Worship: the Privilege of the Obedient

The worst of sinners can come to salvation, for salvation doesn’t come based on our deed, but comes by the abundant grace of God (Ephesians 2:8). But it is equally true that the worship of God is only the privilege of the obedient. The worst of sinners can be saved, but then that worst sinner will obey, and by that obedience be welcomed into full worship of God.

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;

Psalm 15:1-2

As with the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:28), we must examine ourselves as we worship the Lord. It is only with the lightness of a clean conscience and a righteous life that we can worship God truly. Then we can sing with confidence every song without cringing at the convicting line or two, then we can echo an “Amen” in our souls at every public prayer prayed, then we can submit to the reading and preaching of the Word of God with the joy and hunger of one truly loving the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The more pure our obedience, the more pure our worship. When our righteousness is made complete in heaven, then our worship will also be perfected.

Any sinner can, by God’s grace, become a worshipper. But continual, daily, unabated worship is only the privilege of the obedient.