Where In Scripture Are We Instructed/Exampled To Pray To Jesus?
 

Wide open & honest question...

I look forward to seeing the scriptural references and reading your responses.

Our father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name

1Cr 8:6 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.

Also... on the scripture you gave... who said it? Jesus did...

Why wouldn't he say pray to me?

He (the son) instructed them to pray to the Father.

We are, indeed, instructed to pray in Jesus name... this is an absolute biblical fact. But were we instructed... or do we have biblical example of such.... to pray TO Jesus.

Who did the apostles pray to?
What examples do we have of how they prayed?

In case anyone is waiting on my feelings on this question here is what I currently see in scripture.

To me scriptures bear out repeatedly that the apostles did view Jesus as the express image of the invisible God but they maintained a difference between the father and son as well.

I see, again, repeatedly in scripture where they demonstrate their view of their being God, the father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are indeed instructed to pray in Jesus name.

But what I see in scripture seems to leave me with the feeling that the apostles prayed TO the Father (that is to the one, eternal, invisible God of all creation who was in Christ) and they prayed those prayers in the name (or in the authority of) Jesus (which is to say by the authority granted us by the work of Christ)

Now this is a quick encapsulation of a lot of study and may not be exactly true to my current beliefs but it is a quick overview so that we can, hopefully, take the discussion from there.

Does the Father have a name? Do we pray to the Father in Jesus'name because Jesus is the name of the Father?

Is Jesus the name of the Father?

Ahhhhhhhhh

Excellent question.

I will have to do some study into that.

But... Does he need a name to be prayed to?

For instance... Father we come to you tonight... etc etc... and we ask these things in the name of Jesus... amen.

You have offered a great thought though... I will do some thinking on it.

And I was always taught that "in the name of Jesus" was the same as "by the authority of Jesus", I've learned that it is a bit deeper than that since, but if praying/being baptized in the name of Jesus means praying/being baptized by the authority of Jesus -- then the same interpretation of "I come in my Fathers name" should be "I come by the authority of my father".

I have brought this list up before on this forum but no one ever seems to want to comment.

In the list of scriptures below I see some evidence that the apostles did see the Father as God and the son as Lord, Messiah, Christ.

I don't think this undoes oneness in any way. I just think that the way I have been taught to view the father and the son is different from the way these verses demonstrate the apostles view of the same.

Jhn 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

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Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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1Cr 1:3 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1Cr 8:6 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.

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2Cr 1:2 Grace [be] to you and peace from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

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2Cr 1:3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

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2Cr 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

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Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

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Gal 1:3 Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Eph 1:2 Grace [be] to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Eph 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

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Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

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Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

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Eph 6:23 Peace [be] to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Phl 1:2 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Phl 2:11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

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Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

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1Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians [which is] in God the Father and [in] the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

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1Th 3:11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

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1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

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2Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

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2Th 1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

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1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, [my] own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

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2Ti 1:2 To Timothy, [my] dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Tts 1:4 To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

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Phm 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

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1Pe 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

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1Jo 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

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1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

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1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

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2Jo 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

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Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called:

The two modes of existences of the one God. Some say God as Spirit and God as man. Or Spirit and Flesh. Or Father and Son.

Both are named Jesus. See Romans 8:9-11

But didn't Stephen pray to God as he was being stoned to death, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59)? It's not a command or an instruction but it is certainly an example.

Agreed.

Yes sir... excellent example.

I had not thought of that one.

That is exactly what Triitarians believe. Anytime we call on the name of Jesus they say it is by the authority of Jesus' name.

It's more than just authority.

Could you show us in what way it is more than authority?

It shows that Stephen knew that Jesus is the name of God.

Just curious as to what you mean by it is more than just authority.

Have you read Romans 8:9-11? Who is Christ in those verses?

Good question.

The first and the last verse talk about the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead and the middle verse speaks of Christ being in you.

Although it seems to correlate Christ being in you to the spirit being in you.

Authority, in this context, is everything! Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 that HE was given all power (authority). So, when we pray "in the name of Jesus," what we're doing is we're coming to God with the authority that Jesus gave us.

