The Unsaved Cannot Truly Worship God

Worship is impossible for those who are dead in trespasses and sin. If we have no knowledge of God and no faith in His Son, how can we worship Him? I must know God through His Son Jesus Christ before I can worship Him. I cringe every time I see a sign in front of a church extending an invitation to the public to “Come and Worship with Us.” How misleading! How erroneous! They may come and hear the Word of God with us. They may come and sing with us. But they cannot worship if they do not know God, if they are still in their sin. It is a privilege reserved for the redeemed.

Intelligent worship is impossible for those who are in doubt as to their salvation before God. Without the certainty of salvation, the assurance of forgiveness, there is no joy of the Lord, no spirit of worship. The Christian who can say, “I know whom I have believed,” has the basis for intelligent worship. 

True worship is reserved for the redeemed, those who have appropriated by faith the provision made for their deliverance, those who have trusted Jesus Christ in a personal way as their Savior, those who have come to know God and His Son Jesus Christ.

William J. McRae, “The Nature of Worship: An Exposition of Exodus 15:1-21,” The Emmaus Journal, Vol.6/No.2, pg.232