the house of God (Heb 10:21, cf. 3:5–6). - bling of ourselves together (Heb 10:25) for the people of God (Heb 4:9). How could we despise or disregard a holy calling-together that enters heaven through Christ?
Heart & Action
But there is another, dreadful way that we might despise it. And that is if we attempt to come to Him in any way that He has not prescribed. We must worship Him acceptably, with rever- ence and awe (Heb 12:28). - cus did not regard God as holy, when they drew near to Him (Lev 10:3). That is what God called it when they offered “what He had not commanded them” (Lev 10:1). A proper regard for God’s holiness in worship is a matter of both the heart and the action. And, seeing the connection between Leviticus and Hebrews, we can see one reason that adding to God’s worship is so horrible. Whatever we add attempts to come to God without Jesus (regardless of what we intend).
Grace
this dreadfully clear. Three verses re- moved from the glorious blessing in Lev 9:23, forty percent of the priesthood that their garments could be used for carrying out their ashes (Lev 10:5). The worship that is under Christ has not lessened the seriousness. Of it, the Spirit says, “Let us have grace, through which we worship God ac- ceptably, with propriety and rever- in our Confession. ARP Confession of Faith 21.1 reads, “The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sover- eignty over all: is good, and doeth good unto all; and is, therefore, to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself,
March/April 2024
and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped accord- ing to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.” (emphasis added) as if it is strict and leaves us with meager worship. But this misses what ARP Con- glory, in them, God’s covenant with us in Christ “held forth in more fulness, evi-
In Christian worship, Christ Himself declares God’s Name to His brethren (Heb 2:12) in the reading and preaching of the Scriptures. Although He sends a preacher (Rom 10:14–15), it is He Whom our hearts hear preach (Eph 2:17) and teach (Eph 4:20–21) from heaven (Heb 12:25–27).
In Christian worship, Christ Himself sings in the midst of the assembly (Heb
2:12). As we admonish one another with the sung Word of Christ, with grace as the
In Christian worship, Christ Himself mediates our prayer (Heb 7:25). His throne, to which we come, is not only a throne of glory (Heb 10:19–25) but a throne of grace (Heb 4:14–16, Rom 10:34).
In Christian worship, Christ Himself demonstrates His authority in heaven
(Matt 28:18–20). and attests to them God’s covenant with them in Christ’s own blood. By eating and in His body and blood that are in glory. the assembly (Mat 16:19, 18:18–20).
Draw Near
The Regulative Principle has a necessary, “negative” aspect. We must not despise the glory of the holiness of God as we draw near to Him! But it is also quite positive- ly glorious. It embraces the reality that, in the holy assembly on the Lord’s Day, God has given Himself to us in an exclusive way. He brings us beyond the veil in Christ. Christ Himself, from glory, leads the prescribed worship of the assemblies on earth. It is not possible to enhance His worship by embellishment. Anything that man adds only departs from what Christ Himself leads. This despises His glory and deprives us of actual enjoyment of Him. So let us bring Him that worship which He Himself calls worship, as summarized from Scripture in ARP Confession 21.3–5. And let us add nothing else to it.
As Lev 24:1–9 emphasizes, in the worship assembly, God in heaven shines upon us the light of His face and brings us into a shared life with Himself. That Aaronic face upon you and give you peace” (cf. Num 6:22–27). highest benedictions. “Now may the God of peace Who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlast- is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
and enjoying His blessing and fellowship, only in Jesus Christ. And that is the heart of the Regulative Principle. ARPs have a great heritage of following it. May the Lord give us to continue doing so, until we come into the glory that we had previously entered only by faith!
Rev. James Hakim is the pastor of Hopewell ARP Church in Culleoka, TN. 7
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