Who are true worshipers according to the passage in John 4:23? This is an important question for Christians to consider. Let’s take a close look at what Jesus says in this verse:
“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.” (John 4:23 ESV)
There are a few key things we can understand from this verse about what makes someone a true worshipper of God:
1. True worshipers worship God the Father
Jesus specifies that true worship is directed toward “the Father.” As monotheists, Christians worship the one true God who has revealed Himself as triune – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Worship is ultimately oriented toward God the Father, the first person of the Trinity. He is the source and creator of all things. So true worship recognizes God’s supreme value and worthiness of worship.
2. True worshipers worship in spirit and in truth
Jesus indicates two key elements of genuine worship here – spirit and truth. To worship “in spirit” means to worship from the heart, with sincerity, authenticity, and devotion. It’s not just going through the motions or observing rituals. True worship engages our spirit and involves genuine expression of love, awe, reverence, and praise toward God.
To worship “in truth” means to worship according to the truth God has revealed about Himself in Scripture. It lines up with who God says He is and what He desires. True worship is grounded in the truth of God’s Word. So spirit and truth go hand in hand – worship flows from a sincere heart and aligns with biblical truth.
3. True worshipers are sought out by the Father
An amazing aspect of this verse is that Jesus says the Father is seeking true worshipers. It’s not just us seeking God, but God actively seeks out people to worship Him in this manner. God desires sincere hearts that will worship Him based on the truth of His Word. As Christians, our acts of worship are acceptable to God because of Christ’s work on our behalf. So we can have confidence that our worship is pleasing to the Father.
4. Examples of True Worshipers in Scripture
Looking at examples of true worshipers in the Bible can help us understand what genuine worship looks like in practice:
- David – He worshipped with joy, dancing before the Lord in gratitude and praise (2 Samuel 6:14)
- Mary – She poured perfume on Jesus’ feet as an extravagant act of worship (John 12:3)
- The woman at the well – She worshipped Jesus in spirit and truth after coming to understand who He was (John 4:25-26)
- Paul & Silas – They sang hymns of praise to God even while in prison for their faith (Acts 16:25)
These examples show us key aspects of true worship like heartfelt expression, surrender, sacrificial giving, and bringing glory to God in all circumstances.
5. We Can Become True Worshipers Through Christ
While we may fall short of perfectly worshipping God “in spirit and truth,” the good news is that we can become true worshipers through trusting in Christ. Jesus opened the way for us to have direct access to the Father through His atoning sacrifice on the cross. When we place our faith in Him, our worship is acceptable to God because we are covered by Christ’s righteousness (Hebrews 10:19-22). The Holy Spirit also works in our hearts to produce the fruit of genuine worship (Galatians 5:22-23).
So in summary, true worshipers worship the Father in line with His truth, from sincere hearts, empowered by the Spirit, with their focus on bringing glory to God through Christ. As we grow in our walk with God, we can become the kind of worshipers the Father is seeking by His grace at work within us.
6. Corporate Worship Flows from Individual Worship
While worshipping together as the church is vital, our personal, individual worship of God on a daily basis is crucial for true worship. Jesus said the Father seeks those who worship Him “in spirit and truth”—a very individual, inward heart orientation towards God. Corporate worship in church then flows out of our private worship. When believers cultivate private worship through Bible reading, prayer, and living all of life to glorify God, then corporate worship becomes a natural overflow of an individual worship lifestyle. The gathered church worship on Sundays must not become a substitute for personal daily worship of God throughout the week by individual believers.
7. Ethical Living and Obedience Are Necessary for True Worship
Worship is more than the songs we sing and the prayers we pray on Sunday mornings. True worship impacts every area of our lives. That’s why Jesus condemned outward displays of worship by the Pharisees when their hearts were far from God and their actions disobeyed His commands (Matthew 15:8-9). God desires worship that flows from a transformed heart and aligns with how He has called us to live. As Romans 12:1 says, we are to offer our entire selves as “living sacrifices”—this is true worship. When our worship translates into loving obedience and holiness in everyday life, then it is genuine worship that glorifies God.
8. True Worship Recognizes Christ’s Lordship
An important aspect of worshipping God “in spirit and truth” is recognizing the lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word” (John 14:23). Part of true worship is obeying Christ’s commands for our lives out of love and reverence for Him as Lord. We worship Him not only through singing His praises, but also by submitting to His authority and living in alignment with His teachings. Yielding our wills to follow Christ in daily life is a fundamental way we honor Him in true worship.
