“...God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:24 ESV

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"I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your

bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual

worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the

renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Romans 12:1-2 ESV

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"God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of

him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be

satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the

most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers,

husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any, or all earthly

friends. These are but shadows, but the enjoyment of God is the

substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are

but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean."

Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 17: Sermons and Discourses,

1730-1733

 

"The glory of God is the sum of all His infinite excellence and praiseworthiness set forth

in the display. To glorify God is, first of all, to respond properly to this display by ascribing to

Him the honor and adoration due Him because of His excellence. We call this worship"

Jerry Bridges, The Joy of Fearing God, 1998

Grace Baptist Church focuses on resting in God’s grace through Jesus Christ.

 

In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul says,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." 

 

This is extremely clear. Being born again, salvation, 

redemption, (all that God requires to be accomplished to be saved) has been given to Christ’s 

chosen people through the Covenant of Grace, through Christ’s grace, work and merit. It is 

unmerited favor towards the individual. It is grace. It is not by works. It is not by being baptized 

or church attendance. Salvation is fashioned by Christ alone and 

is held steadfast in our heart and mind through faith alone. 

God promises and accomplishes specific undeserving acts for us, and we, with a new heart and 

renewed mind, simply believe his promise and word and faithfulness to accomplish what He started in us.

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In this way, men cannot boast, nor can they make any claim to any work. It is not by our works one can be saved. 

The Christian sometimes forgets Paul’s next statement in Ephesians 2:10

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

 

God gives grace freely to us, so we in turn show grace freely to others.

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"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35 ESV