Question 22–1: What does the light of nature reveal about God and our responsibility toward him?
Answer: The light of nature reveals that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all. He is just and good to all and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the heart, soul, and mind. (a) (b)
(a) Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you (Jer 10:7).
(b) "And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Mark 12:33).
Remarks: Many have read the familiar truth in the Reformed catechisms that state positively of man’s chief goal being to glorify God. This axiom is true for everything we do. We have a personal calling to please God just as Christ did with his earthly ministry and subsequent death on the cross. It pleases God when we imitate Christ and his deeds so our focus should be to please God in whatever we do or say.
Question 22–2: Who are we to worship?
Answer: Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit alone. (a) (b) (c) We are not to worship the angels, saints, or any other creatures. (d) (e) (f)
(a) And he said to him, "All these Iwill give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve" (Matt 4:9–10).
(b) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him (John 4:23).
(c) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19).
(d) Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen (Rom 1:25).
(e) Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind (Col 2:18).
(f) Then Ifell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! Iam a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev 19:10).
Remarks: One of the controversies that divide Roman Catholics and Protestants is the relationship between worshipping God (called latria) and venerating Mary (called hyperdulia) and the saints (called dulia). Catholics insist they simply honor or pay devotion to Mary and the saints, while bestowing worship to God. Evangelicals point out that the Bible does not recognize a distinction between the terms dulia and latria in the context of religious worship, nor can a distinction be made lexicographically. Both terms trace back to the biblical usage of divine worship, and therefore no meaningful separation can be made between the two. We serve a jealous God who takes worship seriously—just as Uzzah realized the hard way when the Lord struck him dead (2 Sam 6:3–7).
Question 22–3: How are we to offer our prayers to God?
Answer: Acceptable prayer is to be made in the name of the Son, (a) by the help of the Holy Spirit, (b) and according to his will. (c) It must be made with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance. In like manner, corporate prayer must be made in a known language. (d)
(a) Whatever you ask in my name, this Iwill do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, Iwill do it (John 14:13–14).
(b) Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Rom 8:26).
(c) And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us (1 John 5:14).
(d) Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up" (1 Cor 14:16–17).
Remarks: It is remarkable to consider that the God of the universe listens to our prayers. In fact, the Bible teaches us that we should pray and also gives examples with respect to accomplishing this task. Perhaps the best known prayer is the Lord’s Prayer. This brief communication with God serves as the Christian model as instructed by Christ. Included in this prayer are expressions of adoration and praise, confession of sins, thankfulness for God’s goodness, petition for one’s self and for others, and intercession.
Question 22–4: What shall we pray for?
Answer: Prayer is to be made for things lawful and for all sorts of men living or that ever shall live. (a) (b)
(a) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Tim 2:1–2).
(b) "Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, OLord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever" (2 Sam 7:29).
Remarks: It is worth noting here that the reason we pray for self and others is because the Lord uses our prayers to fulfill his divine plan. Some often wonder why Reformed Christians pray if God has ordained everything that shall come to pass. To this, the answer would be twofold: God commands us to pray, and God ordains the ends as well as the means to achieve his purpose.
Questions and answers taken from The Essence of the Christian Faith. Click here to request your free copy.