9. The Holy Spirit Enables Us to Worship in Spirit and Truth
While we have a responsibility to worship God through our actions, true worship that pleases Him is ultimately a work of the Holy Spirit within us. Jesus said in John 4:23 that the Father seeks those who worship in spirit and truth. As Romans 8:26 tells us, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness as we seek to follow Christ. It is the Spirit who produces in us the fruit of love, joy, peace, and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22-23) that characterize true worship. When we yield to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, He enables us to worship God from the heart in line with His truth. True worship flows from the Spirit’s ministry in and through us.
10. Heavenly Worship Portrays True Worship
The book of Revelation provides a breathtaking picture of heavenly worship that serves as a model for the heart attitudes and actions of true worship. The apostle John witnessed the sights and sounds of celestial creatures worshiping God saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8). John also saw the 24 elders prostrating themselves before God’s throne in reverent worship (Revelation 4:10). And he heard the voices of countless angels singing worthy anthems of praise to the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:11-12). Such awe-inspiring heavenly worship should inspire our earthly worship to be reverent, joyful, self-humbling, and glorifying to God for who He is and what He has accomplished through Christ.
11. Prophetic Pictures of True Worship in the Old Testament
The theme of worshipping God “in spirit and truth” did not originate with Jesus’ statement in John 4. All throughout the Old Testament, we see prophetic pictures that foreshadow this kind of worship:
- Abraham obeyed God by faith to sacrifice his son Isaac – This represents worship in spirit through radical obedience and trust (Genesis 22).
- David danced joyfully before the Ark of the Covenant – This represents heartfelt worship in spirit (2 Samuel 6:14).
- Isaiah caught a vision of God’s glory in the heavenly temple – This represents worship grounded in God’s revealed truth (Isaiah 6).
- Daniel continued to pray toward Jerusalem though exiled – This represents persistent worship toward God even in adversity (Daniel 6).
These examples and many others demonstrate that genuine worship characterized by spirit and truth has always been God’s design for His people, long before Jesus spoke of it.
12. Barriers to True Worship
There are a few key barriers that can hinder us from worshipping God in spirit and truth. Being aware of these barriers can help us avoid or overcome them through God’s grace:
- Idolatry – Making anything more important than God hinders true worship of Him.
- Going through the motions – Just mechanically observing spiritual disciplines without heart engagement.
- Prayers and actions disconnected from Scripture – Not aligning worship with biblical truth.
- Sin – Unconfessed sin blocks our fellowship with God and hinders true worship.
- Division in the body – Disharmony, judgment, and lack of love between Christians impedes corporate worship.
- Self-focus – Making ourselves the center rather than seeking to glorify God.
The answer to each of these barriers is to turn towards Christ in humility and faith, asking the Spirit to align our hearts to God’s truth.
13. Benefits of True Worship
Pursuing worship of God in spirit and truth, as He designed us to, brings many benefits into our lives. Here are some of the outworkings of true worship:
- Deeper intimacy with God – We connect with Him on a heart level.
- Greater reverence for God – We gain an awe-filled perspective of His glory.
- Spiritual transformation – We become more Christlike as we encounter His presence.
- A life lived to God’s glory – Worship shapes how we approach each day.
- Strengthened faith – Focusing on who God is builds our trust in Him.
- Joy in salvation – We delight in the gospel as we worship the Savior.
When worship takes first place in our lives, everything else follows in proper perspective. True worship brings eternal dividends both now and forever.
14. Questions to Assess Our Worship
Here are some questions we can ask ourselves periodically to assess the authenticity and biblical foundation of our worship:
- Is my worship genuinely from the heart or just outward actions?
- Am I taking time to worship God daily in private as well as corporately?
- Are my lifestyle choices reflecting obedience to God in line with His Word?
- Do I worship God even when life is difficult and He feels distant?
- Is Christ at the center of my worship or am I seeking to glorify myself?
- Does my corporate worship align with scriptural truth or just my personal preferences?
- Are there any idols competing for my affections and distracting my worship?
Examining our worship practices through such questions can help identify areas needing realignment so we can grow as true worshipers who glorify God in spirit and truth.
15. Summary and Conclusion
In summary, true worship characterized by spirit and truth is:
- Directed to the Father
- Engages our inmost being
- Aligns with God’s revelation
- Pursued by the Father
- Modeled throughout Scripture
- Empowered by Christ and the Spirit
- A complete life orientation
- Strengthened through spiritual disciplines
- Hindered by idolatry and sin
- Vital for the local church
As we seek to become the kind of worshipers the Father desires, we can find help and hope through relying on the Spirit working in us. While imperfect, our worship is made acceptable through Christ’s finished work. As we grow in worshiping God in spirit and truth, all of life becomes an act of worship to His glory. May our lives overflow in heartfelt praise to the One who alone is worthy of our worship.