09-14-08 Sermon Review

True Worship
John 4:19-26

We are currently studying the major topics that arise in Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, and today, we come across the topic of worship. If you remember the context, you will notice that Jesus had just confronted the Samaritan woman by bringing up her relational problems. Though the Samaritan woman might have brought up this issue concerning worship to avoid talking about her shameful relational matters, she receives an answer that once again confronts her. Jesus' explanation of true worship puts us in the same place. The usual issue that is brought up concerning worship today is similar to the Samaritan woman's question: where should we worship, what shall we sing, what instruments should we play? But Jesus reminds the Samaritan woman that true worship is not a matter of singing, but rather, a matter of personal engagement. Here is what I see in what Jesus says about true worship.

There is only one way to worship. Verse 24 is quite telling. It states, "God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." The Greek here that is translated "must" stresses the utter necessity of worshiping God in spirit and in truth. There simply is no other way. God is very serious about the worship He receives; it is not a trivial matter to Him. There were those who tried to worship God in their own terns and their stories do not end with a happy ending. Take for example Saul. He was asked to wait for Samuel, but because of his impatience, he lifted up the sacrifices before Samuel's arrival. This cost him the throne. Or take a look even further back when the law was first instituted and the worship in the tabernacle first took place. Nadab and Abihu came with "strange fire," and therefore God took their lives. Aaron, their father, was not even allowed to weep for them. Or what about the early Church? Did God take His worship lightly after the cross? Ananias and Sapphira wanted to worship by giving an offering. But because of their lie, their worship was tainted and God took both their lives. God is really serious about the worship He receives, and therefore, we should take great note that Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, "Those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." So then, how shall we worship?

We must engage with spirit and truth. Now what does spirit and truth mean? Most people usually take it to mean heart and mind. They conclude that worship must be given to God that requires both your emotions as well as your thoughts. Now, that's not a bad interpretation, but it still is more vague than the passage explains. I believe that spirit and truth points specifically to regeneration and God's Word. Now, let me tell you how I come to that conclusion.

What is the Spirit? In chapter three, we did an extensive study on regeneration. One verse in that chapter is significant: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). What I think this means is that apart from regeneration, all of us are dead. Take for instance what Paul writes to the Ephesians: "And you were dead in your trespasses and sin" (Ephesians 2:1). Therefore, when Jesus says that we must worship God in spirit, He is saying that we can not worship Him if we are not saved because if we are not saved, we have no spirit. No one can value God and no one can see God for who He is if they are not illumined by the Spirit to see God through Christ. Therefore, I believe Jesus is teaching the utter necessity of salvation in order to worship God rightly. You need to be right with God before you worship Him. If you are here today thinking you are worshiping God and have not received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, your worship is not pleasing to God. Repent and turn to Christ before you come and worship.

What about truth? The use of truth in the Gospel according to John is quite interesting. Jesus claimed to speak the truth (8:45). In Jesus, truth is realized (1:17). Men practice the truth (3:21). Jesus taught that the truth sets us free (8:32). Jesus calls the Spirit the Spirit of truth (15:26). Jesus called God's Word the truth (17:17). And finally, Jesus claimed to be the truth (14:6). There are more, but if you take all of them into account, we see one common similarity regarding truth in the gospel according John. That is: truth points to divine revelation. Truth is what God has spoken and revealed to mankind in the various ways that He has. That is why I believe that Jesus is pointing to the Bible, God's revelation, as the standard for worship. Those who desire to worship Him must worship Him according to what's written in the Bible. Some might say, "But the bible was not yet fully written when Jesus spoke these words!" Yes, that is true, and that is why I did not say truth is the Bible. Truth is, once again, divine revelation. The only divine revelation we have as those living after the cross and the apostolic era is the Bible. That is why Jesus' words point to the Bible as the guideline and the standard for our worship.

This being said, we conclude that worship is more than just singing. It's living according to the Bible's teachings! You can't say you worship God when you disobey the government by sneaking into R-rated movies. You can't say you worship God when you toe the lines of purity. You can't say you worship God when you get an abortion. You can't say you worship God when you are hoarding material things for yourself. You can't say you worship God when you are engaging in music that degrades women and flaunts sexual promiscuity and shows contempt for government and promotes materialism and disdains absolute truth claims. You can't say you worship God when you are denying fellowship and service in the local church. Someone who lives this way is not worshiping God because his life does reflect the principles and commands of Scripture.

Now, that looks a lot like legalism. But why isn't it? This is why I believe this passage is so important to get right, because if you don't you'll either become extremely legalistic or a extremely emotional. Look back with me to verse 23. Jesus says, "But an hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth." Jesus is implying that up to this point, the true worshipers could not worship in spirit and in truth. But what makes the difference between those of the past to those during Jesus' day and now? Simply Jesus! It is because Jesus is here that we are able to worship in spirit and in truth! We leave sin and live holy lives because we strive after Christ. Forsaking sin in and of itself is not worship. Legalism is not worship. It is because we see Christ as infinitely better than sin, infinitely better than this world, infinitely worthy of our lives, that we worship in spirit and truth (i.e. embracing salvation and obeying His commands). This sort of worship makes Christ look beautiful, and therefore, the one practicing such worship is not really practicing legalism. Jesus sends the Spirit, and Jesus is God's full revelation (John 16:7; Hebrews 1:1-4). Jesus in this one statement is making Himself the center of worship.

What an awesome God we have who demands our worship, is worthy of our worship, and a pleasure to worship. Remember as you come before God to worship Him, that you come only by Jesus' cross. And if you have been washed by His blood, let us lay down our lives to follow His revealed will for us. I reiterate the same plea that Paul asked of the Romans, "Therefore I urge you my brethren, by the mercies of God, present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1). Stay strong and God bless!