In the previous posts we saw the biblical evidence that Jesus is indeed God, and is the God of the Old Testament. Now we will go onto the final section:
1. That Jesus is God – covered in Part 1
2. That Jesus is the God of the Old Testament – covered in Part 2
3. That Jesus can be prayed to and worshipped as God
Some Christians, such as the Latter-day Saints (Mormons), have issues with praying directly to Jesus.
Andrea del Castagno – Crucifixion
What does the Bible say about praying to Jesus?
Acts 7:59-60 – And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen called upon God, and did so by praying to Jesus Christ. This is proof both of Jesus being God and of the legitimacy of praying to Jesus.
2 Cor 12:8-9 – For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Who did Paul pray to? The Lord. The Lord replied: “my strength is made perfect in weakness“. Whose strength? Whose weakness? Paul concludes by comparing his own infirmities to the power of … who? Christ. Christ is the Lord Paul prayed to, and who answered Paul.
1 Tim 1:12 – And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry
Who does Paul thank? Jesus.
1 John 5:13-15 – These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If we ask, he hears. Who is he? Jesus. “We know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” Petitions to? Jesus. Desired? The better English word is “asked“. Who is asked? Jesus.
And can Jesus be worshipped?
Heb 1:6-8 – And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
The Son is not an angel (contrary to the teachings of Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses). The Son is God, and his throne is forever. And all the angels of God are instructed to worship him.
Philippians 2:10 – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth
In the previous post, we saw that this indicates that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament.
John 5:23 – That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Book of Revelation,”Worthy is the Lamb”
Jesus said that all men must honour him in the SAME way as they honour the Father. How should we honour the Father? With worship. Jesus is commanding worship of himself equal to the worship we should give the Father.
Revelation 4:8-11 – And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Rev 5:14 – And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:7 – And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Who is he that liveth forever? Jesus:
Rev 1:18 – I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Rev 2:8 – And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive
Rev 10:16 – And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer
Who created all things? Jesus.
Col 1:16 – For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him
So, as Jesus commanded, we worship Jesus. As Stephen set an example, we pray to Jesus. And as Thomas said to Jesus, so we say, “YOU, my Lord and my God!”
Further reading:
Should we worship Jesus?
Is the Father Pleased or Displeased with Those Who Worship Jesus?
Is It Appropriate to Worship Jesus? … by Wayne Jackson
May a Christian Address Christ in Praise or Prayer? … by Wayne Jackson
Praying to Jesus
Should I Pray to the Father, the Son, or the Spirit?
Prayers to JesusDialogue with Jehovah’s Witness on Christology & Trinitarianism IV … by Dave Armstrong [Part 4 of 4]
All quotes from the Bible are from the KJV unless otherwise stated.
