God

Bruce Metzger teaches on the concept of worshipping in spirit and truth.

Dr. Metzger's Scripture Passage

• Introduces the scriptural focus: John 4:23
• "The hour is coming… when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth."

Theme of the Talk: The Nature of God

• Dr. Metzger will discuss the deep and mysterious subject of God
• Exploration of different ideas about God from ancient cultures

Biblical Statements About God's Nature

• Two types of biblical statements about God:
  1. What God does (e.g., He creates, sustains, loves)
  2. What God is (His essence)

Three Key Statements About God's Nature

1. God is Spirit:
   • Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman
   • God is not tied to geographical locations or limited by space and time
   • Reference to Naaman from 2 Kings and his request for Israelite soil
   • The emphasis on worshiping God in spirit and truth
2. God is Light:
   • From 1 John 1: "God is light"
   • Light represents glory, truth, and holiness
   • The idea that light (like God) communicates and reveals itself
   • Christ as the "light of the world"
   • The statement does not say "God is a light" or "the light," but simply "God is light"
3. God is Love:
   • From 1 John 4: "God is love"
   • Aristotle's belief that it was impossible for God to love
   • Distinctions between different Greek words for love (storge, eros, philia, agape)
   • God’s love (agape) is self-giving and boundless
   • God's love shapes all of His actions: creating, sustaining, judging, guiding, and saving

Application for Christian Living

• Each statement about God's nature has implications for Christian life:
  • God is Spirit: Worship should be sincere, inward, and truthful
  • God is Light: Christians should walk in the light, living truthfully and openly
  • God is Love: Love should be selfless, seeking the good of others even at personal cost

Illustrative Story

• A story about a nurse caring for lepers in India, highlighting the power of love as an act of service and compassion, not for monetary gain

Conclusion and Prayer

• Summary of the three statements about God's nature
• A prayer, asking for strength to worship God in spirit and truth, to walk in His light, and to reflect His love in daily life

*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.