he built houses and when it comes to me the apple not only fell far from the tree.

It rolled down the hill and then went into a gutter and then it came out and was run over by a large truck boy. I have absolutely no technical skills whatsoever.

It's very sad. My wife has to calls it a handyman to hang a picture but here's the thing when I was a kid, I remember my dad had the hood up the car and I'm out there. I just like being around him and and he had his hands all messy in their rebuilding an engine or something and he says here he was almost finished, he says press this down I to this day I don't know why Pres. and does he was wiping his hands with a rag. He said that he personally got my hands all dirty so it would look reasonable. He told my mom might fix the car to this day I get tears in my eyes when I think about how loving that was.

If you're going to present your righteousness before God demanding a reward then God is furious because Christ is beloved son is the only one who actually perfectly fulfilled all righteousness. If you don't lay hold of Christ, then God is offended.

The father is offended, you're spurning his sons work, but if you come in him come in Christ resting in his perfect work.

He puts the hood up and he said look, I wouldn't even I'm not only going to save you by my grace alone in Christ alone. By his works alone.

I am also going to reward your obedience. That is halfhearted and doesn't really merit anything because I love you just because I'm your father. Isn't that just a wonderful thing to contemplate that yes are good works are rewarded by the Lord, not as they deserve.

But as his kindness confers a man Dede thank you for your question here listening to core Christianity.

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That's 1833 the core. You can also email us at questions at core, Christianity.com and want to let you know that a special offer that we have for you today think they drill yet today were excited sure a new resource on core, Christianity.com in its one that you wrote a drill. It's called some things you need to know about marriage and sex and it's free. When you sign up for our weekly newsletter. We get a lot of questions actually from people who were struggling in their marriage and let's face it, marriage is hard work. This is a really helpful resource. I think that lays out a solid foundation for what the Bible teaches about marriage. My notes could be helpful to every married couple and those preparing for marriage. So head on over to core Christianity.com/offers to download seven things you need to know about marriage and sex. He and I really started thinking about this when I was preaching to the book of Hebrews because the author the Hebrew says in Hebrews 13 verse four. Let marriage be held in honor among all and let the marriage bed be undefiled. What does that mean what's it look like for us as believers to hold marriage in honor and so that some of what we we try to get out in this writer's hoping get a hold of it, it's yours for free when you give us a call at 1-833-843-2673 Cory Estes on Instagram.

What is the most important thing. New believers need to understand about worship while great question Cory, this is what were made for right were created to glorify God and enjoy him forever as I think that's the those of the twin goals of worship to glorify God and to enjoy him, not just to glorify him, but also to enjoy him. God made us not just to obey him, but to enjoy him to find our happiness and joy and completion in him what there are four things that I would mention Cory whenever anybody asked me this question. I mention these four things. First ball is about God. That should be obvious, but it's not today. It's about us and a lot of church services. You go and it's really it's about us know it's about God were gathered by God's summons.

He is the king we are the kingdom, we come to hear what the triune God has to say to Wass, not the clever ideas or opinions or experiences and uplifting stories of the preacher. That's key and what God has to say to us, lifts us out of our everyday anxieties, despair, self-righteousness, fears, shortsighted hopes he basically put an end to our dead end script our show about nothing and writes us into his greatest story ever told were swept by the Holy Spirit into this new creation is God recounts to us his faithfulness from generation to generation and includes our generation in that unfolding story will amazing thing was about God, but it's for us is not about us but it is for us and this is an important point worship doesn't come first. We don't come to church. First of all worship we come to church. First of all to receive not to do but to have something done to and for us and be given something by God but we don't go to church to get.

I hear that all it sure would we go to church to receive worship is, as Paul says in Romans 12 one the reasonable response to the mercies of God's gift of the mercies of God. First, the gifts given to us and then we say thank you that's so God first serves us and then we respond to him, not by serving him.

He's the one who serves us.

