Spirit and Truth

[SeekingOne]

Originally Posted by Standards

Notice that He said, "God is a Spirit" with a capital S. However, He also said "those who worship Him must worhip Him in spirit" little s. I am on debatable ground here, but I believe that we can only get to God through our human spirit. Once our spirit conquers the flesh, we can pray in the Spirit.

Who is the "He said" you are speaking of? John or the person that translated the scripture? From what I was taught, capital letters were not used by the original writers. We capitalize God's name etc. out of respect, it was not written that way originally.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by edjen01

disagree.

truth without spirit...is still truth. and spirit without truth is still spirit.

That is not the point, though. Truth without Spirit is unbalanced and one will go astray. Same vice versa.

[SeekingOne]

Originally Posted by Standards

Truth without spirit is legalism, but spirit without truth is liberalism

Agree or disagree?

I agree that there are many spirits, but only one Holy Spirit and He is truth.

I don't think the Holy Spirit can be without truth and equal liberalism.

I like what a oneness person once quoted: (I DO recognize this is NOT scripture, but I thought you would appreciate that it comes from someone who believes as you)

Legality on the other hand "is a mechanical and external behavior growing our [sic] of reliance on self, because of a desire to gain a reputation, display a skill, or satisfy an urge to personal power. . . . It is religious performance, scrupulous and meticulous in its outward form, but inwardly, as Jesus described it, ‘filled with dead men’s bones.’ "

and...

On the flip-side of the coin, it is legalism to establish standards for other people when the Bible does not address the issue. Even standards for one’s self can be dangerous if they have the wrong standard. It is possible to be legalistic in the standards you set for yourself. Legality then becomes a "making [of] unwarranted demands on yourself or on someone else, especially in areas which are not prohibited in the Scriptures.

[Hoovie]

John 4:20Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23But 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.

24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

spirit (inner man) and truth (without pretension) - Jerusalem and the mountain are of little consequence - it's the inner man that God sees and knows, in spite of locality.

[SeekingOne]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

spirit (inner man) and truth (without pretension) - Jerusalem and the mountain are of little consequence - it's the inner man that God sees and knows, in spite of locality.

I am with you on this one.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by Standards

Truth without spirit is legalism, but spirit without truth is liberalism

Agree or disagree?

It doesn't have to be truth to be legalism. Conversely the spirit can be liberal while still including the truth.

[mfblume]

The point is that God ordained Word and Spirit both to work in our lives. Spirit will not replace the Word, and Word will not replace the work of the Spirit. That is how people go astray if they leave one aside and only focus on the other.