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I've had this on my heart for some time now. The question of “The Trinity”. I found your website via google search and I'm so happy I did. The information posted is knowledgable and BIBLE driven. This means a lot to me as I was able to see your responses and then look up the verses in my Bible to confirm/clarify them. My only remaining question is this: if we are to NOT have idols, should we not pray “in Jesus's name”? Because now I'm certain that Jesus is NOT God but Son of God. This would mean that we should ONLY pray to God the Father and not to Jesus the Son right? I've been confused by that of late because I often end prayer with “In Jesus's precious name” but then wondered if by doing so, I was using Jesus as an idol which is a sin. Thanks to anyone who responds! God bless you all!
Angels. Welcme to you. I am happy you have gotten to the truth about the trinity doctrine. You have to remember tho, that Jesus is our Savior and we do everything in His name. Since Jesus is the perfect sacrifice and now is our Mediator between God our Heavenly Father, we pray in His name to the Father. This is the only way since God the Father can't look at Sin. And we are sinners. If we think that we are not the truth is not in us John tells us.
Peace and Love Mrs.
Ok, that makes more sense. I was getting nervous that I was inadvertantly using an “idol”. I do trust Jesus as my savior and through him I will go to Heaven someday… I just want to make sure I'm following the word of God at all times. Some of it can be confusing sometimes, which is why I figured I'd just ask.
I've always been taught that we can have a personal relationship with God (thus the reason we pray to Him instead of asking a priest for forgiveness). You said we would pray in Jesus name because he is our intermediary to God. I understand this (partially) as he is the reason we are forgiven of our sins. But shouldn't we be able to pray right to God instead of to Jesus then to God? Just want to make sure I'm not confusing my teachings. I've always praised Jesus and KNOW prayer works. I didn't grow up in a particularly “religious” family but I just always KNEW there was a God (our Father) and prayed to Him often.
Welcome Angelswings1976,
Jesus is our Lord all power on heaven and earth has been given to him. Offering up the name of Jesus in your prayers to the Father are supported by scriptures.Wm
Angel In John 14:23 It says
” If anyone loves Me he will keep my word, and my Father will love Him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him.”
At Baptism we have received God'sHoly Spirit and through the Holy Spirit we are all connected to the Father and the Son.
1 Corinth. 2:11
For what man knows the things of man except the the spirit of man which is in him?
verse 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.Peace and Love Mrs.
Thank you all for your respones – truly I am relieved. I sing praise to Jesus, I pray in His name and I was getting confused (my own doing I'm sure). I am glad to see scriptually praying in Jesus name is supported and not considered idoltry. Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond to me – I've been reading my Bible a lot today and just trying to open my heart and mind to God's word so I can understand it all as He would want me to. God Bless you all!
Welcome AW,
We should see how the faithful servants worked.
Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.We who are reborn in him can speak and work in that name.
Glad that you have such an interest in the Word of God. Just remember tho, that there are many interpretation floating around on this website. We also have an Atheist that comes and posts. Also that still belief in the trinity doctrine. In 1 Thes. 5:21 It tells us to” Prove all things…..' That is very important as you will see, and probable already done so.
Wish you all the best and may God be with you always.
Peace and Love Mrs.I think as a younger Christian I did believe some things without question. It is as I have gotten older (maybe wiser as well) that I've had some questions floating around in my head and wanted to get biblical answers to them. I am a FIRM believe in the word of God, I believe what the Bible says. So if someone says “this is the answer” but provides no Biblical verses, I do not blindly believe them. I want the verse to back it up y'know??
I look forward to speaking with you all, learning about the word of God together and hopefully enriching each others lives.Amen AW,
But there are some here whose joy is in attacking everything that is of God.
Put on your armour and hold fast to what is good.I must admit that the older I've gotten the less argumentative I've become! I might have to leave the arguing to those of you who are good at it
But I appreciate the honesty and encouragement!Quote My only remaining question is this: if we are to NOT have idols, should we not pray “in Jesus's name”? Because now I'm certain that Jesus is NOT God but Son of God. This would mean that we should ONLY pray to God the Father and not to Jesus the Son right? Because we are sinful, we need a mediator between us and God, who is holy.
It is just as “seek” said:Quote This is the only way since God the Father can't look at Sin. And we are sinners. I thought this article was interesting:
Is it proper to approach God in prayer without saying something like “in Jesus’ name”?
The Bible shows that Christians desiring to approach Jehovah in prayer ought to do so in Jesus’ name. Jesus told his disciples: “No one comes to the Father except through me.” He added: “Whatever it is that you ask in my name, I will do this, in order that the Father may be glorified in connection with the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”—John 14:6, 13, 14.
Referring to Jesus’ unique position, the Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature says: “The object of prayer is God alone, through Jesus Christ as the Mediator. All supplications, therefore, to saints or angels are not only useless, but blasphemous. All worship of the creature, however exalted that creature is, is idolatry, and is strictly prohibited in the sacred law of God.”
What if someone, after a very rewarding experience, says, “Thank you Jehovah” without adding “in Jesus’ name”? Would this be improper? Not necessarily. Suppose a Christian meets a sudden danger and cries out: “Help me, Jehovah!” God would hardly refuse to help because his servant did not say “in Jesus’ name.”
