Welcome to the website of the Gospel Standard Strict Baptists
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2. 8-9)
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MAY 2026 CONTENTS
153
Worship in Spirit and Truth
154 “Behold, I Thought …”
163 Foundations —
Sola Deo Gloria
170 Characteristics of a Believing Christian
174 Gracious Counsel
179 Obituary
184 Book Reviews
188 Matters of the Moment
190 Poetry: Wisdom is the Principal Thing
Cover image:
Langley Chapel, Shropshire, see p. 164
Worship in Spirit and Truth
True worshippers must worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The reason for this is that “God is a Spirit.” That means fundamentally God is not material. He is not made out of matter, rather He spoke matter into existence. He has no form in which we can imagine Him. He is therefore not worshipped in material things. We think it foolish when we see a Hindu putting food before their idol deity. The statue is not living, it cannot eat, the food will spoil. But because God is a Spirit, it is just as foolish for a professed Christian to worship God in non-spiritual ways. God only accepts worship which is in spirit and truth. What does that mean?
To worship “in spirit” is to worship God spiritually. John 4:24 is not referring to the Holy Spirit (although it is certainly true that without the work and aid of the Holy Spirit we will never worship in spirit). Spiritual worship is worship which is not tied to place, time, postures, sounds or music, fixed words, or anything which is external to us. Although the form of worship is important, worship is not in the form but must emanate from the spirit within us. The heart is the principal thing in worship ― the heart is that which God alone sees. Worship is the movement of our spirit Godward, and although it is normally expressed in words, in sounds, in posture, or in assembling in the place where the Lord’s people ordinarily gather, it is not principally in those things. Hannah’s silently moving lips were a sign of true worship in her spirit.
Worshipping in truth may be said to include two things.
Firstly, it is worship which is in accordance with how God has revealed that He requires to be worshipped. It should be truly in line with Scripture. The form and manner of worship is not up to us, however spiritual we may be. Indeed, it is a mark of the spiritually-minded person that they will desire the greatest conformity to God’s pattern for worship. If we believe in the sufficiency of Scripture, then we must believe that Scripture contains all the necessary directions for the right worship of God.
Secondly, we must be true in worship. God hates insincerity in worship (Prov. 21:27). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because, despite all their outward worship, their heart was insincere. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” It is the true and sincere worshipper that God receives. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” God will not despise the broken and contrite heart (Psa. 51:17).
Any worship therefore which is not in spirit and truth, however good and proper it may seem to our judgment, is not acceptable to God. It fails to honour Him and give Him the glory. Our flesh is constantly inclined to unspiritual worship, worship which makes too much of the externals. Our natural mind always thinks it knows best when it comes to worship. Our heart is deceitful and is constantly inclined to worship which is not sincere.
May it be our great concern to be true worshippers. May we ask the Lord to make us true worshippers. May we bring all our worship to the touchstone of the Word of God. Is it in accordance with the pattern given for New Testament worship? May we be enabled to discern the spiritual from the unspiritual, and the sincere from the insincere. May we be ready to pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
A complete list of the books currently in print published by the Trust.
Information on legal matters regarding a chapel, assistance with complying with the law and help with carrying out repairs.
Information about the magazines published by the Gospel Standard Society. Subscriptions can be arranged here and sample copies downloaded.
Information about the Gospel Standard Bethesda care home at Brighton, and the Independent Living units at Harpenden and Swavesey.
Information about the Gospel Standard Society and its charitable aims.
Full details of the Gospel Standard Baptist Library. Catalogues of books can be downloaded and requests for books to borrow, free of charge, can be made.
Our Organisations
The Gospel Standard Trust has two primary functions:
- The publication of sound Christian books.
- To provide legal and financial assistance with Gospel Standard chapel buildings, and advice on complying with the law in other matters pertaining to the running of chapels.
The Gospel Standard Society:
- Provides financial assistance to those in need associated with the Gospel Standard chapels.
- Owns and publishes the Gospel Standard, Friendly Companion and Perception magazines.
The Gospel Standard Baptist Library maintains a valuable collection of Reformed Christian books.
The Gospel Standard Bethesda Fund provides care homes and warden-assisted flatlets for elderly people who are associated with Gospel Standard Chapels.
The Manuscript Sermons section is a new venture between the Gospel Standard Library and the Gospel Standard Trust to put on this web site scanned copies of most of the sermons which are in the possession of the Library in manuscript form. They can be freely downloaded. The project is still ongoing and it is hoped more will be added. Comments to the Librarian are welcome.
Who are the Gospel Standard Baptists? - A Summary
The Gospel Standard Magazine was originated by John Gadsby (1808-1893) in 1835 with the assistance and support of his father, William Gadsby (1773-1844) and is still published today. The magazine was commenced to contend for the doctrines of grace, but especially for the necessity and gracious, sanctifying effect of the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of the Lord's people. It also advocated believer's baptism and strict communion. The circulation of the magazine grew rapidly, and in the early 1860s the editor, J. C. Philpot, gave a most gracious defence of the doctrine of the eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ, concerning which there had been many errors propagated, and which resulted in a division among the Strict Baptist churches. It was as a result of this division that many of the Strict Baptist churches began to align themselves with the Gospel Standard magazine, and over the years have become known as Gospel Standard Baptists.
For more information see the About Us page or download the booklet 'Who are We?" A list of Gospel Standard chapels can be downloaded here. More information about the way the current coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic affects places of worship can be found here.