The Samaritans were Gentiles, descendants of Babylonian and other immigrants placed in the vacated land of Israel by Assyrian kings and later rulers. Their religion was the old Babylonian religion, but much mixed with elements adopted from the neighboring Jews. By the time of Christ, the Samaritans were already partly mixed with Jewish renegades and also had circumcision and a perverted form of the Law of Moses.
Josephus, the first century Jewish historian, reports the Samaritans always pretended to be Jews when it favored them ("Antiquities" IX, 14, 3; XI, 8, 6). Read the origin of the Babylonian Samaritans and their hybrid pagan religion in 2 Kings 17:18-33.
The Samaritans, who nominally adhered to some points of the Law of Moses, only as it suited their fancy, readily accepted these renegade Jews. Of all the Gentiles, the Samaritans would seem to have been the most prepared to accept the religion of the New Testament. Simon, the chief in the Samaritan religion, was among those who listened to Philip.
It is this back-drop and the ensuing deep-seated negative feelings that made Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well peculiar, Jesus said, "Ye [Samaritans] worship ye know not what: we [Jews] know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). "To the Jew first, then also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). "He is a Jew," says Paul, "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. 2:29). In Romans 11:16-27 Paul explains that Israel and the Jews, to whom salvation belonged, were broken off because of unbelief. Gentiles were grafted in their place. But once grafted in, they were no longer Gentiles—“Being in time past Gentiles in the flesh" (Eph. 2:11). Now we are all one in Christ Jesus, "no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints" (Eph. 2:19).
One has to become an Israelite to be saved! Salvation is not for Gentiles! All the promises were given to Israel. Why? All nations had gone into anti-God, false, pagan religions. In such a God-rejecting world, God raised up, from the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the days of Moses, a special nation to be His nation—to be a light to the non-believing Gentiles. Incidentally, the very name Gentile means unbeliever. God gave this special called-out nation His right ways of life—and to them were given the promises which include salvation (Rom. 9:4). But, when a Gentile-born person repents, accepts Christ and receives God's Holy Spirit, then he becomes, spiritually, an Israelite, a child of Abraham, and an heir of the promises (Gal. 3:28-29). Salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22). Salvation, however, is for everyone that believes (in living faith, not dead faith)—to the Jew first, and, through Christ, also to the Gentile (Rom. 1:16). One cannot have salvation unless you become, spiritually, a Jew! (Rom. 2:28-29.) Of course, through disobedience, all natural-born Israelites have been cut off from the promises and God's salvation, but they may receive it, like all others, through Christ! (Rom. 11:17-18, 23-26).
In speaking with the Samaritan woman, Jesus went on to teach: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23). In our sanctimonious “judge not” society, what does it mean to worship God in spirit? The truth clearly makes some people down-right mad (Acts 4:1-2). What does it mean to worship God in truth? Without God's Spirit no one could ever inherit everlasting life! Without God's Spirit we can't even worship God as we should! John said, "God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24)! Absolutely no one can worship God in spirit if he has not the Spirit of God! Without God’s Spirit it is impossible to really understand God’s truth (John 16:13). This is a profound teaching—what does it mean to worship God “in spirit and truth?”
What do the churches of this world say? "Worship God according to the dictates of your own conscience." That is contrary to what God says! How do you worship God in spirit and in truth? What is truth? Jesus said plainly: Thy Word is truth (John 17:17). God's Word is the Bible! The Bible is the authority of God! To worship God in truth is to worship Him how, when, where, and why as shown in His Word, which is truth!
God is the source of all life. But He did not give mankind life inherent—not yet! Everything began with God. And of all the religions on earth—including “traditional Christianity”—not one knows who and what God is! Worse, not one knows what and why man is! Yet the Designer and Maker of this most intricately designed mechanism we call human reveals himself in man's instruction manual He gave us!
We must know truth. We must come to the point in our lives where we can say, “This Bible is truth, this is what I believe, this is what I have proven and this is what I follow.” Learning truth is not really that difficult. The knowledge of God’s Word (truth) is a precious blessing and a wonderful gift, but comes with responsibility and accountability! The difficult part of Christianity is being one. Living the truth can be a challenge because we have grown up in and are affected by Satan’s world—the society he has fostered, which is opposite of truth. God’s Word teaches us a different way, a new way and yet a better way of living (Matt. 7:13-14).
A true Christian is to lead into all truth, which means understanding of God’s Word, and what it instructs on all issues, so that we know what to obey—God will only give His Spirit to those who obey (Acts 5:32).God will not accept worship "according to the dictates of man's conscience." To be acceptable to Him we must worship Him in truth—according to the Bible (1 John 2)!
The Bible teaches us to keep the true Sabbath, and also God's Holy days and Festivals; it shows the resurrection was on the Sabbath and the crucifixion on Wednesday; the Bible teaches God's purpose is that we, now mortals, are to be begotten, and then, after a life of overcoming, growing in knowledge of Christ and in grace, developing godly character, are to be born of God at which time we become divine members of the very God family; that the soul is mortal; that this is not the only day of salvation (Matt. 13:11-15), but only His "first-fruits"; that Christ is coming to rule all nations with God's world government, on earth, for a thousand years; that the Gospel is the Message of the Kingdom of God, which is both the world-government of God and the Family of God into which we may be born; and many other such truths. We are to have fellowship only with those who know and obey the truth!
Notice Acts 13:44. "And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God." And verse 48: "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained [called] to eternal life believed." What did they believe? The Word of God -- the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15-17)! Those called to salvation believe God's Word! There is no doubt in their minds! They know the Scriptures mean exactly what they say (John 10:35)! They believe the Word of God, which Jesus said is truth (2 Thess. 2:13).
What does it mean to worship God in spirit? The most challenging part of being a Christian is living it. Yet, as we learn the truth and live truth we will grow from it (2 Peter 3:9). We will become increasingly closer to God and transformed and guided by His Spirit to seek His will instead of our own. In time the life of Christian living will become easier, normal and second nature.
Still, God expects our complete obedience. To obey God completely we need His Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. It will give us the very same mind Jesus Christ had. We will see things from Christ's point of view; we will understand and know to obey God's law. Only God's Holy Spirit can give us the supernatural power we need to begin to keep God’s law in its spiritual intent. Why the Holy Spirit? God's Holy Spirit will give us the diving help to live the same life today that Jesus Christ lived as a fleshly human being over 1900 years ago. Today Jesus Christ has sent His Holy Spirit to the members of His True Church. Through that Spirit, Christ is living in the flesh-and-blood members of His Church. They are striving to live the very same kind of life Jesus lived—of life of obedience, overcoming and enduring to the end of this age
The story of Ancient Israel is to serve as an example for us today. Of them we are told: “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever” (Deut. 5:29)!
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