IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH
Go to any cathedral in America or Europe and you will see idolatry on display—Notre Dame (Paris) and St. Paul’s (London), e.g. Go to any Protestant Church with their crosses prominently displayed and their stained-glass windows objectifying sacred truths and personages of the Bible, and you will see a more subtle form of idolatry. It is no different from the ancient Jews whose worship consisted of outward forms and ceremonies which were a substitute for the genuine. The joyous worship heralded by the 1888 message was a gospel which would rid man of his substitute idols for God and restore true worship.
The problem of counterfeit worship and its solution are illustrated by the woman’s conversation with Jesus at the well. When Jesus got too close to her personal life, she tried to engage Him in a diversionary argument about the true place to worship, which was Mt. Gerizim for the Samaritans (John 4:20). For Jesus, all this was so much superfluous idolatry on the part of the Samaritans in rivalry with the Jews who idolized Jerusalem (vs. 21).
Jesus said, “salvation is of the Jews” for it had been revealed to them in God’s everlasting covenant, even though for the most part they were ignorant of it (vs. 22). Jesus knew what true worship is. He said, “we know what we worship” (vs. 22). Then He made it plain: “The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23, 23).
The 1888 good news of God’s promise to Abraham in the everlasting covenant alerts us to the truth “that the blessing of Abraham” is “through Jesus Christ”—“the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3:14). “The promise of the Spirit” is righteousness (agape-love) by faith. “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 5:5). “I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” (Heb. 10:16).
To “worship God in spirit and in truth” is for every idol to be cast out of the heart (paganism). It is paganism to consider worshipping God at holy places, shrines, or where there are holy people, or teachers. There are no “holy” places or holy “teachers”.
Paganism is the idol of “self-love” enshrined in every natural-born sinner’s heart. The gospel of Jesus’ cross, “the truth of the gospel” casts out eros, self-love; and through the Holy Spirit imports agape which is solid truth. So, to worship God in spirit and in truth is the transformation of the human heart by the Holy Spirit who brings with Him the truth (all of it).
This can only occur when God’s people choose to exercise “the faith of Jesus” which has been given to every man. God’s people have been given the capacity to believe the message of the cross and humble themselves in corporate repentance. Corporate repentance involves a recognition of the hidden idolatry of self-love within every human heart, which results in the outward manifestation of every sin and cherished idol. It is this very truth of corporate repentance which so many resist. Therefore, there is a hatred of the true message of the cross. Believe it or not, many of God’s people, unknowingly, now resist the message of the cross! The message of the cross draws us by Christ’s love to repentance and forgiveness of sin.
Many professed Christians go on as if the cycle of day, month, and year were to continue unending. They have no sense of urgency or regard to the Day of Atonement that is upon us. A common fable that is held among them teaches that man must continue to sin while in this flesh–he can’t help it and so forgiveness is great because he sins over and over again. This is not in Spirit and in truth; but a fable and a commandment taught by man.
What is the truth regarding this fable,—this commandment of man? “Let no professed Christian take counsel of his own imperfections, and say that it impossible for a Christian to live a sinless life. It is impossible for a true Christian, one who has full faith, to live any other kind of life. ‘How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?’ (Rom. 6:2).” (Ellet J. Waggoner, “The Glad Tidings”, p. 42).
There were a few throughout Christ’s visit on this earth who worshipped Him “in spirit and in truth”. Of what did the magi’ worship consist? True worship proceeds from a heart from which all “idols” have been removed and replaced by God’s agape-love which the Holy Spirit has shed abroad in the heart. In other words, true worship is righteousness by faith. The “gifts” of the magi, were manifestations or “works” that were motivated by God’s love (Mt. 2:11). The magi had eyes to “see” that God could become an infant in lowly estate and they chose to humble themselves in His presence.
It is truly heartening to see an example of genuine faith from among the “ruling” class in Christ’s day (Mt. 9:18). Faith is a heart appreciation for what it cost the Son of God to humble Himself and become a servant to men. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Abraham, their lineal ancestor, did believe in the resurrection. Thus the Sadducees were no children of Abraham in thus denying his faith. But this “ruler[’s]” “father” was Abraham. The “ruler” had the faith of Abraham. He believed the words of Christ, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He did not hinder the gift which God gives to every man, and that is the capacity to believe that “Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived” (DA 530).
At the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the “disciples” of Jesus recognized Him in His humanity, as the Divine “King” come with ambassadorial credentials “in the name of the Lord” God from on High (Luke 19:37). The “glory” of God is His agape-love (vs. 38). Christ’s descent from the Mt. of Olives going toward Jerusalem must be publicly proclaimed as the return of Israel’s “glory”. The news must go out. Christ’s ultimate self-sacrifice must not be hidden. It must be there for everyone to “see”.
The drama now to be played out will be whether the Godhead will remain intact. Will the “test” of God-forsakenness which must be met by Jesus “glorify” the agape of the Father; or, will Jesus’ faith succumb to defeat in self-preservation from the ultimate fear of death? If this test of the Godhead cannot be successfully met, then the “peace” of heaven will be shattered, and there will be no peace on earth.
All “peace” on earth flows from the headwaters of all “peace” and harmony within the Godhead. The cross is about to demonstrate that to the earth and the onlookers of the universe.
The believing heart welcomes the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. There is therefore a worldwide fellowship of those people who are “of a contrite and humble spirit,” and God works night and day to “revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Wherever they are, their influence radiates peace; they are a new “City of Peace” world-wide.
They are that special group we see in Revelation 7. “Another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God” places God’s seal on these people who welcome His special ministry. They surrender their sinful hearts to “let this mind be in [them] which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). And the very fact that they welcome this “sealing work” makes it possible for “four” special angels to “hold the four winds of the earth” from wreaking havoc “on the earth,” to restrain ethnic hatreds (Rev. 7:1-3). God’s people have an important role to play in world affairs! In them “shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). May we awake to our calling!
