Have A Little Talk With Jesus, Biblical Authority: Examples

Review. We learned in the previous lesson that we are commanded to pray to God. Jesus is by nature God; He is one of the Godhead (deity, Colossians 2:9; John 1:1-3). He and the Father are one as Christians are to be one (John 17:21). Jesus had given up His equality with God the Father (Philippians 2:6.7) and became subordinate to Him in obedience as a man (Hebrews 5:8-10). “For my Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). Consequently, the Father exalted His Son Jesus to His right hand and made Him Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36) and gave Him all authority (Matthew 28:18).

Jesus taught, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). The basis of our addressing Jesus with approval is our doing the will of God, the Father (Matthew 7:21). Jesus said that one could not just speak “Lord, Lord” to Him but must obey the Father. Obedience to the Father is now obedience to the Lord Jesus who has all authority. According to 2 Timothy 3:16,17 this has been revealed in the Scriptures by the Third Person in the Godhead, His Holy Spirit, working through the Lord’s apostles [and NT prophets].ⁱ

How should we pray? The Holy Spirit demonstrates the will of the Father and Jesus in the approved acts of the inspired apostles and NT prophets. In addition to direct commands then there are two ways to establish authority:ⁱⁱ (1) Spirit approved examples and (2) necessary inference of approval from the apostles’ actions.ⁱⁱⁱ

This lesson examines the examples of the apostles and prophets that are clearly approved by the Holy Spirit.^iv

Examples of Praying to God. The apostle Paul said that he prayed to God; e.g., “Now I pray to God that ye do no evil” (2 Corinthians 13:7). “I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge” (2 Timothy 4:16). So we do have approved examples of praying “to God.”

Examples of Praying to the Father. The New Testament gives examples of apostles praying directly to God the Father. The “company” of apostles of Acts 4:24-30 prayed, “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord*, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is” (Acts 4:24). *In this specific instance the God of Psalm 2 which they quote is Jehovah (“Lord” in their Jewish Greek LXX Bible) who is distinguished from “His Christ” and “His Holy Child” (verses 27 & 30). “The words are taken verbatim from the Septuagint.” ^v

Hence, I say that they are praying to the Father. There are other examples of the apostles honoring and praising God, the Father. Father “of our Lord Jesus”: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:14). A similar address directed to “God, our Father”: “Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Philippians 4:20). And then there is God, Father “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). The latter is the pattern normally used in worship assemblies today.

Praying To Both the Father and Jesus. “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you” (1 Thessalonians 3:11). We have a plural subject while the verb in Greek is singular. Two persons. Singular verb. Not only does that mean that BOTH are addressed but it should remind us of the perfect unity of God. In the second epistle, Paul again calls on both God and Jesus but this time, Jesus is mentioned first. “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). Again, plural subject but singular verb! A few verses later, it appears that the Lord either alone is petitioned or represents both. “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

Example of Prayer Singing To God. We have previously noticed that Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 commands us to speak while singing to the Lord Jesus (but some manuscripts have “God” in Colossians 3:16). This is clarified for us that we can sing or pray to either or both: “And at midnight Paul and Silas, in praying, were praising God with singing, and the prisoners listened to them” (Acts 16:25, Darby). Lenski says, "the present participle and the imperfect verb express simultaneous action: that is, their singing was praying".^vi

Addressing The Lord Jesus. The designation of “Lord” (Kurios) usually is reserved in the NT for just Jesus, the “one” Lord, says the apostle Paul (Ephesians 4:5). We have such approved examples of petitioning directly the Lord Jesus. John petitions, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (the “please” imperative, Revelation 22:20). 1 Corinthians 16:22 uses a similar Chaldean phrase “Maranatha” which some translate as “May our Lord come!!” (ISV, BBE, ASV, Bishops, CEV, Darby, EMTV, ERV, GENEVA, etc.).

Before Paul was an apostle, he conversed with Jesus on the road to Damascus. “Lord, what wilt thou have me do?” (Acts 9:6). Likewise, the NT prophet Ananias conversed with Jesus in reply to Jesus speaking to him in a vision (Acts 9:10–14).

