Benjamin Franklin (1812-1878), one of the more influential preachers in the Restoration Movement, made it his aim to preach in such a way that his message was clearly understood. Notice the following quote from a sermon he delivered on the subject of foot-washing:
“All we ask of those who may differ with us, is to give us a patient and impartial hearing, and then, if we cannot agree, it is hoped the disagreement will be greater than it was before” (They Heard Him Gladly, p. 221).
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When Jesus was speaking with the Samaritan woman by the well, He told her of the need to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). In this episode, we will examine Jesus’ statement, as well as a parallel Old Testament passage (Joshua 24:14), to see how we can worship God acceptably today.
Article: Worship in Spirit and Truth
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“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).
Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your words.I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil.I hate and despise falsehood,
But I love Your law.Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.I hope for Your salvation, O Lord,
And do Your commandments.My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.(Psalm 119:161-168)
In this lesson, we will focus on the idea of reverence. If we fear God, we should hold His word in the highest regard. This will necessarily lead us to respond in a certain way toward His word.
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Look upon my affliction and rescue me,
For I do not forget Your law.Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.Great are Your mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your ordinances.Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.I behold the treacherous and loathe them,
Because they do not keep Your word.Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.(Psalm 119:153-160)
One of the more well-known verses in this psalm identifies God’s word as truth (Psalm 119:160). However, it is not enough to merely recognize that the word is truth. We must also obey it if we hope to be saved.
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I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.Be surety for Your servant for good;
Do not let the arrogant oppress me.My eyes fail with longing for Your salvation
And for Your righteous word.Deal with Your servant according to Your lovingkindness
And teach me Your statutes.I am Your servant; give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.It is time for the Lord to act,
For they have broken Your law.Therefore I love Your commandments
Above gold, yes, above fine gold.Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything,
I hate every false way.(Psalm 119:121-128)
The psalmist made a contrast between the commandments of God and gold. As we consider these verses, we can see why the riches of God’s word are so much more valuable than gold.
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Worshiping God is one of the great privileges we have as His people. However, we must understand that He does not need our worship. Paul told the Athenians on Mars Hill that God “does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:24-25). Yet He does desire our worship. Jesus said, “The Father seeks [people] to be His worshipers” (John 4:23). However, just because God seeks worshipers does not mean that He will accept just any worship that men might offer to Him.
When Jesus was traveling from Judea to Galilee, He stopped to rest beside a well in Samaria (John 4:1-6). While He was there, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well and Jesus asked her for a drink (John 4:7). This was an unusual request – it even surprised the woman – since “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9). But this conversation led to an important discussion about worship. It was a lesson needed by the Samaritans, the Jews, and also by us today.
After the woman perceived Jesus to be a prophet (John 4:19), she mentioned the difference between the worship of the Jews and the Samaritans to see what Jesus had to say about it. Jesus’ answer came down to this statement: “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
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What does “propitiation” mean? How is “justification” connected to salvation? What does “sanctification” look like in our day-to-day lives? The Bible uses some powerful words to describe God’s plan to save mankind. However, these words are not always easy to understand, especially when they are not part of our everyday vocabulary. This book explores key Bible terms that unlock the message of the gospel.
Big Words in the Bible examines five important words – Propitiation, Reconciliation, Sanctification, Justification, and Resurrection – using plain language to see how the Scriptures describe these concepts and how the apostle Paul employs them in his letter to the Romans. This book also contains an appendix with eleven additional articles to explore these topics further.
Whether you are new to the Bible and want to grow in your understanding or want a simple way to explain these core gospel doctrines to others, this book will be helpful. With a focus on the Scriptures, Big Words in the Bible helps break down these fundamental topics to shed light on the life-changing message of the gospel and the salvation found in it.
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