He came not to be served but to serve, and give his life a ransom for many. We come to church to be served by him and then we praise him and then we serve others. First of all, fellow Christians in the church we serve them by our prayers are intercessions on their behalf.

We serve them by our fellowship. We serve them by our gifts and support and encouragement and admonishments. Thirdly, it's according to God's word so it's about God.

It's for us and it's according to God's word, every Royal assembly has its protocol, Cory, but had fewer of a British subject someone to a state dinner with Queen Elizabeth UB sent a protocol for how to conduct yourself, even the Queen's own family has a certain protocol they have to follow Walt Christ is our elder brother and we are his co-heirs. There's nothing he possesses that he doesn't share with us, but he's also arcane. We do nothing in the public service that isn't based on Scripture but we don't have any right to usurp his authority and invent whatever form of worship we desire. He is the king it's his kingdom. This is not our church service.

This is his. He summoned us and we have to follow his word. That's the first and second commandment right worship no other gods and don't even worship the right God the wrong way. Fourthly, Cory. I would say worship true, genuine worship leads us out into the world as salt and light I think of the weekly Lord's day service when it is the faithful preaching of the word baptism, the Lord's supper.

The fellowship of the sites. The prayers when it includes all of those elements that we find in God's word. It is a re-salinization plant we you not lose our saltiness as it were. Throughout the week and we come back to church to be re-salted to be re-Sala needed to marinate again in the powers of the age to come, so that we can go out into the world and be salt and light. We can go out to the world and be a witness. We can go out into the world and fulfill our calling is loving and serving our neighbors keeping on this theme of worship we got a call from Daniel on first Corinthians chapter 14 on verse 20 is chapter 14 impossible says in the context worship. Everything needs to be done decently and in order and Daniel wants to ask a question about this chapter in particular. Let's listen hello there Daniel and Larry. My question relates to the end of her strength and support chain were the spiritual knowledge of what I'm writing to landlord ever ignored this belt be ignored. I'm wondering what the that is actually a commando board in the instruction, stating that so you expand on what is actually being commanded.

I would appreciate it. Sure, Daniel. This is really important and I think often misunderstood passage personal. You can have backup a little bit and sick who are the Corinthians.

What is this disciplinary letter all about is a disciplinary letter, Paul is pretty upset with the way the church is running in Corinth, you have a very wealthy church, a church in a very wealthy city is a very worldly city, and Christians are living like the world you know they're suing each other, broken up into factions and divisions rivalries NV slander they are engaging in sexual immorality.

They basically are living like pagans and they come to church on Sunday and get all washed up and think nothing's wrong. Paul says this is so bad you need to suspend communion, suspend the Lord's supper until things are improved in Corinth. This is like the wild West here and one of the ways it's like the wild West is the disorderly worship. The selfishness is just palpable. Clearly what the Corinthians were saying as were spiritual were so spiritual part of the problem was. You have this group that was saying we are more spiritual than the other people in the church we speak in tongues.

We prophesy we we are more spiritual than other Christians. And Paul is saying here in verse contains 14 after the love chapter in verse 20 and 13 really your spiritual are you than what he act like children, you act like selfish babies.

You're showing off what you think our spiritual gifts. We don't even understand what those gifts are, and you're not using them to build up the body or proclaim the gospel to outsiders. Your worship is shallow, disorderly and full of confusion, more like American Idol in the worship of God is exactly what he says be not children in your thinking. What then brothers when you come together each one has a him a lesson. A revelation of tongue or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. What will happen. He says if people are speaking in unknown languages in the church and an unbeliever comes in pieces, will they not say that you're out of your minds. If you're speaking in a language that other people don't know then let there be in an interpretation. In other words, there is no bypassing of the mind, the proclamation of Christ needs to be rational and articulate it needs to connect with people who were actually there. It needs to build up the body and it needs to bring conviction to those who are visiting. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu for or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, the court when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time.

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