Only one short verse today but there was so much, as like all of God's word, packed into it that I had to stop here for a while and mediate on what He had to say. I pray that you too will mediate on His word and that Spirit strips away any foolishness and press in our hearts the truth.
Jhn 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
- What attribute does this verse demonstrate of God?
- What exactly does worship mean?
- Is there and if so what is the difference between Spirit and Truth?
God is not of the world nor is He honored by any material or fleshy thing we can do. I like what C.H. Spurgeon said "Our best performances are so stained with sin that it is hard to know whether they are good or bad works". God is spiritual and is in fact the Father of spirits and requires spiritual honor, reverence, love, and trust proportioned to His great name. All that we have to offer God is through the Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit of God, the Spirit of sincerity, the Spirit of faith and truth (Heb 4:14-16).
Also I don’t believe we can casually go by this verse without looking at the emphasis of the word "must". He leaves no room for any alternative; it eliminates any choice to the matter. A.W. Pink points out three different "must" in this gospel that are equally important. John 3:7 "ye must be born again"; John 3:14 "Son of man must be lifted up"; and here in John 4:24 "must worship him in Spirit and truth". The first must Pink points out is reference to God the Spirit, for He affects the new birth. Second must references God the Son, for He was made flesh and died in order for the complete price to be paid for the sins of His elect. Finally the third must represent God the Father, for He is the object of worship. This order cannot be changed. It is those He has chosen whom will be regenerated by God the Spirit, and justified by the atonement of God the Son, who will willfully worship God the Father (Prov 15:8).
