Does God really care how we worship him?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 to Truth Seekers

 

Jesus said many things on the subject of truth. By examining some of these we can better appreciate the importance he placed on it.

While being interrogated by the Roman governor of Judea Jesus revealed his strong feelings for the truth:

  • (John 18:37) Therefore Pilate said to him: “Well, then, are you a king?” Jesus answered: “You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.”

When speaking with a group of Jews who were listening to him he said:

  • (John 8:32) and YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free.”

When speaking with a Samaritan woman he met at Jacob's well he told her this:

  • (John 4:23-24) Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.”

Even his enemies recognized his love of the truth:

  • (Matthew 22:15-16) Then the Pharisees went their way and took counsel together in order to trap him in his speech. 16 So they dispatched to him their disciples, together with party followers of Herod, saying: “Teacher, we know you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care for anybody, for you do not look upon men’s outward appearance

Notice how he described himself:

  • (John 14:6) Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The apostle Paul, in his letters, took the importance of knowing the truth a step further by drawing a distinction between knowledge [Greek: gnosis] and accurate knowledge [Gr: epignosis]

As a former Jewish Pharisee he described the Jews this way:

  • (Romans 10:2-3) For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge; 3 for, because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

How important is accurate knowledge of truth to God?

  • (1 Timothy 2:3-5) This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, 4 whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus,

Christians should teach with this as their goal:

  • (2 Timothy 2:25) instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed; as perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth,

Of course there will be those who are...

  • (2 Timothy 3:7) always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.

What precarious position are they in?

  • (Hebrews 10:26) For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left,

God allows them this choice:
  • (Romans 1:28) And just as they did not approve of holding God in accurate knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mental state, to do the things not fitting,

—See also Titus 1:1; Ephesians 1:17; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 1:10; Colossians 3:10

Why are there so many different religions?