Why We Worship the Lord Jesus Christ According to the Bible

WHY WE WORSHIP THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

BECAUSE THE IGLESIA Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) worships also the Lord Jesus Christ and hold firm on the belief that the Lord Jesus is not God, Conley asked the question “Is it permissible to worship someone who is not God”? This is what stated in his website:

“The organization known as the "Iglesia Ni Cristo" worships Jesus, something that we are commanded by the Bible to do (Philippians 2:9-11). However, the INC also teaches that Jesus is not God. Is it permissible to worship someone who is not God?”

Take note that Conley admitted that it is the commandment of the Bible to worship the Lord Jesus. He even mentioned the verse (Phil. 2:9-11). Because the Iglesia Ni Cristo doesn’t believe that Jesus is God, he asked the question “Is it permissible to worship someone who is not God?” This is his answer to his own question:

“When we look to the scriptures, we see that it is not OK to worship anyone or anything except God. We are to worship Jesus, but that is because he is God.”

Remember, what he said, “it is not OK to worship anyone or anything except God.” Because of this, he concluded that “We are to worship Jesus, but that is because he is God.”

A DIFFERENT GOSPEL INDEED

In supporting his belief that “We are to worship Jesus, but that is because he is God” he cited Psalms81:9. Please study carefully His contentions:

“We are commanded to worship no other god.

“We have been told from very long ago that we are to worship no other god.

“Psalm 81:9 (ESV) - 9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

“One who denies the deity of Christ could argue that this verse is not saying we cannot worship Jesus because Jesus is not a god. This is a foolish argument. There is only one God, so by this argument, we would have to say that all things and persons may receive our worship.

“One who denies the deity of Christ could also argue that this verse is only saying that we should not worship anyone or anything as God himself. This is another foolish argument. The verse specifically says we are not to worship other gods, not that we are not to worship others as God.

“Such interpretations leave the command useless. We could say that it is permissible to worship anyone because God has not expressly commanded against it.

Take note of what Mr. Conley said, “The verse specifically says we are not to worship other gods, not that we are not TO WORSHIP OTHERS AS GOD.”

What? To worship OTHERS as God? Where in the Bible can you read this? This is a “different gospel,” different from what the Apostle taught us:

“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.” (I Corinthians 8:6 NKJV)

Conley VS the Apostles

Conley: “The verse specifically says we are not to worship other gods, not that we are not TO WORSHIP OTHERS AS GOD.”

Apostle Paul: “Yet FOR US THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER, of whom are all things, and we for Him”

What he said also contradicted what the Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples:

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You...

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3, 1 NKJV)

Conley VS the Jesus Christ

Conley: “The verse specifically says we are not to worship other gods, not that we are not TO WORSHIP OTHERS AS GOD.”

The Lord Jesus: ““Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "FATHER...And this is eternal life, that THEY MAY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD...”

Careful study of what Mr. Conley said, we can see that he contradicted also himself. Take note of what Conley said, “There is only one God, so by this argument, we would have to say that all things and persons may receive our worship.” He clearly said that “THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.”

Conley VS Conley

Conley: “The verse specifically says we are not to worship other gods, not that we are not TO WORSHIP OTHERS AS GOD.”

Conley: “THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.”

This does not end here. Mr. Conley continues to contradict himself. He further said:

“We are told that the reason we are not to worship anyone other than God is because God is jealous for his worship.”

He clearly said, “we are NOT TO WORSHIP ANYONE OTHER THAN GOD.” A clear contradiction of his statement saying: “The verse specifically says we are not to worship other gods, not that we are not TO WORSHIP OTHERS AS GOD.”

Thus, saying that the Lord Jesus Christ is worship because He is God will lead us to erroneous belief like what Mr. Conley said, “to worship OTHERS as God.” This is a different gospel indeed.

“IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO WORSHIP

SOMEONE WHO IS NOT GOD?”

Let us now tackle the question that Mr. Conley raised:

“The organization known as the "Iglesia Ni Cristo" worships Jesus, something that we are commanded by the Bible to do (Philippians 2:9-11). However, the INC also teaches that Jesus is not God. Is it permissible to worship someone who is not God?”

The answer to this question is written in John 4:23-24:

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the TRUE WORSHIPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.” (John 4:23-24 NKJV, emphasis mine)

The Bible clearly said, “THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.” The “truth” referred to is God’s word or His will:

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17 NKJV)

Thus, to worship God in truth is to obey His will:

“This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 TEV)

So, “Is it permissible to worship someone who is not God?” As long as God commanded it or it is His will, for we worship God in truth, we honor Him, we glorify, when we obey His commandments or when we follow His will. Mr. Conley himself testified that God commanded that Jesus is to be worshipped:

“The organization known as the "Iglesia Ni Cristo" WORSHIPS JESUS, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE COMMANDED BY THE BIBLE TO DO (Philippians 2:9-11). However, the INC also teaches that Jesus is not God. Is it permissible to worship someone who is not God?”

Mr. Conley cannot deny the fact that God commanded that the Lord Jesus is to be worshipped because this is clearly written in the Bible. He even cited the verse (Philip. 2:9-11), thus:

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11 RSV)

Thus, we worship the Lord Jesus Christ because it is the commandment or the will of God.

THE LORD GOD IS GLORIFIED WHEN WE FOLLOW

HIS WILL TO WORSHIP HIS SON, JESUS

The Bible clearly stated that when we follow His will to worship His Son, Jesus, He is gloried:

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.” (Philippians 2:9-11 RSV, emphasis mine)

Remember that we worship God in truth, and we honor and glorify Him if we follow His will or commandments. Thus, following His will to worship Jesus is “to the glory of God.”

Worshipping Jesus doesn’t contradict the commandment of God to worship no other god is not been contradicted (Psalms 81:9 and Exodus 20:3), and also Jesus’ own words saying to worship no one but God (Matthew 4:9-10), because when we worship Jesus we are following God’s will or commandment, so it is God who is glorified, honored, worshipped in truth.

What brings contradiction is the teaching that “Jesus is worship because He is God.” This contradicts that teaching that there is only one true God, the Father (cf. John 17:1, 3). Take note, if Philippians 2:9-11 proves that God commanded that His Son is to be worshipped  (which Mr. Conley himself agreed), and we are going to say that Jesus is God, then there will be two Gods: Jesus and the God that commanded us to worship Jesus.

CONCLUSION

We must not worship a mere man, we must not worship an angel or anyone or anything. But, we must worship God in spirit and truth. We worship God in truth if we are following His will or commandment. Thus, if God commanded that His Son to be worshipped, we must follow, and following such commandment is “to the glory of God.”

Hence, the Lord Jesus Christ is worship, not because He is God, but because this is the commandment of God or His will.

Therefore, although we worship the Lord Jesus Christ, but the biblical fact remains that there is only one true God, the Father in haven, and the Father of the Lord Jesus:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” (II Corinthians 1:3 NIV)