Christ Alone is Worthy of Our Worship

Revelation 5:9-10

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

Christ Alone is Worthy of Our Worship

Context:

End times.

Similar to Daniel 7:9,

John is in spirit, witnessing the throne room of Heaven.

Four living beasts, twenty-four thrones with elders, and God the Father is seated on the throne.

God the Father has a scroll in his right hand. No one is able to open it.

John begins to weep. “…no one is able to accomplish God’s sovereign plan.” (Spurgeon).

THE LAMB - CHRIST, SPOTLESS, GLORIFIED, MEDIATOR, EQUAL WITH GOD...

"every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea” sang a new song - worshiped Christ, who is God.

Worthy of our worship:

Why was John crying? [Ask Kids] - “no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.”

What is the book? - Unknown. Possibly God’s plan and destiny for the world. (R.C. Sproul)

The Book of Revelation Various Identifications

A book containing God’s plan of judgment and redemption. The “book” is best understood as containing God’s plan of judgment and redemption, which has been set in motion by Christ’s death and resurrection but has yet to be completed. The question asked by the angelic spokesman concerns who in the created order has sovereign authority over this plan. That the book represents authority in executing the divine plan of judgment and redemption is clear from the parallelism of the hymns in 5:9–10 and 5:12. The former interprets Christ’s worthiness to receive the book as indicating his authority to redeem his people and establish them as kings and priests

Why was no one worthy? - God the Father has given all authority to Christ. Christ is the sacrificial lamb, slain for the sins of his people - the church. Only He is worthy to receive authority symbolized by the scroll.

Christ is also equal to God. He is God.

We know Christ was the only one who was able to bear the sins of the world, redeem his church and fully satisfy the wrath of the Father.

We’re not worthy by our merit. Only He is.

The Book of Revelation The Book Must Be Opened by Someone Who is Worthy (5:2–3)

The implication of both proclamations in their contexts is that no created being, only God, possesses the worthiness and authority to be sovereign over history and to be able to execute his cosmic plan

Christ appears as a lamb, glorified.

Clear picture of the gospel - Slain, purchased with blood, established his church.

When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song...

ALL FALL IN WORSHIP AT THE FEET OF CHRIST.

We are saved through the one who is worthy to hold and accomplish from God the Father’s plan. This alone deserves our true worship.

Application:

Worship - Song, prayer, thanksgiving, attributing success to God, believing in what Christ has done for us, through the gospel.