True Worship in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24)

Today, we turn to John 4:23-24, where Jesus declares to the Samaritan woman, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” From a fundamentalist Christian perspective, this passage is a clarion call to abandon worldly distractions and embrace a pure, biblical form of worship that honors God alone.


First, let us understand the context. Jesus speaks to a Samaritan, a people despised by the Jews for their mixed heritage and false worship. Yet, He reveals a profound truth: the time of true worship has arrived through Him. As fundamentalists, we believe Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17), and His words here establish a new covenant where external rituals—whether on Mount Gerizim or in Jerusalem—are secondary to the heart’s devotion.

“Worship in spirit” means our worship must come from a regenerated heart, transformed by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Romans 8:9 reminds us, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” This is not about emotion or feelings alone but a deep, personal surrender to God, enabled by the Spirit’s indwelling. We must reject any notion of worship that relies on human merit or tradition apart from Scripture.“Worship in truth” anchors us to the infallible Word of God. As Psalm 119:160 declares, “The sum of Your word is truth.” For us, this means worship must align with the Bible alone—every hymn, prayer, and sermon tested against its authority. The Samaritan woman’s confusion about worship locations is resolved in Christ, who is the Truth (John 14:6). We do not need man-made liturgies or idols; our worship is shaped by the pure gospel of salvation through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Why does this matter? Because God seeks worshipers who reflect His nature. He is spirit—eternal, holy, and invisible—and He desires hearts that mirror His character, not empty rituals. The hour is now, for through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have direct access to the Father (Hebrews 10:19-20). This is a call to examine ourselves: Are we worshiping with a heart renewed by the Spirit? Are we clinging to the truth of Scripture, rejecting the world’s lies?

Let us apply this today. First, examine your worship. Is it centered on Christ’s finished work, or diluted by entertainment or tradition? Second, pray for the Spirit’s filling. Seek a heart aligned with God’s will, as Acts 2 shows the early church empowered by the Spirit. Third, stand on God’s Word. Let every aspect of your life—your songs, your prayers, your service—be rooted in biblical truth.

As we leave, let us commit to being the worshipers God seeks—those who, in spirit and truth, glorify Him alone. For Jesus, our Savior, has made this possible, and He alone is worthy of our praise.

Amen.



DMMC 6-21-25

Location: Peru, IN 46970, USA

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