In John 4:20 the Samaritan woman at the well said "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
She is referring to centrality of the temple in worship where the ceremonies were performed.
Jesus is saying the day has come where worshiping the Lord in spirit and truth is that worship of God is not to be confined to a single geographical location or necessarily regulated by the of Old Testament law.
Worship became a matter of the heart, not external actions, and directed by truth rather than ceremony.
Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him, Not by Command and rituals.
Ti worship in spirit this way was prophesied in Ezekiel 36:27.
"And I will put my spirit within you, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
You said: "Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him, Not by Command and rituals.
First of all, I said nothing about Christians having to do rituals.. You are separating the love of God from His commandments as if there is something wrong but God said in John 14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments."
It's very simple: This is how a true believer loves the 10 commandments
1) True believers worship the one true God and will not have any other Gods to worship.
2) A true believer does NOT make images nor bow down to them.
3) True believers do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4) True believers set aside one day for rest.
5) A true believer always gives respect and shows kindness to all people but especially to parents. 6) A true believer does not murder
7) A true believer does not have sex with anyone in person or in mind except their spouse.
8) A true believer does not steal
9) A true believer does not lie (not matter how big or little a lie is or what color it is, a lie is a lie)
You said, "First of all, I said nothing about Christians having to do rituals.
It's very simple: This is how a true believer loves the 10 commandments.
End quote.
Momsage I wasn't referring to Christians when I mentioned the rituals.
I said, "Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him, Not by Command and rituals".
I was contrasting the way the Samaritan woman knew as worship, which is the way Israel worshipped in the OT.
That is what the Lord was telling her. These were the ceremonial practices.
There were commands given concerning the Moral law, Ceremonial law, and Judicial law.
The ceremonial laws seem to focus the attention on God.
They include instructions on regaining right standing with God. ("sacrifices and other ceremonies regarding "uncleanness"), Remembrances of God's work in Israel. ("feasts and festivals"),
Specific regulations meant to distinguish Israelites from their pagan neighbors ("dietary and clothing restrictions"), and signs that point to the coming Messiah.
Brother Spencer, great response! True worship is from the heart. True worship is submission to God.
If I may add a little information here, the word worship in the New Testament, also found here in John 4:24 has absolutely nothing to do with external activities, including singing. The word literally means to bow down and kiss the ring of somebody.
In other words, if you are coming into the presence of the king, you bow down, you get on your knee, and you kiss his ring. And then he will lift the scepter and you'll be able to talk. But you cannot talk until you express your submission and reverence.
You see, true worship is submission. It is obedience. It doesn't mean we can't sing, but that in the Bible is called singing. True worshipers worship, and remember what it means, to bow down, to submit. True worshipers worship God in spirit and in truth. Submitting to His truth and reverencing His truth is the highest form of worship.
Jesus quoted from Isaiah in one place and said, "Well did Isaiah say of you that you honor me with your lips but your heart is far from me." He says I get tired of you going and performing your religious vows and all your singing and whatever when your heart is not even lined up with what you're doing.
God looks on the heart, and man looks on the outward appearance. It is unacceptable to Him. God is Spirit. Everybody that gives genuine worship to God worships Him in Spirit. We are to surrender to His Spirit and surrender to His truth. That is the highest form of worship!
Study the Word with other believers, bear good fruit by doing good works in Jesus name, preaching the gospel, facing affliction for the word's sake if it ever comes our way, trying to keep the commandments, etc.
I say Amen to everything you have said except we do have to go further with God's commandment then just try. The Holy Ghost is with us so we CAN obey them. If you read then carefully in Exodus 20: 1-17, and Deuteronomy 5:22-33, you will see these are the God's guidelines to how we MUST live our lives for God in order to make it in.
It's very simple: This is how a true believer and the 10 commandments are related to each other.
1) True believers worship the one true God and will not have any other Gods to worship.
2) A true believer does NOT make images nor bow down to them.
3) True believers do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4) True believers set aside one day for rest.
5) A true believer always gives respect and shows kindness to all people but especially to parents. 6) A true believer does not
murder
7) A true believer does not have sex with anyone in person or in mind except their spouse.
8) A true believer does not steal
9) A true believer does not lie (not matter how big or little a lie is or what color it is, a lie is a lie)
How do we worship God in spirit and truth? God Bless :)
In John 4:20 the Samaritan woman at the well said "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
She is referring to centrality of the temple in worship where the ceremonies were performed.
