Volume 7 - Study 2

OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH

JESUS OUR MESSIAH
Sometimes, as an over-reaction to the Trinity octrine, Unitarians can !ai" to #ay Jes$s the attention
an honour that are ri%ht!$""y his& So ho' o 'e maintain a balanced perspective re%arin% the
hono$rin% o! O$r Heaven"y (ather an the hono$rin% o! O$r Lor Jes$s the Messiah)
THE *UESTIONS
+& Are 'e to 'orshi# Jes$s)
,& I! so ho' o 'e reconci"e this 'ith 'orshi# as -ein% directed only to God)
.& I! 'e m$st not 'orshi# Jes$s as God then in 'hat 'ay sho$" 'e 'orshi# him)
/& ($rthermore, i! 'e sho$" 'orshi# Jes$s oes that mean that 'e sho$" talk to Jesus) 0et
'o$" that not -e ca""e prayer? An isn1t #rayer only to be directed to God)
WORSHIP O( JESUS AS 2THE LOR3 MESSIAH4 AN3
NOT AS 2THE LOR3 5O34
JESUS WAS WORSHIPPED
2&&&the !o$r "ivin% creat$res an the t'enty-!o$r e"ers fell down before the Lamb, &&&
9
sayin%,
6Worthy are yo$ to ta7e the scro""&&&many an%e"s, n$m-erin% myrias o! myrias an tho$sans o!
tho$sans,
12
sayin% 'ith a "o$ voice, 6Worthy is the Lamb 'ho 'as s"ain, to receive #o'er an
'ea"th an 'isom an mi%ht an honor an %"ory an -"essin%86
13
An I hear every
creat$re&&&sayin%, 9To him who sits on the throne an to the Lamb -e -"essin% an honor an
%"ory an mi%ht !orever an ever81
14
&&&an the e"ers fell down and worshiped4 (Rev. 5:8, 12-14).
A"so see: Matt& ,:,, ;, ++< +/:..<+=:,=< +;:,>< ,;:?, +@< L$7e ,/:=,< John ?:.;&
DEI!I"IO!S O #WORSHIP$
The En%"ish 'or 9'orshi#1 comes !rom the O" En%"ish 9'eorthsci#e1 'hich means
9worthiness&1The 5ree7 'or pr%&'y(e% is $se o!ten in re!erence to Jes$s an accorin% the 5ree7-
En%"ish "eAicons means: worship, do obeisance to, prostrate oneself, to show reverence& A"so
severa" Bi-"e trans"ations %ive 2pay homae to! as a meanin% %) pr%&'y(e%& Beca$se this 'or is $se
o! Jes$s as 'e"" as o! 5o Trinitarians say that it is a #roo! that Jes$s is the "lmihty God& Ho'ever,
note 'hat "*e !I+ "*e%,%-./a, D./0.%(ary %) !" W%r1& says a-o$t pr%&'y(e%:
whenever obeisance is made before Jesus, the idea is either explicit or implicit that he is king (Matt.
2:2), Lord (8:2), the Son of God (14:33), or one who can act with divine omnipotence (e.g., 14:33; M. !:";
1!:1#).
So rather than o$r 'orshi# o! Jes$s -ein% a 'orshi# o! him a& ,.0era,,y 2e.(- 3%1 A,4.-*0y, o$r
'orshi# o! him is as Cin%, Lor or Son o! 5o i&e& 5o1s re#resentative& So this means that 'e 'orshi#
him as the Lord #essiah& Uner the 'or pr%&'y(e%, 5a6er$& 3'7E(- 8e9./%( &tates that it can -e
irecte: $to h%man &eings, &%t &' this act the' are recogni(ed as &elonging to the s%perh%man realm ... )es%s,
who is rendered homage as Messianic ing...* So ones 'orshi# o! someone, h$man or ivine is -eca$se o!
