Serving God based on human rules and commandments—no matter what reasoning or justification—are all worthless before God.
1. What should be the basis of man's services to our Lord God?
The Holy Scripture teaches:
"Only fear the lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you." (I Sam. 12:24, NKJV)
"Serve Him in Truth with all your heart."
2. How s for consider what great things He has done for you." (I Sam. 12:24, NKJV)
"Serve Him in Truth with all your heart."
2. How should man worship God the Father according to our Lord Jesus Christ?
In John 4:23-24, the Lord Jesus show us the way:
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.'' ( NKJV)
Man must worship God in spirit and in truth because God is a Spirit.
3. What is the truth?
The Lord Jesus Christ said in John 17:17:
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (NKJV)
The word of God is the truth. It is God's word that sanctifies man or makes him holy.
Hence, Gods words and commandments which are written in the Holy Scriptures are the sole basis in serving Him.
4. How can man manifest that he knows and loves God?
In I John 2:3 and 5:3 it is written.
1 John 2:3
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (NKJV)
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (NKJV)
Man knows and loves God, if he keeps His commandments
The word of God is the truth. It is God's word that sanctifies man or makes him holy.
Hence, Gods words and commandments which are written in the Holy Scriptures are the sole basis in serving Him.
_____________________________________________________
The Vain Or Worthless Worship Of God
1. Is there a vain or worthless worship to God?
The Lord Jesus quoted God's words written in Isaiah, declaring:
"And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." (Mt. 15:9, NKJV)
The worship and service rendered to God based on the doctrines and commandments of man are vain or worthless.
2. Are all worship services which are accompanied by humility and sacrifices acceptable to our Lord God?
In Colossians 2:22-23, Apostle Paul gave this warning against human commands and teachings which have an appearance of wisdom:
All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence. {Or [are of no value, serving only to indulge the flesh]} ( New Revised Standard Version)
Even if said worship is accompanied by humility and sacrifices—such as severe treatment of the body, such worship will neither be worthy before God or acceptable to Him if it is not based on His commandments.
3. Can deep devotion and sincerity in performing their religious duties justify the acceptance of their worship services?
What does Apostle Paul say to these people?
"I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge. They have not known the way in which God puts people right with himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and so they did not submit themselves to God's way of putting people right." (Rom. 10:2-3, TEV)
Although man should serve God with devotion, he cannot justify his services if it is based on man-made teachings. Their devotion is not based on true knowledge - they do not know the way which God puts people right with Himself.
Man services to God becomes worthless when it is based on man's rules and commandments. Man must submit to God's way, and God's way is for us to keep His commandments.
