John 4:23-24 New International Version (NIV)
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
True Worshipers
Jesus teaches several things in this Bible passage which I will be mentioning.
- First of all, the place of worship is not the issue; God's primary concern is our spiritual attitude.
- "in spirit" points to the level, or depth, at which true worshippers occur. True worship must come from the heart. it should reflect the godly character and a deep inner devotion to God. We must approach God and offer ourselves to him in complete openness and with a spirit that is directed by the Holy Spirit.
Above all, our worship must focus on God's character and attributes and be a heartfelt expression of our own spirit to God's Spirit. - "Truth" is a primary characteristic of God's nature (Ps 31:5; Ro 1:25; 3:7) and is personified (i.e., given human expression) in Christ. It is descriptive of the Holy Spirit, and it is also at the heart of the gospel message of Christ. True worship must be a reflection of and response to the truth of the Father that is revealed in the Son and received through the Spirit.
Those who encourage worship that is not based upon the truth and teachings of God's Word have in reality rejected the only real and legitimate foundation for true worship.
The Truth
John 1:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Because Jesus Christ is the truth, to live in unity with Christ requires speaking the truth (1Co 5:8; Eph 4:25) and living by the truth. People who claim to have a relationship with Christ (that is, to be spiritually saved), yet do not live and speak the truth as revealed in God's Word, are deceived (1Jn 1;16). In time, they will expose the real condition of their hearts (Jn 8:44; Ac 5:3). they are opposed to God and will have no place in the kingdom of heaven.
The Bible teaches that a liar is of "the synagogue of satan" (Rev 3:9).
I pray the Holy Spirit will help us to have a true mind in worshipping God.
Thanks for reading and stay blessed.
Shalom!