the reco%nition that that #erson is one$s superior& This is 'hy Peter re!$se the 'orshi# o! himse"! -y
Dorne"i$s EActs +F: ,=, ,>G< an a"so 'hy the an%e" re!$se the 'orshi# o! himse"! -y the a#ost"e John
ERev& +?:+FG %ivin% the reason as his -ein% on"y 2a !e""o' servant4 ERev& ,,:+?G&
+
B0 HONOURIN5 THE SON WE HONOUR THE (ATHER
2The (ather H$%es no one, -$t has iven a"" H$%ment to the Son, that a"" may honor the %on, :6&0
a& 0*ey *%(%r 0*e a0*er& Whoever oes (%0 *%(%r 0*e S%( 1%e& (%0 *%(%r 0*e a0*er 'ho sent
him4 (J%*( 5:22-2;).
This #assa%e is a"so 4.&6&e1 2y "r.(.0ar.a(& to ma7e Jes$s into "itera""y -ein% the A"mi%hty 5o&
Ho'ever, the principle of aency is c"ear"y state -y the 'ors: 2has iven all &udment to! an
2who sent him&4 So the #oint Jes$s is ma7in% is that i! 'e on1t hono$r the a%ent I Jes$s himse"! -
then 'e !ai" to hono$r his 2sener4 I the (ather& Rather than incorrect"y $nerstanin% this in a
t'enty-!irst cent$ry 'ay, 'e sho$" view Jesus as 'God,4 on"y in this -i-"ica" 'ay I as functionin
as God I 5o1s a%ent& This 'as ho' (homas hono$re Jes$s 'hen ca""in% him 2my Lor an my
5o4 EJohn ,F:,;G& The !o""o'in% are some o! 0*e 2.2,./a, &0a0e4e(0& /%(/er(.(- the Dhristian1s
relationship with Jesus&
JESUS ADTS AS 5O31S DHIE( A5ENT
"O 3RA!" U"URE 8IE
20o$ search the Scri#t$res -eca$se yo$ thin7 that in them yo$ have eterna" "i!e< an it is they that
-ear 'itness a-o$t me, yet yo$ re!$se to come to me that yo$ may have life4 EJohn )*39, 4+G&
"O SHOW US "HE A"HER
2Thomas sai to him, 6Lor, 'e o not 7no' 'here yo$ are %oin%& Ho' can 'e 7no' the 'ay)6
Jes$s sai to him, 6, am the way, an the tr$th, an the "i!e& No one comes to the (ather eAce#t
thro$%h me& I! yo$ ha known me, yo$ <%6,1 *ave '(%<( 4y a0*er a,&%& (rom no' on yo$
o 7no' him an have seen him4 (J%*( 14:5- =).
H%(%6r.(-, <%r&*.pp.(- a(1 pray.(- 0% Je&6& 1%e& (%0 4ea( 0*a0 %(e <%6,1 2e
>&erv.(- 0<% 4a&0er&? (@a00. A:24). !e.0*er 1%e& .0 4a'e %(e -6.,0y %) .1%,a0ry. "*.& .&
2e/a6&e Je&6& )6(/0.%(& a& 3%1 ..e. .& H.& repre&e(0a0.veB a(1 &% a,, *%(%6r.(-,
<%r&*.pp.(- a(1 pray.(- 0% *.4 .& a& 0% 0*e %(e a,4.-*0y 3%1 0*e a0*er.
JESUS1 DOMMUNIDATION WITH DHRISTIANS
IS B0 SPIRIT
2B$t yo$ are not in the !"esh< on the contrary, yo$ are in the s#irit, i! on"y the %pirit of God 1<e,,&
.( y%6& Whoever oes not have the %pirit of -hrist oes not -e"on% to him& B$t if -hrist is in you,
a"tho$%h the -oy is ea -eca$se o! sin, the s#irit is "i!e -eca$se o! ri%hteo$sness& I! the S#irit o!
the one 'ho raise Jes$s !rom the ea 'e""s in yo$, the one 'ho raise Dhrist Jes$s !rom the
ea 'i"" a"so %ive "i!e to yo$r morta" -oies a"so, thro$%h his S#irit that 'e""s in yo$4
