Throughout the Reformed confessions, we can learn more about the truths that we stand for with regard to our worship of God and our lives as Christians. The world around us is wicked and perverse, and we see the falling away of churches towards wrong worship of our holy God. As Reformed believers, there are certain aspects that we must include in our worship and living, as well as things that we must avoid.
We are not to worship idols because that is putting other gods before us other than Jehovah. Praying to God is a required and important aspect of worship. The only way we can come to God in prayer is through Jesus Christ, who is our Mediator. We are not to pray for the dead, but rather only for the living. There are many different aspects of worship that should be included such as true preaching, reverence, songs of praise, proper administration of the sacraments, and using oaths and times of fasting in a correct manner.
We must always walk in a way that brings worship and praise to God. You can’t be a child of God on Sundays and one of the world for the rest of the week; that would be a contradiction. We have to remember to set time away from the rest of the day to worship God. This means that we have to be faithful in doing devotions, both private and family, and take time to pray and thank God for all He has done.
Sunday is the Sabbath day; we have to keep it holy. This means the same for people of all ages, both young and old. This also includes preparing our hearts and going about worship the whole day, not just when you are in the church building.
In Lord’s day 6, we see how Christ is our mediator and why it is necessary to have one. After man fell into sin, he lost the image of God. He became corrupt and a corrupt man cannot inherit anything with God. This is why Christ, who is both God and man, had to be there, to perfect our prayers before they reach God.
In Lord’s day 45, we read why prayer is important for the life of the child of God. It shows our thankfulness for all that He has done for us. Question 118, shows us what we are to pray for, which is all things that we need for both our bodies and our souls.
In article 1 of the Belgic Confession, we see the amazing truth that God is the only true God. Further, in article 2, we see why it is so important for us to read the Word of God, as it is one of the ways that God reveals himself to us.
In article 29 of the Belgic Confession, we read about the marks of the true church: the pure preaching of the Word of God, proper administration of the sacraments, and church discipline. This corresponds very well to the Westminster Confessions when it speaks about what is required for the proper worship of God.
By Kierra Hauck
Young Calvinists 