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How MUST We Worship God?

In John 4:24 we read...

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

According to dictionary.com the word "worship" is defined...

1. reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.
2. formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: They attended worship this morning.
3. adoring reverence or regard
4. the object of adoring reverence or regard.

So worshiping is revering and paying homage to God.

In John 4:24 Jesus himself tells us how that should be done. Actually, Jesus doesn't tell us how it should be done, he tells us how it MUST be done. There is a huge difference between MUST and may, or might, or can, could or should.

MUST leaves no other options. If one is going to worship God there is only one way to do it - in spirit and truth. We are very plainly told this by God Himself through Jesus who was God on earth. (John 1:1)

John 4:24 tells us God is Spirit. He has no specific shape. He is not bound by space and time. He is not an old man sitting on a stone throne in the sky zapping things around.

In Genesis 1:26 God says, "Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness."

Since God has no specific form then the visible earthly form we have cannot be in God's image. It must be something else.

In Genesis 2:7 it says God gave man his earthly form from the dust of the ground and then God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. But if God is a Spirit (John 4:24), he has no need of lungs or breathing. What then went into the man? A likeness or part of God Himself.

That "image" is our "spirit," or our "heart," which is often referred to as our "inward man."

John 4:24 says we MUST worship God from our inner spirit, with the right attitude. Our attitude towards God must be one of "adoring reverence or regard."

But that is only half of what we MUST have in worship. We MUST worship in spirit AND truth.

What is truth? John 17:17 tells us...

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17

So now we have expanded John 4:24. Not only MUST we worship God reverently with regard to His will we MUST worship Him according to His Word.

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV

We are to worship God in truth, why? "That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." The phrase from God says we must worship Him according to His will as he has revealed in the scriptures.

God's Word tells us how to live to please Him in all areas of our lives.

In Deuteronomy 4 God says,

1 “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:1-2 NKJV

Not only does He tell us several times in the OT how He feels about going beyond His Word, He tells us in the NT as well.

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9 NKJV

The doctrine of Christ are the commandments and teachings of Jesus...

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15 NKJV

Here is a major commandment that the majority of religious bodies ignore...

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16 NKJV

These verses and others say baptism is an essential ingredient in salvation. The majority of religious groups say it is not. They teach some form of the Sinner's Prayer or "ABC" Salvation (Accept, Believe, Confess).

There is not one single time ANYWHERE in scripture where ANYONE was told to say ANY form of the Sinner's Prayer or directed through ABC Salvation after Jesus Christ gave the "Great Commission" commands in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16.

Not one time.

Yet, the great majority of religious groups continue to teach ABC and Sinner's Prayer salvation which are not the Doctrine of Christ. Therefore, they have severely transgressed and are not abiding in the doctrine of Christ and they have not God. (2 John 1:9)

Those who worship God in Spirit and truth understand...


Marv Walker
706 816-7190

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For Further Information Contact Marv Walker 706 816-7190
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