TO WORSHIP IN TRUTH
JOHN 4:19-26
JOHN 4:19-26
Introduction:
As the Lord speaks to the Samaritan women He brings a new perspective on the worship of God. Here he describes what it is to worship the Lord in truth. Salvation comes to the women as well as a new understanding of what worship is all about and to whom that worship is to be directed.
I. TRUE WORSHIP
A. Jesus condemned the worship of the Jews, Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
1. Jewish tradition had taken the place of statutes of God, Matthew 15:2-3, “Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”
2. Jesus showed how the religious leaders had nullified the commandment of the Lord, Mark 7:11-13, “But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
B. Jesus said the Samaritans did not know what they worshipped, John 4:22, “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”
1. They were not the vehicle for the salvation of mankind, Romans 9:4-5, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”
2. Salvation is through Jesus Christ who was born of the seed of Abraham, Galatians 3:13-14, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ;”
C. Jesus defines true worship, John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
1. “God is a spirit,” is a declaration of His invisible nature. He is not confined to one location.
2. Jesus has declare Him, John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
a. Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed a new birth, John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
b. The Spirit opens to the believer a new realm of the Kingdom of God, John 7:38-39, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
II. JESUS IS THE TRUTH OF GOD
A. Jesus declares Himself to be the Truth, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
B. John the Baptist bore witness of the Truth, John 5:31-33, “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.”
C. God’s truth endures forever, Psalm 117:2, “For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”
III. THROUGH JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO WORSHIP THE FATHER
A. Jesus declares the Father, John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
1. Jesus reveals Himself, v. 26; John 9:35-37, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.”
2. Jesus reveals the Father, Matthew 11:27, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”
3. Jesus reveals the only way to the Father, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
B. The Father declares the Son, Matthew 3:16-17, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
1. We are told “hear ye Him,” Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
2. Many want to hear Him, Luke 15:1, “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”
a. Some were very attentive, Luke 19:48, “And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.”
b. Some even came out early in the morning to hear Him, Luke 21:38, “And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.”
CONCLUSION:
Do we really worship the Lord in truth and in Spirit? Many are not willing to trouble themselves, but the Lord’s people come even early in the morning to worship Him.
God has been good to revebe able to worship Him today.al the truth to us that we might