Jesus stated to the Samaritan Woman this:
I think we need to notice that Jesus emphasizes “truth” twice in this passage. The first emphasis is on “true” worship. This tells us that what He is about to say is for more than just the Samaritan woman. Worshipers here is meant to relate to all believers, and here Jesus specifically states that there are “true” worshipers and therefore we may conclude that there must also be untrue worshipers.
He goes further in His statement about true worshipers to identify these as worshiping in truth. My concern about the Church today revolves around this emphasis on Truth which must be understood as those being influenced in their worship by the Spirit about whom, Jesus is speaking here. This Spirit is not our spirit. Not unless we have at some point in our past yielded to Him thus accepting Him as our own Teacher.
Jesus emphasis on truth here is also made elsewhere, when He informs Nicodemus, that in order to enter into the kingdom one must be born again, not just of flesh and water but of water and the Spirit. “Are you a teacher and do you not know these things?” – He asks. He would ask the same of many of us who would ignore Biblical truth today.
Jesus tells us that He would give us another counselor (His; God’s Spirit), who will lead us into all truth, if we but seek Him for it.
Paul put great emphasis on the truth (or doctrine taught) that He himself had been taught by this same Jesus and His Spirit. Listen carefully:
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (KJV)
You can read this in any Church Sanctioned translation of the original text, and it will give us the same message: teach truth not deception and you will be saved in the end (you will not fall) and you will lead your students who observe these truths to also be saved.
If you think that Jesus died for your sins, and that His is one of many ways to God; then you remain far from the Kingdom. Yet, I know “believers” in Jesus who will believe this untruth. I can give you many such examples that may, by so believing, trend the recipient of such belief in the direction of hell itself. Truth, is not every man for himself, but every true worshiper following Scripture’s teaching as they are taught it. Thus, all must be following the Counselor that Jesus has sent for us in order that He lead us into all Truth.
The following article in today’s Christian Post linked below, is concerning ecumenism and its observance in today’s Christianity. It deals with the fact that we must not overlook truth in our efforts to fellowship and love one another.
We must remember that Jesus made a distinction when praying to His Father in John 17, a distinction between His believers and the world. He says of believers:
John 17:7 “Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; (NASB1995)
What a statement! – does the “everything” of which Jesus speaks concern our knowledge of those truths?
He says of us: John 17:16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (NASB1995)… 19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. (NASB1995)
Notice what sets a true worshiper apart even as He Jesus is set apart. It is truth. Truth taught concerning Him must be the qualifying factor in our sanctification, which is our being set apart unto God. So don’t ever compromise the truth of Scripture for unity. And if your doctrine is proven to be contrary to Scripture by another; then you must seek further understanding from the Spirit for truth.
And Then Messiah Shall Come 