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January - February 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel
Worship in Truth
Peter A. Huizar
When Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman, He said,
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and
truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship
him," John 4:23.
There is much ground covered in this one small verse.
The part about "worship in spirit" will be left for
someone else to expound. Here, we will focus on "worship
in truth." Jesus plainly said that "the hour NOW is."
Since the time that He walked the earth and up until
now, is the hour; it will continue until His return and
on into the Millennium. At this time the "Father is
seeking" people to worship Him in truth.
There are many carnal smart alecks who like to pose the
question, "What is truth?" When a man of this type
confronted Jesus, He did not bother to answer him (John
18:38).
"No longer do I call you servants, for a
servant does not know what his master is doing: but I
have called you friends, for all things that I heard
from My Father I have made known to you,"
(John 15:15). Jesus did make known to His friends the
answer to "What is truth?"
In His final public prayer (before the eleven) He
revealed what truth is. Appealing to the Father on their
(the eleven) and our (disciples to come) behalf He said,
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your
word is truth," John 17:17. The true
students (disciples) know from this that they must look
to God's Word to ascertain truth.
We came into this knowledge over the course of time.
Such does not come all at once. "Whom will he
teach knowledge? And whom will be make to understand the
message? Those just weaned from the milk? Those just
drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon
precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon
line, Here a little, There a little."
Anyone armed with this understanding comes to a
crossroads. Growing up in this society, we "naturally
inherit" the practices of society. Almost everyone keeps
Christmas, New Years, Easter, Halloween and other
holidays. When we look into "the truth" there is NO
positive mention of these practices and customs.
Further examining these holidays, it is easy to
ascertain that they are of pagan origin. NONE of these
are sanctioned by the Bible. Standing at a crossroads,
face to face with pagan practices, we have to make a
decision.
Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th. Jesus Christ
does not appear to have died on a Friday afternoon and
been resurrected on a Sunday morning. The Bible says,
"For Jonah was three days and three nights in
the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be
three days and three nights in the heart of the
earth," (Matthew 12:40). It is hard to
understand how three days and three nights which equals
72 hours, can be the 36 that is found in the popular
"Good Friday to Easter Sunrise" doctrine.
When anyone comes to this knowledge, they will have to
make a decision as to whether they will live a lie or
live the truth, whether to worship with falsehood or in
truth.
Several of those who practice living the truth have made
a comment: This is not "a religion." Religions are what
those in society practice. True religion is a way of
life.
This concept is in accord with what the Bible says. The
Bible refers to "the Way" several times. So, who are
these that live by "the Way?" They are the "true
worshipers;" the ones whom Christ was telling the
Samaritan woman about. They are those who stopped living
the lies about Christmas, Easter, etc., turned to
worship in God's truth (only that which is found in
scripture).
God is seeking those who want to worship Him in
truth. Do we want to worship in truth, or do we want to
follow the traditions of men that are "lies in the eyes
of God?"
The Bible reveals that the day of rest, also called the
day of worship, is the Sabbath (Saturday). Do you
"worship in truth?" Do YOU keep the Sabbath holy?
TSS
January - February 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel
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