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Saved to Worship
Catechism’s first answer: "Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." The author is John MacArthur. SAVED TO WORSHIP The foundation upon which true worship is based is redemption. The Father and Son have sought to redeem us that we may become worshipers. Jesus said that the Son of Man came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). In John 4 He reveals the purpose for His seeking: "For such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers" (v. 23). The Father sent Christ to seek and save for the specific purpose of producing worshiping people. Thus, the objective of redemption is making worshipers. The primary reason we are redeemed is not so that we may escape hell—that is a blessed benefit, but not the major purpose. The central objective for which we are redeemed is not even so that we might enjoy the manifold eternal blessings of God. In fact, the supreme motive in our redemptive is not for US to receive anything. Rather, we have been redeemed so that God may receive worship—so that our lives might glorify Him. Any personal blessing for us is a divine response to the fulfillment of that supreme purpose. — John MacArthur, Jr., from THE ULTIMATE PRIORITY, Chicago: Moody Press, 1983, p. 23. ISBN 0-8024-0186-4. John MacArthur is pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church of the Valley, Sun Valley, California < Have a great day! Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.educ |