|
Of all the divine instructions in the Bible that have come to us from the one true God, His son Jesus Christ said the following was the first and greatest, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37). If we are required to fulfill this command, we must first come to know the true identity of the Lord our God, for if we do not know who He is, we cannot know how He wishes to be served and worshiped.
The scripture Christ quoted in Matthew 22:37 is from Deuteronomy 6:5, which follows one of the most important verses in the Bible, Shema Yishrael Yahovah Elohenu Yahovah ehad, “Hear, O Israel! Yahovah our God, Yahovah is one!” Christ directs us to serve the only true God – our Father, whom the Bible teaches we must love with our entire being, as there is only one God and Father of all (cf. 1Cor. 1:8; Eph. 4:6). Therefore, we must determine who the one true God is from scripture, His relationship to Jesus Christ and all of us. Christ said plainly that his Father is greater than he (Jn. 13:16; 14:28). This did not change after his resurrection because Christ is to return everything to the Father when he has completed the work he was sent to do (1Cor. 15:24). If Christ were equal to his Father, he would not be handing the kingdom back to Him. Christ also directed the disciples to worship his God and Father only (Mt. 6:9). To worship any other being, human or spirit, is contrary to the first commandment (Ex. 20:1-3). Therefore, singing praises or praying to Christ or other angels is against the law and will of the Father (Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9). All worship is to be directed to the Father alone (Mt. 6:8-9). As the son of God is our Mediator, we pray to the Father in the name and by the authority of Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:13) because his sacrifice, offered on our behalf, enables everyone to draw near to the one true God (Jn. 17:3). |
AuthorThis website represents the collaborative effort of individuals working together to serve God according to His law and written word (1Cor. 12:12-31; Lk. 4:8), under the direction of Jesus Christ who is the head of the church (Mt. 17:5; Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18). ArchivesCategories |
RSS Feed