God is a spirit
Or "the Spirit is God"; a divine person, possessed of all divine
perfections, as appears from his names, works, and worship
ascribed unto him; (See Gill on John
4:23); though the Arabic and Persic versions, and others,
read as we do, "God is a spirit"; that is, God, Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost: for taking the words in this light, not one of the
persons is to be understood exclusive of the other; for this
description, or definition, agrees with each of them, and they
are all the object of worship, and to be worshipped in a true and
spiritual manner. 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: whatever excellence is in them, must be
ascribed to God in the highest manner; and whatever is imperfect
in them, must be removed from him:
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.