The Meaning of "Worship in Spirit and Truth"

Changed by Christ and Him Alone

We are rejected by those who call themselves Christian, who have not been changed by Christ, but thought they would become saved merely by saying they are a Christian. They don't understand that salvation through Christ is not about what we say, but about what Christ does in us in response to our repentance for our sinfulness and a desire to be changed by Him.

What is meant by God in His Word is always determined by the context of the passages. Those who are not authentically born again will interpret the Bible in terms of their fallen mindset because they have not been changed by Christ into a new creation. They do not have the mind of Christ and continue to think in flawed cultural terms rather than in what God actually said.

Philippians 2:5 "5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: "

1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Those who never repented and decided on their own to present themselves as Christians are not able to understand the commands and principles of God; they remain ignorant of the ways of God, no matter how much they read the Bible. These people are the most dangerous people in the church gathering.

Those who are pretenders lead people to believe they are saved because of their own decision, gaining influence in the gathering while misinterpreting much of God's Word while judging others for not following their prescribed human rules and standards that God never commanded.

In these last days, we are witnessing more convoluted interpretations of Scripture by those who have never been born again but think they are going to heaven.

Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

Many false doctrines have emerged because of the fallen mindset of those who are pretenders and don't know they are pretenders. The devil has convinced them that they are still in control of themselves, and they must save themselves and think without the mind of Christ.

One of the sayings I hate the most is "God gave us a brain", as though thinking with our fallen mindset is alright because God gave that brain to us. What this tells me is the person using this phrase denies the need to trust in Christ and be changed by Him.

If someone thinks we must figure things out for ourselves and not bother asking God, then I have to believe they never trusted in Him and remain dedicated to their own way of thinking with their fallen mind.

I notice, too, that those who think like this often demonstrate a prideful stance in many things, unable to be taught. They do not change their entire lives because they rely on their own idea of things instead of consulting with God for His truth.

In other words, those who have entered the church gathering, thinking simply by deciding to be a Christian, they are going to heaven, they are fooled by the devil, while on their way to hell. These people must be told the way of salvation through repentance and faith in Christ so that they will become broken over their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ. Only then will they be transformed into a new creation and begin to think with the mind of Christ.

Ephesians 2:9-10 "…9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. "

Transformed by Christ not by Changing Ourselves to Glorify Self

Anyone who still wants to live in sin without a desire to be changed by God was never born again. Christ transforms those who want to be changed by Him; they are no longer the same person and no longer think the way they used to think.

If you hear a Christian say to you, "I am the same person I've always been", you have reason to be concerned.

 
When we have trusted in Christ, expressing our sorrow over our own sinfulness, He then changes us into a new creation. We are no longer the same person, nor do we want to ever return to the old again.

 
Those who think they became saved by deciding to join a Christian church remain unsaved and still headed for hell. It is only brokenness over our sinfulness and crying out to God to change us that He will work in Us.

 
Ephesians 2:10 "…9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!"

Philippians 2:13
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose."

 
Titus 2:14
"He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

Colossians 1:10
"so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,"

James 2:17-18
"So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. / But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

It is Christ's work in our hearts that results in righteous actions. Any work of our own that results in actions is dead works, not evidence of salvation, but willful deeds to elevate the self.

 
Christ wants to guide us in every way; only when we want this is the evidence of a changed heart. Those who still want to take credit for their actions and changed behavior in their own efforts are not born again until they confess this sinful stance and pray to be transformed by Christ.

 
Psalm 100:3 "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."