(R%4. 8:C-11 !A5).
5,a/'$& D%44e(0ary %( R%4a(& states that:
+t is idle to see a distinction &etween Spirit of God and Spirit of Christ. ,ach is a correct description o-
what .a%l means. /he 0pirit is the 0pirit o- 1od; and it is onl' thro%gh 2hrist that the 0pirit is nown and
received.
"HE @A!IES"I!3 O JESUS
2Whoever has my commanments an 7ee#s them, he it is 'ho "oves me& An he 'ho "oves me
'i"" -e "ove -y my (ather, an I 'i"" "ove him an manifest myself to him4 (J%*( 14:21).
,
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
As sho'n in Romans ;:?, +F s$ch mani!estin% is -y the %pirit of -hrist &&& -hrist in you $nti" s$ch
time as Jes$s ret$rns& So this mani!estin% o! Jes$s is not a promise to literally appear to the Dhristian
'hi"e Jes$s himse"! is sti"" in heaven& Neverthe"ess sho$"n1t this mani!estin% o! Jes$s -y s#irit elicit
an appropriate response to Jesus himse"! !rom the inivi$a" Dhristian)
2Beho", I stan at the oor an 7noc7& I! anyone hears my voice an o#ens the oor, I <.,, /%4e
.( 0% *.4 an eat 'ith him, an he 'ith me4 (Rev. ;:2E).
A,0*%6-* 0*.&, 0%%, .(v%,ve& 0*e >&p.r.0 %) Je&6&? .( *ear.(- *.& v%./e, a-a.( <%6,1($0 0*e appreciative
Christian respond <.0* <%r1& %) 0*a(')6,(e&& a(1 pra.&e 0% Je&6&?
BIBLIDAL EJAMPLES O( DOMMUNIDATION WITH JESUS
JESUS DO@@U!IDA"ED WI"H PAU8
2An he KA(a(.a&L sai, MThe 5o o! o$r !athers a##ointe yo$ to 7no' his 'i"", to see the
.ihteous /ne an to hear a voice from his mouth< !or yo$ 'i"" -e a <.0(e&& )%r *.4 to everyone
o! 'hat yo$ have seen an hear &&& The !o""o'in% ni%ht the Lord &0%%1 2y *.4 KPa6,L a(1 &a.1,
6Ta7e co$ra%e, !or as yo$ have testi!ie to the !acts a-o$t me in Jer$sa"em, so yo$ m$st testi!y a"so
in Rome4 (A/0& 22:14, 15B 2;:11).
Acts +;:? sho's that these comm$nications 'ith Pa$" 'ere -y means o! visions& Ho'ever, >0*e 8%r1?
in a"" these instances is Jes$s&
PAU8 DO@@U!IDA"ED WI"H JESUS
2So to 7ee# me !rom -ecomin% conceite -eca$se o! the s$r#assin% %reatness o! the reve"ations, a
thorn 'as %iven me in the !"esh, a messen%er o! Satan to harass me, to 7ee# me !rom -ecomin% too
e"ate& Three times I p,ea1e1 <.0* the Lord a-o$t this, that it sho$" "eave me& B$t *e &a.1 0%
4e, 6My %race is s$!!icient !or yo$, !or my power is mae #er!ect in 'ea7ness&6 There!ore I 'i""
-oast a"" the more %"a"y o! my 'ea7nesses, so that the power of Christ may rest $#on me4
(2 D%r. 12:=-C).
So Pa$" is here #"eain% 'ith Jes$s& Evient"y it seems to -e ri%ht !or $s to ta"7 to Jes$s& Ho'ever, i!
this is the case would we call it prayer) A"" statements in the Scri#t$res a-o$t #rayer sho' that it is
directed to God&
S"EPHE! DO@@U!IDA"ED WI"H JESUS
2No' 'hen they hear these thin%s they 'ere enra%e, an they