It should be noted, however, that simply speaking out loud even to God does not in itself constitute a prayer. For example, after he was judged by Jehovah for killing his brother Abel, Cain said: “My punishment for error is too great to carry. Here you are actually driving me this day from off the surface of the ground, and from your face I shall be concealed; and I must become a wanderer and fugitive on the earth, and it is certain that anyone finding me will kill me.” (Genesis 4:13, 14) Though Cain addressed his comments to Jehovah, his emotional outburst was a complaint about the bitter fruitage of sin.
The Bible tells us: “God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.” Casually addressing the Most High as if he were a mere human would definitely show a lack of humility. (James 4:6; Psalm 47:2; Revelation 14:7) It would also be disrespectful to know what God’s Word says about Jesus’ role and yet intentionally pray without recognition of Jesus Christ.—Luke 1:32, 33.
This is not to say that Jehovah expects a particular style or set formula when we pray. A key factor is a person’s heart condition. (1 Samuel 16:7) In the first century C.E., a Roman army officer named Cornelius “made supplication to God continually.” Cornelius, an uncircumcised Gentile, was not dedicated to Jehovah. Though it is unlikely that he offered his prayers in Jesus’ name, they “ascended as a remembrance before God.” Why? Because “the examiner of hearts,” saw that Cornelius was “a devout man and one fearing God.” (Acts 10:2, 4; Proverbs 17:3) Upon gaining knowledge of “Jesus who was from Nazareth,” Cornelius received holy spirit and became a baptized disciple of Jesus.—Acts 10:30-48.
In the final analysis, it is not for humans to decide which prayers God hears. If a Christian on occasion made an utterance to God and overlooked using such an expression as “in Jesus’ name,” there would be no need for him to burden himself with guilt. Jehovah is fully aware of our limitations and wants to help us. (Psalm 103:12-14) We can rest assured that if we exercise faith in “the Son of God . . . , no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:13, 14) Especially when representing others in public prayer, however, true Christians acknowledge the Scripturally outlined role that Jesus occupies in Jehovah’s purpose. And they obediently endeavor to honor Jesus by directing prayers to God through him.
Hi AW,
We call to our Father
ABBA FATHER
because we are in His son whom He loves
If we have been reborn of water and the Spirit.WOW – That was a GREAT article, thank you so much for sharing it! And I love all the verses it provides, I will have to look them up later. I think I may print it out! I've often found when I pray it would begin with “Lord Jesus…” and when I ended it was always “In Jesus's name”.
But for some reason (probably Satan trying to confuse me) I suddenly wondered to myself “is praying to Jesus wrong – is it idoltry?” I'm glad to see I was NOT wrong to pray this way.
Quote “Lord Jesus…” and when I ended it was always “In Jesus's name”. But for some reason (probably Satan trying to confuse me) I suddenly wondered to myself “is praying to Jesus wrong – is it idoltry?” I'm glad to see I was NOT wrong to pray this way.
Hi AS.
I'm still somewhat confused by your understanding.Quote I've often found when I pray it would begin with “Lord Jesus…”
Starting out a prayer with “lord Jesus” would make it seem like you were praying to Jesus.
Jesus always addressed his prayers to his Father. There are no indications anywhere in scripture to pray to Jesus.Saying your prayer in “the name of Jesus” means you recognize his role and authority in God's will.
It's much like saying “in the name of the law.” The law doesn't have a name, but we are stating it's authority.Anyway, your welcome for the article.
When Jesus said to ask for things in his name, I think people confused the issue and started tacking “In Jesus' name” to the end of their prayers. Notice that when Jesus gave the model prayer in Mat 6, he did not tack his name on to it — he ended it with “Amen”.
In any case, I would not think it would be idolatry to say “In Jesus name” if you recognize that it is God you are praying too, not Jesus. You could view it as acknowledging that the life of Jesus is what led you to God.
Quote (david @ April 01 2008,07:34) Quote “Lord Jesus…” and when I ended it was always “In Jesus's name”. But for some reason (probably Satan trying to confuse me) I suddenly wondered to myself “is praying to Jesus wrong – is it idoltry?” I'm glad to see I was NOT wrong to pray this way.
Hi AS.
I'm still somewhat confused by your understanding.Quote I've often found when I pray it would begin with “Lord Jesus…”
Starting out a prayer with “lord Jesus” would make it seem like you were praying to Jesus.
Jesus always addressed his prayers to his Father. There are no indications anywhere in scripture to pray to Jesus.Saying your prayer in “the name of Jesus” means you recognize his role and authority in God's will.
It's much like saying “in the name of the law.” The law doesn't have a name, but we are stating it's authority.Anyway, your welcome for the article.
Hi David,Gosh now I'm even more confused. I think sometimes I've just followed blindly… anyway off topic.
Well I pray daily (multiple times, throughout the day whenever I feel like it). For example: “Dear Jesus, please keep me safe in my travels today”. So perhaps I am praying/addressing it all wrong. I'm not even sure why I suddenly realized it and questioned it, but it's good I did.
So always address DEAR GOD when praying, because although we are praying through Jesus (in Jesus name) we are praying to God our Father. Maybe my head is more confused than I thought initially. But yes, when I sit and think of it, I often would start with “Dear Jesus”…
Good point Kejonn!
AS Since we came out of the Catholic Church, I hasd a really scarry experience one night after we were baptized according to scripture and had left the Church. I was scarred to pray to the wrong God, so I started my prayer out by saying God of the Universe. It felt like one bad spirit left and another come into my mind. Ever since I pray always to the God of the Universe and end it in Jesus Christ Name I pray. Amen. Since Christ is our Mediator we use His Name. Ask and it will be given to you in Jesus Christ Name.
Peace and Love Mrs.
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