Worshipping in Truth

The Bible teaches, “Your Word is truth” (John 17:17). We have seen that the truth of God’s Word—the Bible—is that the Sabbath was made holy. While the world teaches that religion is a “personal thing” and “each person must act as they see fit, according to their own conscience,” God has never stated this is an acceptable way to worship Him. Here is what He tells you: “You worship you know not what: We know what we worship: For salvation is of the Jews.... God is a Spirit: And they that worship Him must worship Him IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH” (John 4:22, 24).

BREAKING THE SABBATH: Today, the world (including the vast majority of professing Christians) ignores God’s Sabbath command, pursuing its own pleasure. But what if everyone observed the Sabbath day? Imagine how different these scenes would be. Source: Bigfoto.com

Source: Bigfoto.com

It is impossible to worship the true God of creation on the wrong day. That is the TRUTH! Only the seventh day reflects the truth that it is the identifying sign between God and all who worship Him in spirit.

Several verses show that Christ is alive, inside the Spirit-led person. This is how one worships God “in Spirit”—the Holy Spirit.

Notice what Paul told the Philippians: “Let THIS MIND BE IN YOU, which was also IN CHRIST JESUS” (Phil. 2:5). Here is what he told the Colossians: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

This is what He told the Galatians: “I am crucified with Christ: Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

Christ kept the Sabbath. His “mind” in us will always keep the Sabbath. He has not changed! He would NEVER keep a pagan day in or through you!

Jesus was a Jew. We have seen that Jews at least tacitly accept the Sabbath. But many people denigrate God’s day with the contemptuous, derisive cliché of “that Jewish Sabbath.” They seem to almost spit out these words. I have heard the bigotry and scorn in their voices. Romans 8:7 explains why so many deceivers today speak with such contempt and scorn for God’s wonderful Sabbath.

We just read that “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). Now notice what Paul wrote: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: BUT HE IS A JEW, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Rom. 2:28-29).

Yes, a true Christian is a Jew. Have you ever heard that before? Jesus Christ is the Jew who is living inside all those begotten of God. Technically speaking, a Christian could correctly be spoken of as either a “Christian” or a “Spiritual Jew.” And it makes no difference whatsoever whether or not one is born a Jew, an Israelite, or a Gentile. All who are baptized and converted (Acts 2:38) have the Spirit of God. This means that they obey God (Acts 5:32).

Think Carefully!

Christ led a perfect, sin-free—Commandment-keeping—life. His role as our Saviour depends on this. This means He kept the Fourth Commandment perfectly for an entire lifetime. Could any think He did this for 33½ years just so He could say it is now done away? He had already been Lord of the Sabbath for 4,000 years. HE STILL IS!

To all of you who may be Gentile-born, reread Romans 11:17-18, 23-26. And recall Ephesians 2:11-12. The promises made to Israel now apply to YOU.

Make note of this point. The very word Gentile means “unbeliever.” This is all that the word means! Once one has repented, accepted Christ, been forgiven, baptized, and received the Holy Spirit, he is no longer an unbeliever! He is now a BELIEVER. Quite literally, HE IS NO LONGER A GENTILE. He is a spiritual Jew—a Christian!

The Spirit of God in you will help you obey the Sabbath—and all of God’s other spiritual laws. Ancient Israel was given a physical law of ceremonies and rituals (Gal. 3:16-19) because they did not have God’s Holy Spirit living within them. Various animal sacrifices, washings, and other ceremonies were simply a “schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:24) intended to help their physical minds observe God’s Law until Christ came and offered His Spirit. The Sabbath is a spiritual command and God’s Holy Spirit will help you keep it. God explains that His love is “shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5). This means you will have the spiritual love, for God and man, to be capable of fulfilling His Law (1 John 5:3; Rom. 13:10). Let no one tell you otherwise!

All those sincerely seeking to worship God in spirit and truth will want to be together. They will deeply desire to be with others who think, believe, understand, live, and endure the same things—while seeking the SAME GOAL!

Next Part God Commands Assembly

Back to Saturday or Sunday

Back to By David C. Pack