Worship

The word worship means “to honor or show reverence to a divine being.” Broadly speaking, worship can refer to any act of humbling oneself to honor God, including sacrifices in the Old Testament times. However, it is normally used to describe an act of serving God in a certain form such as praying or praising.

Worship service in the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple of the World Mission Society Church of God

Sacrifices in the Old Testament

For details, refer to: Sacrifice in the Old Testament

Sacrifice offered by the high priest with an animal

In the Old Testament times, they worshiped God through sacrifices. The origin of sacrifice dates back to the time of Adam, the progenitor of mankind. Adam’s sons, Cain and Abel, each presented offering to God in his own way. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice offered with a sheep, but He rejected Cain’s sacrifice offered with the fruits of the soil. God wanted the sacrifice offered through the sacrifice of animals. Since then, many forefathers of faith offered animal sacrifice, following Abel’s example. The sacrifice of shedding animals’ blood was established as a codified law in the time of Moses. In the Old Testament times, the Israelites communed with God by offering a regular burnt offering every morning and afternoon, offering sacrifices every Sabbath day and at the seven feasts every year according to the Law. Additionally, they brought offerings suitable for their purpose and need and offered to God offered person.

Types of Sacrifices in the Old Testament

The rituals of sacrifices carried out in the sanctuary in the Old Testament times were similar or duplicated in types, methods, and names, so it is not easy to distinguish them accurately. However, according to purpose, offering, and method, they can be roughly classified as follows.

• Classification by Purpose

It is largely divided into a sin offering, a guilt offering, and a fellowship offering. Both the sin offering and the guilt offering contain the meaning of redemption from sin. When they sinned against God, they usually offered a sin offering; and when they violated social laws between men, they usually offered a guilt offering. The fellowship offering was used to give thanks to God for the forgiveness of sins or to pray to God. The person who offered the sacrifice could eat the offering together with the priest.

• Classification by Offering

It can be classified as a burnt offering, a grain offering, and a drink offering. The burnt offering was the most basic and common sacrifice, and it was accomplished by burning an animal. The grain offering was literally an offering presented with grain, and there were several ways such as burning flour, oil, and incense and roasting bread. The drink offering was a sacrifice done by pouring wine, etc. The burnt offering was offered along with the grain offering or the drink offering.

• Classification by Method

There was an offering by fire, a heave offering, and a wave offering. Burnt offerings and some grain offerings were offered by fire. A heave offering was an offering that was presented to God by holding it up; and a wave offering was an offering to present by waving it. On the Feast of Firstfruits, a sheaf of the first grain was waved and presented to God.

Worship in the New Testament

From Sacrifice to Worship

The Old Testament law is a shadow of the good things that are coming in the New Testament. According to the Law of Moses, the priests sacrificed animals. The Old Testament sacrifice, which granted the forgiveness of sins by sacrificing animals, is a prophecy showing that Christ will be sacrificed for the sins of mankind in the future. The blood of the sacrifices of the Old Testament symbolized Jesus’ precious blood shed on the cross. Since Jesus sacrificed Himself as an eternal sin offering, there was no longer a need for the Old Testament sacrifices. In the New Testament times, we receive the forgiveness of sins and all blessings through the sacrifice of Jesus by worshiping in spirit and in truth.

Jesus teaches the Samaritan woman to worship in spirit and truth.

Teachings of Jesus

Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. . . . Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

John 4:21–23

In the days of Jesus, animals were sacrificed every day in accordance with the Old Testament law in Jerusalem. However, Jesus said, “nor in Jerusalem,” implying that it is no longer necessary to sacrifice animals according to the Old Testament. In the New Testament times, people worship God in spirit and truth just as Jesus showed an example and the apostles kept, following Jesus’ example.

Purpose of Worship

To Receive the Forgiveness of Sins and Be Reconciled to God

One of the greatest purposes of worship is the forgiveness of sins. Worship is the only ceremony for mankind, who has been separated from God because of their sins, to receive the forgiveness of sins and come to God. In the Old Testament times, the Israelites sacrificed animals to be forgiven of their sins, and they offered worship services with the blood of animals. In the New Testament times, however, Christ Himself, represented as the Lamb, sacrificed Himself for the forgiveness of sins of mankind. Through this, people are freed from the chains of sin, and the way is opened to be reconciled to God, from whom they had been separated because of their sins. They should offer worship to God in order to remember and commemorate the love of Christ who sacrificed Himself for mankind, sinners.

