“And they were attending constantly in the teaching of the apostles, and in the fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers. ... Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added the ones being delivered daily to the assembly.” (Acts 2:42, 47, ABP+).
"They
were attending constantly”
While the religious practices of washing one another's feet, saluting with the kiss of peace, worship while wearing veils, and specifically encouraging one another are subject to how society's customs dictate, there are specific acts of worship to our God that are mandated. God has specified certain acceptable actsi to us by His Holy Spirit directing His holy apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:5).
AUTHORIZED ACTS OF "KISS TO GOD" WORSHIP. In review, we have noticed that Jesus answered Satan in the temptations in the wildernessii that one is to do two things for worship: (1) specific acts of "worship" to the Lord our God and (2) a dedicated life to "serve" worship only Him. "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt (1) worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou (2) serve” (Matthew 4:9,10).
TWO GREEK WORDS. (1) WORSHIP. Jesus explained to the woman at Jacob's well, “God is a Spirit: and they that worshipG4352 Him must worshipG4352iii Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). This “worship” according to Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary is “meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.” According to the King James Concordance, this word is used 60 times in the New Testament and is translated with the English word “worship”.
SERVE. G3000iv This word is translated “worship” in some passages in some versionsv and has a different meaning. This “serve” according to Strong's means, “From latris (a hired menial); to minister (to God), that is, render religious homage: - serve, do the service, worship (-per).” According to the King James Concordance it is used 22 times in the original language. Although in Hebrews 9:9 it is just rendered “did” in KJV's English, it is translated as “serve” 16 times and also as “worship” in Acts 7:42, 24:14, Philippians 3:3, and Hebrews 10:2.
These words can be differentiated by the first being an act directed to God whereas the second is to "serve" others as God's servants.
ABRAHAM'S EXAMPLE OF AN ACT OF WORSHIP TO GOD. One of the first examples of obedient “worship”G4352 in the Greek Bible is Abraham's sacrifice in Moriah (Genesis 22:5) which clearly shows what is involved by this word (probably where the temple would eventually be built).
Abraham's acceptable worship in Moriah: “...I and the lad [Isaac] will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Genesis 22:5b). We can identify at least three facts of this God-approved worship:
(1) It is a specified command by God. “Go and do this...”
(2) The action is intended and prepared by worshipper. "I go to" and "I prepare for...".
(3) Overt behavior. He does something specific (eventually sacrificed God's substitute animal).
Worship under the Law. John Wattsvi also identifies basic elements of any worship "ritual" but one thing we agree on is something purposely has to be done. For acceptable worship I would emphasize that the act has to be authorized or commanded by God. Under the Law this required the worshipper to use the Levitical priests and to eventually [only to] sacrifice at Moriah (Temple in Jerusalem; 1 Kings 9:3; Deuteronomy 12:5). Those that broke away from Judah (northern Israel) and worshipped at Bethel and without the Levitical servants were condemned and removed from history (2 Kings 17:20; Amos 4:4).
NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP. G4352 Finally, Jesus is crucified, buried, and raised and exalted to the right hand of God. Jesus had promised to the woman at Jacob's Well in John 4:21-24, “the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. … 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.” The place of worship is not to be restricted as it had been.
THE NEW WORSHIP IS TO BE IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH.
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. The spirit and the truth referred here is the worshipper's spirit and the gospel's truth (Romans 1:9).vii Who is to determine what the truth is? Jesus promised His apostles the Holy Spirit would be sent to direct them in this Truth. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth... He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13,14). Jesus concludes with the prayer to the Father, “Sanctify them through Thy Truth; Thy Word is Truth” (John 17:17).
As promised the Holy Spirit of Truth came on the following Pentecost to the apostles and guided them in teaching acceptable worship to God for them and us today.
