The conditions for worship

Because of the work of our Lord Jesus, we have boldness to enter into the holiest by His blood. And the wonderful truth is we can enter at all times. But boldness does not mean a lack of reverence. In the tabernacle in the wilderness, only the high priest could enter into the holiest, and that only once per year on the day of atonement. Even as Aaron entered, I am sure he would do so with trepidation. Would he not remember the judgement of God that fell upon his sons, Nadab and Abihu, because they entered with strange fire?

1. Conditions under the old covenant

   Although much of the worship of the Jews could be seen perhaps as an external ritual, God laid down certain rules regarding how the priest should dress and conduct himself.

   1. The priestly garments

      Ezekiel 44: 17-78

      17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

      18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.

      They were not to wear anything that might cause the flesh to sweat.

   2. The altar

      Exodus 20:26 says about the altar:

      26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

      Even the ankles of the priest were not to be visible as he stood before the altar. The priests also had to stand on the north side of the altar.

      11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.

      The sun as it passes over the altar moves round on the south side. As the priest stood on the north side, his shadow would not be cast on the altar but away from the altar.

   3. The meal offering

      Leviticus 2:11 says of any additions to the meal offering:

      11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.

      The addition of honey would have been an artificial sweetness. When we worship in a public way, it is not rhetoric that we require or knowledge but reality and genuineness.

2. Separation from the world

   We often speak of Egypt as being typical of the world. In the book of Exodus, God has been speaking to Moses on behalf of the Lord

   "Let my people go that they may serve Me".

   When Pharaoh refuses, God begins to bring upon the land of Egypt a series of plagues. Pharaoh now begins to offer a series of compromises, none of which satisfied Moses.

   Exodus 8:25 & 28

   25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.

   28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away:

   Exodus 10:

   11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

   24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

   These compromises are all attempts by Pharaoh to place restrictions on the people to leave something behind in Egypt.

   Worldly religions are little more than various stages of compromise with the world around them.

3. Conditions under Christianity

   Because we do not have an altar or physical sacrifices, it does not mean that we can come any way before God as worshippers. Worship is the highest expression of our fellowship, so we would still have to carry out the spirit of the Lord's commandment in Matthew 5:

   3 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

   24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

   Other conditions that apply are to be found in I Corinthians 11. Although the assembly was gathering on the first day of the week, gathered round a table upon which sat the bread and the cup, Paul tells them:

   This is not to eat the Lord's Supper. Conditions at Corinth were not right

   1. There were divisions amongst them. Paul has already written about these in chapter 2

   2. There were differences among them regarding spiritual maturity .
      Else how should they which are approved be made manifest among you

   3. They were making social distinctions amongst themselves the rich were putting the poor to shame

   4. There were moral failures some were not discerning the Lord's body