To Confirm Their Relationship With God

God and His people meet and communicate spiritually through worship. God said that He made a covenant with His people through sacrifice, that is, worship. Worship is designed to strengthen the covenant people have made with God the Creator and serve Him with conviction. Through worship, people acknowledge their relationship with God as Parents and children, King and people, Creator and creatures. There are many gods and lords in the world. If they do not serve only God completely, they won’t be able to avoid destruction. Through worship, they serve the true God only, which enables them to become more connected to God with an inseparable cord of love.

To Give Thanks and Glory to God

God is the Creator of all things in the universe. He gave life and breath to human beings, saved them who had become sinners, and promised them the kingdom of heaven through the words of truth. God established the plan of redemption and fulfills His will while people don’t realize it.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Revelation 4:11

God’s people live in the grace of God, receiving His love and care every day. Worshiping God, who is worthy to receive glory, honor, and thanks, is a ritual that God’s people ought to perform.

Blessing of Worship

Worship service contains God’s will to bless those who serve God with the right of heavenly people and of God’s children, and also to make everything go well with them in the end. When God’s people give thanks and glory to God in spirit and truth, God grants them many blessings. The blessing of worship can be confirmed through the promises of God contained in the sacrifices of the Old Testament.

• The Old Testament sacrifice was the only way for sinners, who had been separated from God because of their sins,to receive the forgiveness of sins and come to God. The forgiveness of sins is the purpose of worship for the saints who hope for salvation, but it is also a great blessing from God.
• When they offer a sacrifice (worship), they can prosper both physically and spiritually. Solomon received wisdom from God by offering a thousand burnt offerings and became the wisest king of his time, and his kingdom greatly prospered under God’s blessing. The house of Obed-Edom, where the ark of the covenant was kept, was greatly blessed, which shows that those who worship and serve God in the temple will be blessed.
• When people keep worship according to God’s commandments, they will receive the blessing of spiritual wisdom and understanding. The prophet Isaiah prophesied that people will lose wisdom and understanding if they obey the rules of men. The rules of men refer to false worship such as Sunday worship and Christmas which are not found in the Bible. If they practice false worship, that is, rules of men that are not found in the Bible, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Only when they keep the worship services and the feasts commanded by God, can they receive wisdom and understanding through the blood of Christ, so that they can fully realize the mystery of God and the administration of redemption.
• The meaning and blessing contained in the worship of the feasts is even more special. Since different blessings of God are promised in each and every one of the seven feasts in three times, people can all receive God’s blessings when they keep the feast worship. Feast worship is the passage through which they can receive numerous blessings such as the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, the blessing of being protected from disasters, the living hope for resurrection, the promise of ascension, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the Sabbath worship, which is a weekly feast, is promised the blessing of being acknowledged as God’s people and entering the eternal rest.

Day of Worship

God’s people keep the weekly feasts and the annual feasts according to the regulations.

Weekly Feasts

• Sabbath: The Sabbath is a weekly feast, which commemorates the power of God the Creator. The Sabbath in the Bible is the seventh day, Saturday.
• Third Day Worship: The Third Day Worship, when they can receive the blessing of being sanctified, is held on the third day, Tuesday evening.

Annual Feasts

As for the annual feasts, there is the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Day of Resurrection (Feast of Firstfruits), the Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Each of the seven feasts, which are observed in three times, has its own prophetic meaning and blessings.

Special Worship

A special worship service is held when there is a special purpose. Special worship services can be offered on special occasions.

Forms of Worship

Although there is no standardized worship service recorded in the Bible, the format of worship of the early Church is seen through the work of Jesus and the apostles. In the early Church, worship was held in various places: the homes of the saints, the outdoor spaces, synagogues where many Jews gathered, etc.

• Sermon: Jesus set an example of giving a sermon in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. The apostles too gave a sermon while keeping worship in a synagogue.
• Prayer: Worship was also a time of prayer. When the Bible recorded that Paul and Silas were looking for a place to keep the Sabbath worship, it described it as them “looking for a place of prayer.”
• Praise: An act of praising is also accompanied during worship. Apostle Paul taught that the saints should praise, teach the word of God, etc. in an orderly way when they gather.
• Feast Ceremony: According to the meaning of the feast worship, special ceremonies are held on some feasts. The Bible records holding the Holy Supper on the Passover, and breaking bread on the Resurrection Day.

See also

• Sacrifice in the Old Testament
• Order of Priest
• Commandments of God
• New Covenant