Jesus is saying the day has come where worshiping the Lord in spirit and truth is that worship of God is not to be confined to a single geographical location or necessarily regulated by the of Old Testament law.
Worship became a matter of the heart, not external actions, and directed by truth rather than ceremony.
Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him, Not by Command and rituals.
Ti worship in spirit this way was prophesied in Ezekiel 36:27.
"And I will put my spirit within you, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
This is the work of the Holyspirit.
God bless.
You said: "Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him, Not by Command and rituals.
First of all, I said nothing about Christians having to do rituals.. You are separating the love of God from His commandments as if there is something wrong but God said in John 14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments."
It's very simple: This is how a true believer loves the 10 commandments
1) True believers worship the one true God and will not have any other Gods to worship.
2) A true believer does NOT make images nor bow down to them.
3) True believers do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4) True believers set aside one day for rest.
5) A true believer always gives respect and shows kindness to all people but especially to parents. 6) A true believer does not murder
7) A true believer does not have sex with anyone in person or in mind except their spouse.
8) A true believer does not steal
9) A true believer does not lie (not matter how big or little a lie is or what color it is, a lie is a lie)
10) A true believer is not jealous. God Bless :)
You said, "First of all, I said nothing about Christians having to do rituals.
It's very simple: This is how a true believer loves the 10 commandments.
End quote.
Momsage I wasn't referring to Christians when I mentioned the rituals.
I said, "Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him, Not by Command and rituals".
I was contrasting the way the Samaritan woman knew as worship, which is the way Israel worshipped in the OT.
That is what the Lord was telling her. These were the ceremonial practices.
There were commands given concerning the Moral law, Ceremonial law, and Judicial law.
The ceremonial laws seem to focus the attention on God.
They include instructions on regaining right standing with God. ("sacrifices and other ceremonies regarding "uncleanness"), Remembrances of God's work in Israel. ("feasts and festivals"),
Specific regulations meant to distinguish Israelites from their pagan neighbors ("dietary and clothing restrictions"), and signs that point to the coming Messiah.
I never said anything about the 10 Commandments.
God bless.
I do see how that can be mishandled.
God bless.
A true believer's connection to the 10 commandments is simply that they obey them.
1) True believers worship the one true God and will not have any other Gods to worship.
2) A true believer does NOT make images nor bow down to them.
3) True believers do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4) True believers set aside one day for rest.
5) A true believer always gives respect and shows kindness to all people but especially to parents.
6) A true believer does not murder
7) A true believer does not have sex with anyone in person or in mind except their spouse.
8) A true believer does not steal
9) A true believer does not lie (not matter how big or little or what color it is, a lie is a lie)
10) A true believer is not jealous. God Bless :)
If I may add a little information here, the word worship in the New Testament, also found here in John 4:24 has absolutely nothing to do with external activities, including singing. The word literally means to bow down and kiss the ring of somebody.
In other words, if you are coming into the presence of the king, you bow down, you get on your knee, and you kiss his ring. And then he will lift the scepter and you'll be able to talk. But you cannot talk until you express your submission and reverence.
You see, true worship is submission. It is obedience. It doesn't mean we can't sing, but that in the Bible is called singing. True worshipers worship, and remember what it means, to bow down, to submit. True worshipers worship God in spirit and in truth. Submitting to His truth and reverencing His truth is the highest form of worship.
Jesus quoted from Isaiah in one place and said, "Well did Isaiah say of you that you honor me with your lips but your heart is far from me." He says I get tired of you going and performing your religious vows and all your singing and whatever when your heart is not even lined up with what you're doing.
God looks on the heart, and man looks on the outward appearance. It is unacceptable to Him. God is Spirit. Everybody that gives genuine worship to God worships Him in Spirit. We are to surrender to His Spirit and surrender to His truth. That is the highest form of worship!
Blessings!
When we think of worship we often don't touch the surface of what it really means.
God bless.
It's very simple: This is how a true believer and the 10 commandments are related to each other.
1) True believers worship the one true God and will not have any other Gods to worship.
2) A true believer does NOT make images nor bow down to them.
3) True believers do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4) True believers set aside one day for rest.
5) A true believer always gives respect and shows kindness to all people but especially to parents. 6) A true believer does not
murder
7) A true believer does not have sex with anyone in person or in mind except their spouse.
8) A true believer does not steal
9) A true believer does not lie (not matter how big or little a lie is or what color it is, a lie is a lie)
10) A true believer is not jealous. God Bless :)
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