SOME OF THE "MUSTS" IN THE BIBLE
John 4:4
Morning Meditation 2/25/2013
"And he must needs go through Samaria."
Jesus as the Son of God living in constant contact with His Father received orders to go through Samaria. This is the most direct path from Judea to Galilee. Sometimes the Jews went a much further route to avoid any contact with the Samaritans.
Matthew 15:22-24, "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." However, this was an exception to the rule. Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman and she received Him as her Saviour. Then she went into town and brought a group out to see who she believed to be the Messiah. John 4:39 says, "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did."
God the Father, in His divine providence, guided Jesus through Samaria for a meeting with this woman and the others who would believe on Him. This was a "must" Jesus said. I think some times that the Lord guides us by His providence in a certain way so that we meet people that He wants us to witness to. I'm afraid I fail Him many times when I don't take advantage of certain opportunities. As we continue to look at some of the "musts" of the Bible, let's look next at,
THE "MUST" OF THE LORD'S DEATH TO PROVIDE SALVATION
This is found in John 3:14-18, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Jesus is talking to Nicodemus "a master in Israel" explaining to him how to acquire the New Birth. First Jesus tells Nicodemus, and us, that He must be lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness for people to be saved. Next He explains the way this works for man. It is a pure grace gospel. God knows man's depravity disqualifies him from meeting God's standards. God's holiness will not allow Him to lower His standards and God's love won't let man go to hell without a clear chance to be saved. Note the requirements man has to meet. Verse 15 says, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." The "whosoever" observes the scope of salvation. The words, "believeth in Him," states the non meritorious act that brings eternal life. Then He gives the motive for this desperate act on God's part to save mankind. It is love. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. . ." This is the substitutionary atonement. God so love the world that He gave His Son to substitute for the sinner. He died in our place. This allows God to retain His holiness and justice and save the believer. The words "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Man stands as a perishing creature doomed for eternal hell in his natural state. God loves man even as a sinner and that love motivated the giving of His Son to save the world. Now we know the world is not going to be saved. However, the ones who are not made a definite choice to reject God's offer. This is the message we need to get out.
Next there is,
THE MUST OF WORSHIP
Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
This is a "must." This is clear teaching against the use of any object to be used to assist in worship. You cannot make a picture, or a statue, and bow down before it, and call yourself worshiping God in spirit. That is not to worship God in Spirit. Let's back up one verse to John 4:23, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."
Worship must be in spirit and also in truth. One can bow before God and go through a form what is not commanded by the Word of God. God is the One who says what is right and what is not.
Man cannot worship God without first being born again. The new birth is what qualifies one to worship. One who has a regenerated human spirit has the capacity to worship. You will have to be genuinely saved to know what the Bible teaches about this.
The saints of God have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth so that we can worship God in Spirit and truth. Luke 17:21, "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Next let's look at,
THE MUST OF SERVING THE LORD
Jesus said in John 9:4, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
Where do good works come in so far as our service to the Lord is? Good works are the normal response of the saved to God's gracious plan of salvation. We are created unto good works. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
We do good works to bring glory to God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Paul gave Timothy instructions concerning the rich who were being saved in1 Timothy 6:18, "That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;"
Paul taught Timothy about the man of God in 2 Timothy 3:17, "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
Good works will be rewarded at the Judgement Seat of Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 says, "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
What is it to be saved so as by fire. It means that one does not have a thing to show for his life's work. A beautiful home can be built out of wood, hay, and stubble. But those things will burn. Our works will be tried by fire. What will burn will be lost.
The word "sort" is an important word. This has to do with "kind." Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." In other words, the Word of God is to be the Book by which the Christian lives. No matter how sincere a Christian is, if his works conflict with the Word of God, he will not be rewarded. We need to test what we do by Scripture. If you are not sure you are doing things by the book, you need to talk to your pastor. Seek his help to understand what the Bible teaches about what you are doing and how.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
