RELIGION versus GRACE | Worship in Spirit (c)
Every major religion in the world claims exclusivity - to be the one true way; the channel of “truth”. A few, like Islam, Mennonite and Amish communities, Bruderhof, Plymouth Brethren, Scientologists and Jehovah’s Witnesses, take this to the excess by practicing extreme shunning towards apostates. See here.
Let us take a fresh look at the verse above relating to our worship.
The Father. True worshipers are not simply friends of God, but rather children of God worshiping their Abba Father.
In spirit. Almost all Bible translations of John 4:24 follow the Greek text using the preposition “in” Spirit. (The NWT is the exception: “worship with spirit and truth.”) This is our human spirit, which mingled with and moved by God’s Spirit, connects with the Father who is Spirit. Physical locations, external conformity and rituals for worship are irrelevant because spirit anointed ones, having the indwelling spirit, are enabled to worship from within their spirit (Rom 1:9; Phil 3:3).
In truth. Not “with truth”, as though it is a body of teaching possessed by a select few. The Samaritans were sincere religious people who held to the writings of Moses but their worship was not in accordance with the revelation of God's truth - that is, Christ-focused – who is “the truth.” (John 1:14, 8:32; 14:6; Eph 4:21). When “truth”, reality, dwells in the Christian in the person of Christ, insincerity and hypocrisy gets pushed aside.
If we would “drink of this water” – Christ (John 4:13-14) - we will never again thirst for religious experiences or crave a “mountain” location to worship.
God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him
must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality)
John 4:24, Amplified
must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality)
John 4:24, Amplified
Every major religion in the world claims exclusivity - to be the one true way; the channel of “truth”. A few, like Islam, Mennonite and Amish communities, Bruderhof, Plymouth Brethren, Scientologists and Jehovah’s Witnesses, take this to the excess by practicing extreme shunning towards apostates. See here.
Let us take a fresh look at the verse above relating to our worship.
The Father. True worshipers are not simply friends of God, but rather children of God worshiping their Abba Father.
In spirit. Almost all Bible translations of John 4:24 follow the Greek text using the preposition “in” Spirit. (The NWT is the exception: “worship with spirit and truth.”) This is our human spirit, which mingled with and moved by God’s Spirit, connects with the Father who is Spirit. Physical locations, external conformity and rituals for worship are irrelevant because spirit anointed ones, having the indwelling spirit, are enabled to worship from within their spirit (Rom 1:9; Phil 3:3).
In truth. Not “with truth”, as though it is a body of teaching possessed by a select few. The Samaritans were sincere religious people who held to the writings of Moses but their worship was not in accordance with the revelation of God's truth - that is, Christ-focused – who is “the truth.” (John 1:14, 8:32; 14:6; Eph 4:21). When “truth”, reality, dwells in the Christian in the person of Christ, insincerity and hypocrisy gets pushed aside.
If we would “drink of this water” – Christ (John 4:13-14) - we will never again thirst for religious experiences or crave a “mountain” location to worship.
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Is Jesus central to your worship from your spirit?
Is Jesus central to your worship from your spirit?
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