TRUE WORSHIPPERS
ARE YOU A TRUE WORSHIPPER?
JOHN 4:23, 24
What is a 'true worshipper'? Have you heard teaching on this Bible subject before? Why not? Why aren't the 'religious teachers' teaching on important Bible subjects such as this one? We must realize that this phrase embodies a most important concept of Truth that must be adhered to if we want to be 'right' in the sight of the Creator in order to be accepted by Him! Does it matter if the whole world rejects this concept, as long as it comes from our Creator? Jesus said this!
Do we believe it, and do you seek to be a
TRUE WORSHIPPER?
Most people today don't even want to concede that there are 'worshippers' who will NOT go to heaven! The present popular religious position today is: "as long as you are sincere religiously, and trying to worship God 'sincerely', then He WILL accept your worship! But is this what the Creator says?
Study JOHN 4:23, 24 very closely:
"23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such does the Father seek to be His worshippers.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth."
Notice that we 'MUST' worship the Creator in 'spirit' and 'truth'!
'In spirit' means that we
must worship the Creator with the inward man, not just the outward physical
man! Many people 'go through the motions' of worship, but their heart is far
from Him:
'In truth' means that we must worship the Creator according to HIS will, HIS precepts, HIS doctrines, NOT man's doctrines:
This means we must speak as:
"...the oracles (utterances) of God": I Peter 4:11
This means we CANNOT:
"...go beyond the things which are written": I Corinthians 4:6
This means that IF any of us go beyond the teaching (doctrine) of Christ (The New Testament) he:
"...does not have God": 2 John 9
Now, let us look at some other types of worshippers that are found in God's Word:
VAIN WORSHIP
Matthew 15:8,9
"8 This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me,
9 But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts (commandments) of men."
You may be very sincere, but sincerely wrong!
The apostle Paul thought he was doing God's will while he persecuted christians,
but he was wrong.
(see Proverbs 21:2; 14:12; Jeremiah 10:23)
WILL – WORSHIP
Colossians 2:20-23
"20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
21 Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!
22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) - in accordance with the commandments and teaching of men?
23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in will-worship and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence."
Following the doctrines and commandments of men, not found authorized in the New Testament for us today, will NOT be accepted by our God in the Judgment Day!
IGNORANT WORHIP
Acts 17:22, 23
"So Paul stood in stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.
23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
JOHN 4:23, 24!
God be with you in your search for only His Truth!
