1. Who Should We Worship And Why?
First, obtain the best source you have available to rely on, then follow its directions.
1.) GOD – If God told you who to worship – BELIEVE IT!!!
2.) JESUS – If Jesus told you who to worship – BELIEVE IT!!!
3.) ANGEL (of GOD) – If one of GOD’S angels told you who to worship – BELIEVE IT!!!
4.) BIBLE – If the “Word of GOD” (The Holy Bible) told you who to worship – BELIEVE IT!!!
Regardless, they will all be in agreement.
A Description Of The Word “Worship” Is Necessary:
Strong’s Concordance says:
H7812 – worship
A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): – bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
Total KJV occurrences: 171
G4352 – worship
From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):
Note: The word “homage” can mean: respect, reverence, tribute, give honor. Paul’s writings make it very clear Jesus was given honor, not as God but for being the SON OF GOD, the person who came into existence (here on earth) by the power of God (2 Peter 1:17)
The Jewish People Were Taught to Worship ONLY God
Matt. 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him [<1>Note: Jesus uses the pronoun “him” which refers to God, the pronoun “me” would refer to Jesus] only shalt thou serve.”
Luke 4:8 “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Dt 6:13, 10:20; Jos 24:14; 1Sa 7:3; Ps 83:18)
John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Acts 18:13 “Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God ….
Acts 24:14 “so worship I the God of my fathers…”
I Cor. 14:25 … and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Phil. 3:3 “For we … worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus [<2>We “rejoice in Christ Jesus” but no mention is made of worshiping him. We “worship God.”], and have no confidence in the flesh again:
Rev. 14:7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him … and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
Rev. 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship him (the angel). And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God.[<3>We “have the testimony of Jesus” but we are not told to worship him. We “worship” God.]
Rev. 22:9; “Then saith he unto me …worship God.”
Who In The Bible Worshipped Jesus As God?
Respectfully, NOBODY in the Bible “worshipped” Jesus “as GOD”.
Not once in scripture are Christians instructed or commanded to worship Jesus. Jesus himself taught us to worship only God the Father “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” [Jesus speaking] (Luke 4:8). “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father … for the Father seeketh such to worship him’ [Jesus speaking] (John 4:23). Most of Christianity offers their prayers to Jesus in spite of his clear instructions not to do so. When ye pray say, our Father which art in heaven … Jesus speaking, (Luke 11:2). … your heavenly Father … ask him (v. 13). “Your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16). “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you. At that day ye shall ask in my name.” (John 16:23, 26). Much of Christianity believes and teaches that Jesus is the creator of the universe, thus robbing God our Father of the glory of who He is and what He has done (Ps. 33:6, 9; Isa. 43:7-15; 14:8, 24; 45:12- 13; 21-22). (Mark 13:19). He said: ”But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female (Mark 10:6). .. .from the beginning of the creation which God created”
There will inevitably be someone who will mention the only passage where Thomas addressed Jesus as “god” (Ref. Misinterpreted Scriptures/John 20:28 – My Lord and my God), and even here the disciples did not believe or “worship” Jesus as being God (John 20:30-31) “30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. .
Note: I don’t dispute Jesus was “worshipped” (in homage) by many, but Jesus was never worshipped as being GOD. Those who do worship Jesus “today” as God do so because of various man-made conjectures taught by earlier “Religious Leaders”; which is certainly not what Jesus, God or anyone else in the Bible ever commanded us to believe or teach. – (See: What Are The Biblical Requirements for Salvation?).
The difference is:
- One was worshipped as GOD (the LORD (H3068) = YHWH = Jehovah) the other (Jesus) a man; who was worshipped (or honored) by many titles, the “Christ”, our Master, our teacher, our Lord, our savior, the Son of Man and the Son Of God.
- The word “worship” doesn’t automatically make that which is said to be worshipped “GOD” (God The Father) because there are many that are called gods; (1Corinthians 8:5-6) “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
The Bible tells us this:
“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters:for one is your Master, even Christ” [Jesus speaking](Matt. 23:9-10).
Who is our Father? God! Who is our Master? Christ!
To Worship (Serve/Honor) God Through Christ?
1 Peter 1: 20 (KJV)
… Christ…20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him (because of Jesus) do believe in God, that raised him (Jesus) up from the dead, and gave him (Jesus) glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
John 12:26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Remember: When we are serving Christ we are serving (honoring) God – Through Christ!
John 5:23 (KJV)
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.
1 John 2:22-25 (KJV)
22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
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John 4:23-26 (KJV)
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-6 (KJV)
1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord (H3068) thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me (referring to the LORD H3068 = YHWH = Jehovah). 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above (i.e., Jesus, angels, etc), or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them (as God): for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. ………
2 Peter 1:17 (KJV)
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Exodus 34:14 (KJV)
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Matthew 4:10 (KJV)
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
NOTE: Jesus is is not referring to himself but is specifically identifying another personage (“him” the Lord – Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20) who should be worshipped as God.
John 5:17-23 (KJV)
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 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.
Revelation 3:5-12 (KJV)
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The angel of the church in Philadelphia
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 14:7 (KJV)
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 22:9 (KJV)
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
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John 4:21
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
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