Sermons
Worship In Spirit and Truth
Worship In Spirit and Truth
Jn. 4:19-26
Introduction:
1. What is worship in spirit and truth?
2. Jn. 1:17 says, The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”
3. In both these passages there are contrasts between the revelation given through Moses and that given through Jesus the Messiah (Jn. 4:25). That unrevealed worship of the Samaritans is also contrasted with that which is revealed in Moses and the Messiah.
4. But often these contrasts are interpreted to mean that the worship of the O.T. was external and ritualistic while N.T. worship is internal and spiritual.
a. Did not O.T. worship involve more than external things ritualistically performed? Cf. Isa.
29:13ff. Wasn’t it supposed to be internal and spiritual?
b. And doesn’t N.T. worship involve such external things as the Lord’s Supper that is
performed over and over on the first day of each week ritualistically? (The word “ritual”
carries the idea of religious actions that are repeated.) Acts 2:42 says the disciples,
“continually devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and prayer.”
5. Sometimes “spirit and truth” are interpreted to mean genuineness and according to what is revealed. While worship in spirit and truth certainly involves genuineness and must be done on the basis of the revealed truth this distinction along is misleading and insufficient in defining spirit and truth.
a. Genuineness was always required of O.T. worshipers (cf. Mal. 1:6ff).
b. They were always required to worship according to what was revealed by God.
6. It appears that we may have oversimplified and in some ways missed the point of worship in spirit and truth.
7. So what is it?
Discussion:
I. Worship in spirit and truth is a revealed worship (v. 22).
A. This is evident from Jesus’ statement in v. 22, “You worship what you do not know; we
worship what we know.”
1. Samaritan worship was a mix of idolatry and elements of truth (2 Kings 17:24ff).
2. Mt. Gerizim was a place of religious significance (Cf. Deut. 28:1ff) but it was not the
place that God had put His name (Deut. 12:5; 2 Chron. 6:6) that was Jerusalem.
B. Evident in Jn. 1:14-17.
C. Evident in the statement of the Samaritan woman and Jesus’ confirmation of her
understanding when He confesses that He is the Messiah (Jn. 4:25).
D. Worship in spirit and truth, while it may be contrasted with O.T. worship, is in this way
consistent with O.T. worship and so there must be some continuity with O.T. worship.
1. Within the minds of some there has been such a radical cut between the O.T. and
the N.T. that we are left with a diminished association between them.
2. Jn. 4, while drawing a distinction, at the same time draws a connection. This is
seen in other passages like Heb. 1:1-4. The whole Book of Hebrews draws this
connection, as well as every N.T. writer that uses the O.T. as the basis of
discussion of the Messiah. Indeed, they saw the coming of the Messiah as
founded upon the O.T. revelation of God. To diminish this continuity disrespects
the O.T. as part of the authoritative revelation of God’s plan for worship.
II. Worship in spirit and truth involves people whom God seeks (v. 23).
A. That is particularly significant in this context (4:9).
1. God seeks all people to worship Him (2 Pet. 3:9; Isa. 42:6; 49:6; Acts 13:47). This is
evident in so many ways.
a. In the O.T. (ex. Isa. 43:8-13; 60:3).
b. In the N.T. (ex. Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8).
2. Here in John 4 Jesus is speaking to a Samaritan who became the connection point
for other Samaritans who came to believe (39-42).
B. Worship in spirit and truth involves changes associated with believing in Jesus as the
Messiah (4:23; 4:39ff; 4:25; 4:21).
C. Worship in spirit and truth involves unity in one body (Eph. 2:14-22; 4:4-6).
III. Worship in spirit and truth is worship that is in harmony with God as spirit (v. 24).
A. This is worship that is appropriate to the nature and character of God.
1. It is not limited to place. As spirit, God is not limited to place.
2. Solomon understood this (2 Chron. 12:18). He also understood that worship was
not limited to Jews (2 Chron. 6:32-33).
3. This is the particular application in John 4. Namely, that place limitations, are no
longer relevant.
B. There may be other aspects of God’s nature that are associated with worship in spirit
and truth.
1. Acts 17:25 says that God is not worshiped as though He needed anything.
2. Acts 17:29 says He should not be worshiped by images.
3. Acts 17:24 says He does not dwell in temples made with hands.
C. Worship in spirit and truth involves worship in a way that is consistent with His Divine
Nature.
1. O.T. revealed worship was consistent with His Divine Nature. So the contrast
Jesus is making is not so much between O.T. worship and N.T. worship, but
between Samaritan worship and revealed worship.
2. If this is the case a radical separation between O.T. worship and N.T. worship may
not be the point. This allows then for us to understand continuity between O.T.
and N.T. worship.
3. Certainly there are differences between O.T. worship and N.T. worship and the
place is one of them. But O.T. worship and N.T. worship are both founded on the
nature of God (as different from non-revealed worship).
4. Another difference between revealed and non-revealed worship is that in revealed
worship God is seeking worshipers. This is reflective of His gracious desire for us.
In non-revealed worship worshipers are seeking God.
IV. Worship in spirit and truth is worship associated with the revelation of the Messiah (v. 25).
A. The woman said, “He will declare all things to us” (v. 25). Jesus validated that by
saying, “I who speak to you am He” (v. 26).
B. This indicates that there are radical changes to be made with the coming of the
Messiah.
1. This did not mean however, that Jews were worshiping incorrectly before.
Samaritans were worshiping incorrectly.
2. This did not mean that Jews were worshiping in a way inconsistent with God’s
nature. It did mean that what they were doing would reach a new level. Ex. O.T.
priesthood and sacrifices give way to the priesthood and sacrifice of Jesus. O.T.
temple gives way to a new level of temple worship. The copy and shadow gives
way to the reality.
3. Differences? Yes! But continuity!
C. O.T. worship, so far as it was consistent with the nature and revelation of God, was
worship in spirit and truth. Yet, it provided for the copy and shadow to give way to the
reality.
1. No more temple worship in Jerusalem. The people are the temple.
2. No more bulls and goats. The sacrifice of Christ is sufficient.
3. No more temporary high priest. Christ the perfect High Priest ever lives to make
intercession.
Conclusion:
1. To worship in spirit and truth means that worship is to be done in a way consistent with the Divine Nature.
2. To worship in spirit and truth includes people of diverse groups. All are sought by God.
3. To worship in spirit and truth is a revealed worship.
4. To worship in spirit and truth means worshiping as the Messiah has declared.
5. It is a MUST (v. 24). No other way is sufficient.
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