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That doesn't change the fact that mainstream Christianity believe that Jesus is God and the Bible teaches that Jesus had a physical body, after His death.
Oh, my giddy aunt. I love this argument. Let me comment on it for about the twentieth time on this forum.
The belief that mainstream Christianity applies to this verse is flawed. These two halves of verse 24 are treated differently. That's not the way language works.
"God is spirit . . ."
Mainstream Christianity applies a literal meaning to the first half of the verse. They claim that the verse means that God does not have a physical body. If that were true, then the second half of the verse would have to support that belief.
". . . and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
Taken in a literal sense, that means worshipers must be spirits. They cannot have bodies. Which further means, no mortal can worship God. That idea is contrary to what the rest of the Bible teaches and is just plain silly.
Anyone seeking the truth, please think on this for a moment. I suspect that you know how language works. A single sentence is going to remain consistent in how it represents a topic. Either the words are meant to be taken literally or they are meant to be taken figuratively. That is done to prevent confusion. If readers could not compare the two halves of a statement to determine what was literal and what was figurative, then we would never be able to express our thoughts to one another with any degree of accuracy. Language has rules and this is one of them.
Now, the challenge for truth seekers. Look at verse 24. Look at it once, literally. Then look at it once figuratively. What do you think it means. If you're not sure, ask God.
Ran77: << "God is spirit . . ."
Mainstream Christianity applies a literal meaning to the first half of the verse. They claim that the verse means that God does not have a physical body. If that were true, then the second half of the verse would have to support that belief.
". . . and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
Taken in a literal sense, that means worshipers must be spirits. They cannot have bodies. Which further means, no mortal can worship God. That idea is contrary to what the rest of the Bible teaches and is just plain silly. >>
From the commentary of John Gill, famous historical commentator on the Bible, on John 4:24:
"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 ..."
and
"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."
Gill says that God is a spirit but also infinite and eternal, eminent over all other spirits, and the creator of all other spirits.
Our bodies are adapted to the environment we live in. God is a spirit superior to all environments.
To "worship him in spirit" doesn't mean that we have to be disembodied spirits to worship. Instead, it means that you don't just take your body to church while your soul snoozes. To worship in spirit means that you don't just go to church because the neighbors think you should or because your family thinks you should. The same goes for prayer, even in your own home. You don't pray just because others think you should but because you believe that God receives your prayers.
Link
John 4:24 - Meaning and Commentary on Bible Verse
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