Sermons in Rosedale Network of Churches
Continuing a multi-year theme of hearing how God is at work in our churches, the 2025 Feature Beacon articles focus on preaching within Rosedale Network of Churches. Each article features a recent sermon by a Rosedale Network pastor. May we all be encouraged by the faithful teaching of God’s Word.
At the beginning of the Old Testament, we read about a series of historical events. These events have some drama, excitement, and a bunch of interesting facts. We then land at the Exodus, and what unfolds as God delivers a chosen people out of the hand of the Egyptians. Here, a dilemma emerges. How does this Holy God of deliverance now interact with an unholy people?
Obviously, there are interactions between God and individuals before the Exodus, but now God is going to interact with a nation of people. Beginning at creation, we see that God has a desire to interact with His creation. When God gives the Law to Moses, we start to see how God desires that this new nation interact with Him and with each other.
Leviticus, specifically, isn’t an easy read for me, but it reveals God’s character, heart, and love for His people. For instance, in Leviticus 16, we read about the Day of Atonement, and we are given very specific details of operation for this day. It may seem a bit much to you and me as we find ourselves far removed from such events. But it does uncover the principles to be applied in order that one might be prepared to encounter this Holy God.
When we obey God’s directives, it is an active form of worship.
What can be discovered is the chasm that lies between a Holy God and His people. Interestingly, this gap is then bridged by God and not by man (Col. 1:19-20, Rom. 8:3). God is the one who reveals the possibility of encountering His holiness. God is the one who gives directives for engagement in the Old Testament, and God is the one who sends His Son to die on a cross for our sins. And by doing so, allows us to encounter Him in a new way that doesn’t require a special day, or dress, or sacrifice, or cleansing process.
The actions required in the Old Testament seem to be directives that require rigid obedience. While this is true at some level, God is providing a way for obedience to lead to worship. That’s what biblical obedience really is—worship. When we obey God’s directives, it is an active form of worship.
It’s fascinating to me that God reveals His holiness to man, the resulting distance between a Holy God and man, then provides all that is necessary for man to encounter His holiness. And not just encounter it, but to live in it! He gives clear and specific ways by which we are to worship Him. When I view this from a perspective of God providing the ability to worship Him in order that I might encounter Him, it reveals my futility and the cost of what He is providing.
A conundrum of humanity is that our sin is intrinsically tied to God’s holiness. Sin isn’t sin without God being holy. It is human nature to downplay the detriment of sin. That can only be accomplished by decreasing the holiness of God. It’s the only way to neutralize the effects of sin on our lives. In Romans 5:8, Paul reminds us of the generous gift of God. But, as I study the Old Testament—and especially the Law—I begin to feel as if I’m missing the holiness of God. Or, at minimum, reducing it to a comfortable level. Have I overlooked the principles to worship God according to His desires?
The Law, in part at least, seems to be God revealing what is required to worship Him. Obedience to these principles may seem daunting. However, if we can begin to view it as an active form of worship according to God’s desires, it sheds a unique perspective on these directives. Seeing obedience as a way to encounter God places things in perspective, and Jesus has provided a unique way to do just that (Heb. 4:15-16). So, is my obedience a duty to win His favor, or an active form of worship as a way to encounter a Holy God?
Photo credit: AI-generated