That is how it is all starting to look to me.

It doesn't really change much from how I have always believed.... but then again... the difference is big in some ways too.

She's back ...........:thumbsup

I didn't know mizpeh was a she.

Why are you so surprised?:nod

What do you think of the verses that say Christ was the Rock in the wilderness or the Spirit of Christ was in the OT prophets? Still talking about God's name being Jesus.

Is all intelligent life MALE????

Sometimes I wonder how often male life is intelligent these days. :)

There was just nothing in the name that denote a female and I seem to always work with the premise that one is male until proven female on forums. :)

In other words... I just assume it's just us guys until I see evidence to the contrary.

Chan,
thanks for sharing your view here.
I read your post and immediately considered the verse...
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [John 14:6

A way has been made; we can enter the presence of God (his Spirit) because of the one who died for us, by which the vail was rent, the middle wall of partition removed, to give us access. In his name, by his authority, I can come unto the father.

Did Paul die for you? Were ye baptised in the name (in the authority) of Paul?

Great post... so true.

Mizpeh,
After reading your post and then reading the scriptural witness you cite I am left with a question pertaining to your understanding.

If Romans 8:9-11 is a witness to your spirit of the TWO modes of existence of the one God revealed in his Christ, then the composition is a man with the Spirit of the God "dwelling in him". Is this your understanding of Messiah?

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [Ro 8:9]

Mizpeh, I have always understood the witness of Ro 8:9 as a parrallel to 2Cr 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. A vessel within creation that is indwelled by the most high God.

Yes, we enter God's presence with the authority of Jesus!

I have looked a little more into this instance and I only have this to add at this point.

This is the one time (so far) that we have an instance of someone praying to Jesus.

Several issues with it.

1. This is really less of a prayer and more of a crying out at the time of death but I will not lessen it's relevance on that point. I just wanted to make that observation.

2. This was just after (or maybe during) a vision where Stephen had seen Jesus sitting on the right hand of God. This could very well be a lot of the reason this cry was made in the manner it was.

3. They had begun stoning Stephen when he said that he had seen the son of man standing on the right hand of God. It would be a logical course of action to call out to that one (Jesus) to receive his spirit when he was nearing his death.

Random Question: Is there any reference that mentions that Jesus will be the one that receives our spirit?

I guess I look at calling on God as a form of prayer.

Well, Jesus is the image of the invisible God: who else would Stephen have seen?

See above.

I'm not aware of any specific reference; maybe someone else is.

Yes sir... I am definitely not saying that it was NOT a prayer... I was just pointing out that possibility since this is the one time in scripture where we find such a prayer being uttered.

LOL... Indeed... who else would he have seen. :)

Which then brings up more questions ( I am full of them)

I wonder what Stephen saw (seeing that God is invisible) to say that Jesus (being the express image of the invisible God) was at the RIGHT HAND of God?

I think that "the right hand of God" was a Hebraism referring to the position of authority.

Joh 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

1Co 1:2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

Act 9:14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!"

Also the following is evidence that to ask "In Jesus name" is synonymous with asking HIM
Joh 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Notice that? Why would he need to pray the Father for us if we are praying NOT to Jesus but to the Father?

You want everyone here to respond to each and every verse? If this was a debate I would accuse you of trying to win through verbosity! lol

Another good verse...
Paul had a conversation with Jesus.

One more verse I did not add

Joh 14:6 Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Joh 14:7 If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him."
Joh 14:8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content."

Now, some of you are probably focusing in on the part about seeing him...but notice that Jesus said NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT through Jesus.

Jesus is our mediator. He is our intercessor and right now Jesus is...if you will, our God by proxy sitting on God's throne having ALL power in heaven and earth AND...AND...Jesus is our great high priest.

The greek word for name means authority..that does not make that word Jesus any less a name! A persons name was their authority just as it is today for so many things, particularly contracts

It's HIS name. They called His name Jesus...when you saw him on the Street and you wanted to get his attention you cried out 'Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me'

He's just upset cuz you fight like a dude and he fights like a gurl :killinme