John 4:19-26 “Worship in Spirit and Truth”
Introduction
I. The Church in Childhood
“The same church existed among them, but as yet in its childhood. Therefore, keeping them under this tutelage, the Lord gave, not spiritual promises unadorned and open, but ones foreshadowed … It was the Lord’s will that this childhood be trained in the elements of His Word and in little external observances, as rules for children’s instruction, until Christ should shine forth, through whom the knowledge of believers was to mature.” John Calvin, Institutes, 2.11.2, 5
• Children need visual aids and pictures to help them learn: the Tabernacle, Temple, Holy of Holies, the Ark, the priests, the sacrifices, the incense, the curtains, etc. (Exo. 25-31)
• There is a right way to worship the Father (22)
II. The Church in Adulthood
• Leaving behind childish things (21; Heb. 6:1-3)
• Worship in spirit and truth (23-24)
“The spirit or the soul of man, as influenced by the Holy Spirit, must worship God, and have communion with him. Spiritual affections, as shown in fervent prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, form the worship of an upright heart, in which God delights and is glorified.” Matthew Henry
“All good intentions, as they are called are struck by this sentence, as by a thunderbolt; for we learn from it that man can do nothing but err when they are guided by their own opinion without the Word or command of God.” John Calvin
Conclusion |
