The Basis of Worship

Hiroo Onoda

Matthew 28:20 (AV) — . . . and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1 John 1:1, 3 (AV) — 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; . . . 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with

the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John 17:3 (AV) — 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Revelation 14:7 (AV) — 7 . . . . Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made

heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

No outward shrines may be visible, there may be no image for the eye to rest upon, yet we may be practicing idolatry. It is as easy to

make an idol of cherished ideas or objects as to fashion gods of wood or stone. Thousands have a false conception of God and His

attributes. They are as verily serving a false god as were the servants of Baal. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 173.4)

John 4:24 (AV) — 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Exodus 20:5 (AV) — 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous (ַקּנָא qanna) God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the

third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Hebrews 10:25 (AV) — 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Psalm 95:6 (AV) — 6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Genesis 22:5 (AV) — 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and

worship, and come again to you.

Worship is, perhaps, most of all, a warm and strengthening family reunion. … We worship because

we really do need each other. (Bill and Gloria Gaither, Worship His

Majesty, Forward)

Matthew 15:9 (AV) — 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Revelation 22:8, 9 (AV) — 8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then

saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of

this book: worship God.

It is not men whom we are to exalt and worship; it is God, the only true and living God, to whom our worship and reverence are due.

(Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898, par. 1)

Matthew 4:10 (AV) — 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy

God, and him only shalt thou serve.

John 9:1–3 (AV) — 1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his

parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

John 9:19–23 (AV) — 19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now

seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22 These words

spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore said his parents,

He is of age; ask him.

John 9:24–29 (AV) — 24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this

man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I

see. 26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spake

unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

John 9:30–34 (AV) — 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he

is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and

doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou

teach us? And they cast him out.

John 9:35–38 (AV) — 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I

believe. And he worshipped him.

Luke 15:5 (AV) — 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

In the parable the shepherd goes out to search for one sheep—the very least that can be numbered. So if there had been but one lost

soul, Christ would have died for that one.

The sheep that has strayed from the fold is the most helpless of all creatures. It must be sought for by the shepherd, for it cannot find its way back. So with the soul that has wandered away from God; he is as helpless as the lost sheep, and unless divine love

had come to his rescue he could never find his way to God. (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 187.2, 3)

1 Corinthians 1:30 (AV) — 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and

sanctification, and redemption:

John 4:20–24 (AV) — 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me,

the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not

what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall

worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship

him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

2 Timothy 3:12 (AV) — 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

God is our strength. We must look to Him for wisdom and guidance, and keeping in view His glory, the good of the

church, and the salvation of our own souls, we must overcome our besetting sins. We should individually seek to obtain new victory every day. We must learn to stand alone and depend wholly upon God. The sooner we learn this the

better. (Early Writings, p. 105.2)

Hebrews 13:5 (AV) — 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Matthew 7:14 (AV) — 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be

that find it.

Psalm 96:9 (AV) — 9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.