“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Revelation 5:9
In one stanza of J. Kent’s great hymn, ‘Tis The Church Triumphant Singing,’ he writes: “Sing with blest anticipation, Worthy the Lamb; Through the veil of tribulation, Worthy the Lamb. Sweetest notes, all notes excelling, On the theme for ever dwelling, Still untold, though ever telling, Worthy the Lamb.” What is Kent seeking to convey to us in our worship of God? It concerns the great constant of Christ’s worthiness. What does this mean?
The answer goes back before the foundation of the world. Peter, in his first epistle wrote the following: “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you.” (1 Peter 1:20) The expression of the worthiness of Christ was born, or shall we say, has always existed in the heart of the Father. However, that worthiness was specifically revealed by Divine Design from before the world began in the expression of this Lamb of God, who was to be the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for the sins of men, to save them from their lostness. The great testimony of that worthiness was in Christ’s precious blood, for by it came the power to cleanse from all sin, and the gift of His perfect righteousness to be given to the believer to be accepted in peace before God. The shedding of the blood of Christ made possible the realization of the promise that the sinner could be made “just” or righteous by faith. It also ushered in not only the concept of the new birth, but the very realization of it. Again, Kent in his hymn captures the reality, and summation of these truths: “By His blood He dearly bought us; Wand’ring from the fold He sought us. And to glory safely brought us. Worthy the Lamb.”
So, the revelation of the worthiness of Christ began to be revealed before the world began. We only realize this by looking back, according to the Scriptures. Then came the moment, when all that the Scripture’s promised concerning His coming in the flesh would be fulfilled. Though man in his darkness, because of sin, did not recognize Him, He came still, and by the Spirit of God revealed Himself by opening the eyes of many to the reality of His presence, power, and purpose. He came to dwell among us, and as John the Apostle put it: “…we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”(Jn. 1:14) There was in that revelation of God, in Christ, supremely unveiled in His holiness and love on Calvary, the perfect evidence and foundation laid for faith, and salvation. Christ is worthy to be worshipped as the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, because He came in His perfection and love, to selflessly pay the price for the purchasing of man out of the slave-market of sin, cleansing him, then filling him with Eternal Life, by the Spirit. The worthiness of Christ is every day to be declared in worship because of the new creations He has made, so that the glory of God should be revealed in them. The value and worth of Christ, His worthiness, forever resounding in praise and song, is to be the centerpiece of the worship of the Lamb of God, especially from the lips and hearts of His Triumphant Church.
Lastly, Christ’s worthiness is revealed in the extent of His salvation, at the second coming, the supreme revelation of Himself. This time, the end result and purpose of His salvation won on Calvary, will be fully realized, and revealed, by the voices of those from all kindreds, tongues, peoples, and nations.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.