"The gospel means (as Luther said) that we are simul justus et peccator, that is, in Christ we are simultaneously righteous yet sinful. If we have a more antinomian view of salvation, believing that we are all accepted because God is vaguely loving, then we may be existentially aware of God's love but not of his holiness. There will be no awe. That can lead to the exclusively warm, 'folksy' demeanor. If, on the other hand, we have a more legalistic view of salvation, believing that we are accepted because we live and believe everything 'exactly right,' then we may be existentially aware of God's holiness but not of his bounteous mercy. There will be no wonder. That can lead to an overly stiff and dignified manner.

In neither case are the leaders really amazed at grace. Only when there is a profound awareness of the holiness of God and of the costliness of the sacrifice he provided will there be a joyful awe that is at once warm and forceful. Only a joyful yet awe-filled heart- an exuberant decorum- can keep pomp and sentimentality from mimicking the two true poles of biblical worship: awe and intimacy."

Tim Keller, Worship By the Book, ed. D.A. Carson, pp. 213-214

HT: John Fonville