God is a Spirit







John 4:24
"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."



God is a Spirit - This is one of the first, the greatest, the most sublime, and necessary truths in the compass of nature! There is a God, the cause of all things - the fountain of all perfection - without parts or dimensions, for he is Eternal - filling the heavens and the earth - pervading, governing, and upholding all things: for he is an infinite Spirit! This God can be pleased only with that which resembles himself: therefore he must hate sin and sinfulness; and can delight in those only who are made partakers of his own Divine nature. As all creatures were made by him, so all owe him obedience and reverence; but, to be acceptable to this infinite Spirit, the worship must be of a spiritual nature - must spring from the heart, through the influence of the Holy Ghost: and it must be in Truth, not only in sincerity, but performed according to that Divine revelation which he has given men of himself. A man worships God in spirit, when, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, he brings all his affections, appetites, and desires to the throne of God; and he worships him in truth, when every purpose and passion of his heart, and when every act of his religious worship, is guided and regulated by the word of God. (Clarke's Commentary on the Bible)
 

God is A spirit - This is the second reason why men should worship him in spirit and in truth. By this is meant that God is without a body; that he is not material or composed of parts; that he is invisible, in every place, pure and holy. This is one of the first truths of religion, and one of the sublimest ever presented to the mind of man. Almost all nations have had some idea of God as gross or material, but the Bible declares that he is a pure spirit. As he is such a spirit, he dwells not in temples made with hands Acts 7:48, neither is worshipped with men's hands as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things, Acts 17:25. A pure, a holy, a spiritual worship, therefore, is such as he seeks - the offering of the soul rather than the formal offering of the body - the homage of the heart rather than that of the lips.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

God is a spirit,.... Or "the Spirit is God"; a divine person, possessed of all divine perfections, as appears from his names, works, and worship ascribed unto him; See Gill on John 4:23; though the Arabic and Persic versions, and others, read as we do, "God is a spirit"; that is, God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: for taking the words in this light, not one of the persons is to be understood exclusive of the other; for this description, or definition, agrees with each of them, and they are all the object of worship, and to be worshipped in a true and spiritual manner. God is a spirit, and not a body, or a corporeal substance: the nature and essence of God is like a spirit, simple and uncompounded, not made up of parts; nor is it divisible; nor does it admit of any change and alteration. God, as a spirit, is immaterial, immortal, invisible, and an intelligent, willing, and active being; but differs from other spirits, in that he is not created, but an immense and infinite spirit, and an eternal one, which has neither beginning nor end: he is therefore a spirit by way of eminency, as well as effectively, he being the author and former of all spirits: whatever excellence is in them, must be ascribed to God in the highest manner; and whatever is imperfect in them, must be removed from him:

And they that worship him; worship is due to him on account of his nature and perfections, both internal and external; with both the bodies and souls of men; and both private and public; in the closet, in the family, and in the church of God; as prayer, praise, attendance on the word and ordinances: must worship him in spirit and in truth; in the true and spiritual manner before described, which is suitable to his nature, and agreeably to his will.

God is Spirit


Definition:


    God is a non-material personal being, self-conscious and self-determining.

Meaning:


    God is someone we can get to know. He, unlike ourselves, doesn't need to be told what to do. On the other hand He tells us what to do and how to live in a manner pleasing to Him. Just because He can't be seen by the human eye doesn't mean He is not there and therefore should be ignored. Quite the opposite is true, His creation demonstrates His existence. Also, since he cannot be seen, we need to devote ourselves to study everything that has been written about Him so that we can get to know Him like He wants us to and begin to live our lives in a way that pleases Him.

Scripture Support:

    John 4:24

    God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

    John 1:18

    No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

    Colossians 1:15

    Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

    I Timothy 6:16

    Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

    Luke 24:39

    Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

    Romans 1:20

    For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

    I Timothy 1:17

    Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Conclusion:

    God has no image. He cannot be seen by the human eye, but creation points to His existence. His Son, Jesus testified to His existence and desire to be sought by His creatures. He also provided us with an example of how to live our lives seeking and serving God.

Application:


    I need to study the Scriptures in order to find out more about God, both who He is and how He wants me to live. Also when I look at all the beautiful things in this world I will thank God for creating them and for creating me.(1)
  

References:


~New International Version (©1984)

(1) http://www.parentcompany.com/awareness_of_god/aog1.htm


Blessings,


Raj Kosaraju


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