%ro$n their teeth at him& B$t he,
!$"" o! the Ho"y S#irit, %aNe into heaven an sa' the %"ory o! 5o, an Jesus standing a0 0*e r.-*0
*a(1 %) 3%1& An he sai, 6Beho", I see the heavens o#ene, an

0*e S%( %) @a( &0a(1.(- a0 0*e
r.-*0 *a(1 %) 3%1&6 B$t they crie o$t 'ith a "o$ voice an sto##e their ears an r$she to%ether
at him& Then they cast him o$t o! the city an stone him& An the 'itnesses "ai o'n their
%arments at the !eet o! a yo$n% man name Sa$"& An as they 'ere stonin% Ste#hen, he called out,
0Lord Jesus, receive my spirit16 An !a""in% to his 7nees he cried out with a loud voice, 0Lord,
do not hold this sin aainst them&6 An 'hen he ha sai this, he !e"" as"ee#4 (A/0& =:54-AE).
(or Ste#hen to s#ea7 to Jes$s at s$ch a time o! $ncertainty he m$st have -een !$""y in the habit of
speakin 'ith Jes$s& So is this an e2ample for us to !o""o') Is it #rayer to Jes$s)
E88OWSHIP WI"H JESUS
2We #roc"aim to yo$ 'hat 'e have seen an hear, so that yo$ a"so may have !e""o'shi# 'ith $s&
An our fellowship is 'ith the (ather a(1 <.0* his %on, Jesus -hrist4 E1 John 1*3G&
This statement is in the #resent tense an 'as mae O$ite a "on% time a!ter Jes$s ha -een res$rrecte
.
an 'as sittin% at the (ather1s ri%ht han& This sho's that Dhristians are to have !e""o'shi# no' 'ith
Jes$s&
IS THE DOMMUNIDATION REALL0 PRA0ER TO JESUS)
2To the ch$rch o! 5o that is in Dorinth, to those sancti!ie in Dhrist Jes$s, ca""e to -e saints
to%ether 'ith a"" those 'ho in every #"ace call upon 0*e name of our Lord Jesus Christ, -oth
their Lor an o$rs: 5race to yo$ an #eace !rom 5o o$r (ather an the Lor Jes$s Dhrist4
(1 D%r. 1:2, ;).
In the #hrase 2ca"" $#on4 the 5ree7 'or ep.'a,e% means 2to appeal to! an in the 5recoPRoman
'or" it 'as o!ten the 'or $se to escri-e an a##ea" to or an invo7in% o! one1s %o& In + Dorinthians
+:,, accorin% to "*e E9p%&.0%r$& 5.2,e D%44e(0ary EQo"&+F, #& 18C), 0*.& 'or is: $in the present middle
participial -orm, indicating a contin%al earnest appeal and dependence %pon 2hrist, who alone can save*
Ho'ever, -eca$se the #hrase 2the (a4e %) %6r 8%r1 Je&6& D*r.&04 re!ers to: all that Jesus is as
Lord and Messiah - then any callin upon i&e& a##ea" to 46&0 .(v%,ve %6r /%446(./a0.%( <.0*
*.4& It is H$st as 3aul$s appeal Eep.'a,e%G to -aesar EActs ,=:++G 'o$" have invo"ve 1.re/0
/%446(./a0.%( <.0* Dae&ar an not H$st his aies& So this is a !orm o! #rayer, -$t is o!!ere to Jes$s as
the Lor Messiah I 5o1s chie! re#resentative - !$nctionin% as 5o, -$t not act$a""y A"mi%hty 5o&
A88 WHO DA88 O! JESUS$ !A@E
>B$t Ananias re#"ie,

2Lor, I have hear !rom many #eo#"e

a-o$t this man KSa$"L, ho' m$ch harm
he has one to yo$r saints in Jer$sa"em, an here he has a$thority !rom the chie! #riests to im#rison
a"" 'ho ca"" on yo$r name84

(A/0& C:1;, 14).
The conteAt here sho's that the Lor to 'hom Ananias 'as s#ea7in% 'as 2the Lor Jes$s&4 So to ca""
on his name means to #ray to him&
PRAISE 5IQEN TO JESUS
2Let a"" 5o1s an%e"s 'orshi# him&4 E2Pay him homa%e4 REBG (He2. 1:A).
2(o him 'ho "oves $s an has !ree $s !rom o$r sins -y his -"ooR, to him be lory an
ominion !orever an ever& Amen&4 (Rev. 1:52, A).
2An 'hen he ha ta7en the scro"", the !o$r "ivin% creat$res an the t'enty-!o$r e"ers fell down
before the Lamb, each ho"in% a har#, an %o"en -o'"s !$"" o! incense, 'hich are the #rayers o!
the saints& An they san% a ne' son%, sayin%, 64orthy are you to ta7e the scro"" an to o#en its
sea"s, !or yo$ 'ere s"ain, an -y yo$r -"oo yo$ ransome #eo#"e !or 5o !rom every tri-e an
"an%$a%e an #eo#"e an nation, an yo$ have mae them a 7in%om an #riests to o$r 5o, an
they sha"" rei%n on the earth&4 (Rev. 5:8-1E)
2An I hear every creat$re in heaven an on earth an $ner the earth an in the sea, an a"" that is
in them, sayin%, 6To him 'ho sits on the throne and to the Lamb -e -"essin% an honor an %"ory
an mi%ht !orever an ever86 An the !o$r "ivin% creat$res sai, 6Amen86 an the elders fell down
and worshiped&4 (Rev. 5:1;-14).
DONDLUSION
Evient"y it is riht to communicate 'ith Jes$s in imitation o! -oth Pa$" an Steven an to #raise
Jes$s -y !o""o'in% the amonition to 2ca"" $#on 0*e (a4e %) %6r 8%r1 Je&6& D*r.&04& S$ch
comm$nication or #rayer to Jes$s is to him as the Lor Messiah& ($rthermore, in *%(%6r.(- *.4 .( 0*.&
<ay <e *%(%6r 3%1 F %6r *eave(,y a0*er.
/
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
By Raymond C. Faircloth
www.biblicaltruthseekers.co.uk