Worship in Spirit and in Truth

livingwaters (56)in #christian-trail • 7 years ago (edited)

"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father."John 4:21

While speaking with the woman at the well, Jesus explains to her that "the hour cometh when ye shall not worship in this mountain, or at Jerusalem," and he finishes by saying, "the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth."

"For the Father seeketh such to worship Him."

It's not about the physical places of worship, but it is about where true worship comes from.

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."John 4:23

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."John 4:24

What does it mean that those who worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth?

There are two aspects to this, 1. Spirit, 2. Truth.

Let's start with the first.

Spirit

The above verse itself tells us that "God is Spirit," and Paul took it a bit further with:

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."Philippians 3:3

This circumcision is not a natural circumcision, but a spiritual one.

'But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."Romans 2:29

Jesus Himself said:

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."John 3:5

The word "water," in the above verse means:
Orig: and genitive case, hudatos hoo'-dat-os, etc., from the base of 5205; water (as if rainy) literally or figuratively:--water. G5205

The word water in the very verse is taken from the base word: "hoo-et-os" which means "rain."

While prophecying The Prophet Hosea said:

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."Hosea 6:3

And David said:

"He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth."Psalms 72:6

And again, Isaiah said:

"Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it."Isaiah 45:8

Truth

Psalms tell us :

"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."Psalms 145:18

There is no division here, the words Spirit and Truth come together as one whole meaning, it's the same as us being in Christ Jesus who is the truth, and it is by Him that we can humbly go into the Holy of Holies into the presence of God.

It is a union between us and the Father in Christ Jesus.

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."Isaiah 54:5

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."Ephesians 5:31

Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only life, no man comes to the Father but by Him.

There can be no communion with the Father unless one is in Christ. Fully believing in God the Father and our Lord Jesus involves a real and living heart connection. It's not just words or feelings. But a living and true relationship. For this is even the place from where sanctification comes from.

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17

Sanctification taken directly from the above verse is defined:

to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow

to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
2a) consecrate things to God
2b) dedicate people to God

to purify
3a) to cleanse externally
3b) to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
3c) to purify internally by renewing of the soul

In order to know what truth is, we must seek it out prayerfully in Christ, and in the written word. How can one worship in truth if the truth is not known?

We often hear of the "sanctity of marriage," noun, plural sanctities.
1.holiness, saintliness, or godliness.
2.sacred or hallowed character:
3.the inviolable sanctity of the temple.
4.a sacred thing.

Jesus said that we are sanctified by His word, and as we see from the definition of "sanctify," above, this involves cleansing and separating from things that are profane.

God's word says this about sanctification:

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."Psalms 119:9

Just as Jesus said, "Sanctify them by thy truth, thy word is truth." Even this sanctification is accomplished through the union between us and Christ.

"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."John 15:3

" That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"Ephesians 5:26

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"Ephesians 1:17-18

The only way to worship Him in spirit and in truth is explained by what Paul wrote in the above passage. How can we walk, live or even worship in truth if we don't have the revelatory understanding that only comes from being in Christ Jesus?

He is the one who opens the eyes of our understanding, that we may know what is the hope of His calling, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;"Colossians 1:5

Link to the KJV Bible with Strong's Concordance

September 24 2017

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