In the Old Testament, one of the first principles we learn about worship is that sincerity alone is not acceptable (see the narrative of Cain’s sacrifice in Genesis 4). The heart of worship in the Old Testament was objective; the ceremonies prescribed in the Law of Moses were realities apart from feeling and emotion. The heart of worship in the Old Testament was the actual presence of God in the tabernacle and in the acceptable sacrifices of the priests.

In the culture around us, worship is often associated with a feeling. “I just don’t feel like I truly worshiped today,” or “Boy, we really worshipped today. Couldn’t you feel it?”

[My rough notes that I used to present this topic at the National Association of Free Will Baptist. Eventually, I will circle back around and update these for clarity.]

In the Old Testament, one of the first principles we learn about worship is that sincerity alone is not acceptable (see the narrative of Cain’s sacrifice in Genesis 4). The heart of worship in the Old Testament was objective; the ceremonies prescribed in the Law of Moses were realities apart from feeling and emotion. The heart of worship in the Old Testament was the actual presence of God in the tabernacle and in the acceptable sacrifices of the priests.

In the culture around us, worship is often associated with a feeling. “I just don’t feel like I truly worshiped today,” or “Boy, we really worshipped today. Couldn’t you feel it?”

The heart of worship is not subjective or abstract. Just as the worship of the Old Testament was objective and concrete—even visible—so is the worship of the New Covenant. So, what is the heart of worship in the New Covenant?

The heart of worship is the sacrificial work of Christ wherewith and wherein the Father draws humankind near to create for himself a holy people by the Spirit and the Word.

This thesis was created after sorting through the temple imagery used in the New Testament. For the sake of convenience, this thesis is repeated throughout the verses below.

Jesus as Replacement of the Temple

John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 2:19-22 – 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Revelation 21:22-27 – 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The heart of worship is the sacrificial work of Christ wherewith and wherein the Father draws humankind near to create for himself a holy people by the Spirit and the Word.

The Spirit and Truth as Replacement of the Temple

John 4:23-24 – 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The heart of worship is the sacrificial work of Christ wherewith and wherein the Father draws humankind near to create for himself a holy people by the Spirit and the Word.

For more on the Spirit and Truth, read here.

The Scriptures in the Context of Temple Imagery

1 Peter 1:18-23 – 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

1 Peter 2:1-5 – So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

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