ELEMENTS OF TRUE "THE KISS" WORSHIP. The Holy Spirit's Word approves the following acts of (kiss) worship as specified in Acts 2:42 and 2:47: They are (1) to attend constantlyviii, (2) to the apostles' teachingix, (3) in the fellowshipx, (4) in the breaking breadxi, (5) in the prayersxii, and (6) [verse 47] in praisingxiii the God.xiv Now the Spirit of God that directed these activities is the Spirit of Truth. I submit that these comprise the total of the Truth of the “kiss” worship of John 4:24 where Jesus said that God wants worshippers to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The Holy Spirit of Truth approves these acts of “kiss” worship that are to be directed to God. I can't think of another Spirit authorized act of “kiss worship”; can you? So we should conclude that God approves only these acts and that they must be in assembly attendance (see #1 above). “This is why in the twentieth century that churches of Christ assemble specifically to only practice these elements of “kiss” worship (like the Troas church did in Acts 20:7, as well as the Ephesian church (5:19), Colossian church, etc.).
When and how often are we to convene to “kiss” worship? We go to later passages in the historical record of the New Testament for the answer to this question.
BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THAT JESUS WOULD HAVE US “SERVE” DAILY IN OUR RESPECTIVE LIVES. "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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” (Hebrews 10: 24, 25a). Just as the Pentecost church (Acts 2) attended to caring for each other, so it is Hebrews 10:24, 25 urges faithful assemblying for provoking individual "service" (type of worship); i.e., to "incite each other to love and good works" (compare to Romans 12:1,2 and Ephesians 2:8-10). We hunger for this assemblying for our nuturing of such righteousness (Beatitudes).
THE "SERVICE" WORSHIP ASPECT. We should thank our God and our Lord Jesus that we have an American President who encourages governors to deem "worship houses" in the various states as essential services.xv Vincent's Word Studies interprets this phrasing, “The antithesis is, 'not forsaking assembling, but exhorting in assembly.'” Some are said to have abandoned the opportunity. Hence, a chief purpose of assembly is to serve God by exhorting each other; we do this by preaching, singing, observing together the Lord's Supper, supporting good works, and yes, even announcements and direct salutations.
GAYLON WEST
"THROW OUT THE LIFELINE"
i The New Testament revelation of management service in this context is called “dispensation of the grace” and the fellowship of Jew and Gentile is called “a mystery made known.” How to worship would be included in the management of grace. -GW
ii To the devil, Jesus maintains that God alone is (1) the object of our worship while also (2) our service in life must be dedicated ONLY to Him
iii προσκυνέωG4352.
iv λατρεύωG3000.
v For example, in BBE, Romans 12:1b, “that you will give your bodies as a living offering, holy, pleasing to God, which is the worship it is right for you to give him” (also ESV, GW, NIV).
vi https://academic.oup.com/jaar/article-abstract/XXVI/3/217/783046?redirectedFrom=PDF
vii “For God is my witness, whom I serve G3000 with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” (Romans 1:9).
viii Attend (proskartereōG4342); Strong's: “to be earnest towards, that is, (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor)”
ix Doctrine. Strong's: didachēG1322: “instruction (the act or the matter).” GW: this would include the Faith, readings, study, and sermons. Notice that this instruction source is through the apostles who were baptized by the Holy Spirit and spoke as He guided them (Acts 2; John 16:13).
x “the Fellowship”; Strong's: koinōniaG1322: “partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: - (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contribution), distribution, fellowship.” In worship these brethren gave of their means, shared in their supporting good works among themselves which were for their immediate needs (Acts 2:44,45; Ephesians 2:8-10).
xi “Breaking of bread”. For worship this would have to be the Lord's Supper (Communion). Acts 20:7. The context of Acts 2 reports their social fellowship in eating together from house to house. Although the subject is changed from act of worship, the together would indicate their caring for one another which is in the second category of worship; i.e., service to God.
xii proseuchēG4335 Strong's: prayer (worship) to God.
xiii aineōG134. Thayer's: “(1) to praise, extol, to sing praises of honor to God.”
xiv It is interesting that in each case the Greek specifies the acts with the definite article “the” which is unique to Greek.
xv https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-houses-of-worship-deemed-essential-services- coronavirus-pandemic/
xvi Definition of assembly by Jesus: Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
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