Paul Besought The Lord three times to remove his “thorn”: “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he [the Lord] said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength [power] is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:8, 9). In the context, we know “the Lord” is Jesus because (1) Paul habitually so refers to Jesus (Ephesians 4:5) and (2) the “my power” (v. 9) is identified as being “Christ’s power.” Paul said that he “besought the Lord”; i.e., “to call to one’s side, call for, summon; to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions).

The Martyr Stephen. Stephen addressed the Lord Jesus in Heaven while miraculously beholding both the Father and the Son. “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59f). Stephen was inspired; he was “full of the Holy Spirit.” This was truly a miraculous event but being miraculous would not give license to violate the authority of the Lord and the Spirit. If anything it strengthens the Holy Spirit example.

Simon The Sorcerer. He had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:16). When he sinned and was commanded to pray to God, he asked Peter to petition the Lord: “Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me” (Acts 8:24b).^vii This follows in the context his naming Jesus as His Lord in baptism.

Paul Gives Thanks Directly to Jesus. In 1 Timothy 1:12, Paul wrote these words: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” Wayne Jackson asks, “How do you suppose this thanksgiving was conveyed to the Lord?” ^viii To say that we cannot pray (talk or communicate in any way) at all to Jesus would mean that we cannot "thank" Jesus ^ix or even say to Jesus as Thomas did, “My Lord and my God.”

We Are To Honor Jesus. Jesus had said, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him” (John 5:23). Jesus used the subjunctive which means that it ought to be done. The apostle praised the Father. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:3, NIV). But what about Jesus Himself? Jesus is worthy of praise and honor. While on earth and before being made Lord and Messiah, the children praised Him in the Temple: “ Hosanna ^x to the Son of David. ” “And Jesus saith unto (chief priests and scribes), Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” (Matthew 21:15b, 16). Jesus is lauded and praised by the 24 elders in Revelation 5:8-10; again, by the multitudes of angels in Revelation 5:11, 12; and by all God’s created things in Revelation 5:13.

The doxologies have Jesus and God the Father often sharing the glory. Examples of Peter praises specifically Jesus in his doxologies; e.g., “Jesus Christ, to whom^xi be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11); “Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever” (2 Peter 3:18). Paul expresses similar doxologies; e.g., 1 Timothy 6:16; 2 Timothy 4:18. The Hebrews letter has “through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:21).

Calling On The Name Of The Lord In OT.^xii One evidence in Scripture that people use to authorize prayer to Jesus is the phrase, “call upon the name of the Lord.” Throughout the Old Testament period, when people “called upon the name of the Lord [Jehovah]”, it was to “pray to, appeal to, or ask for help” from God. Abraham in Genesis 12:8 “built an altar and called on the name of the Lord.” Elijah and the prophets of Baal each prayed to their god or “called upon the name” (1 Kings 18:24). Naaman thought that Elisha should have waved his hand and called on the name of the Lord his God (2 Kings 5:11). Certain ones, Moses, Aaron and Samuel called on the name of the Lord and “He answered them” (Psalm 99:6).

Examples Of “Calling” In The New Testament. Paul addresses the Corinthian church “together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:2; cf. Romans 10:12-14 and 2 Timothy 2:22). Vincent^xiii says that their calling “on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” was used of worship and prayer. R. C. H. Lenski writes, “‘To call on him’ means to praise, bless, thank, worship him, and to ask of him all that we need for body and for soul.” ^xiv This expression has led people to conclude that this supports our praying directly to Jesus. However, if this is reasonable, then it should be listed under our next category: necessary inferences/conclusions.

The Example Of The SINNER’S PRAYER. Not approved. Praying to Jesus to enter into a relationship with Him is referred to as the “Sinner’s prayer.”^xv This so-called prayer is based upon the passage, “But as many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he the right to become the Sons of God” (John 1:12). This is an erroneous teaching. Why? First, the passage definitely doesn’t say anything about praying. Instead of this, the Spirit’s approved example in Acts 2:38-47 that those that received Jesus (i.e., the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ) by the preaching of Peter led by the Holy Spirit were baptized. Then they were added to the apostles. Second, there is no command or example of prospective disciples being told to acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior by praying to Him. Period.

Conclusion. If we imitate the first century Christians in our praying then we are assured that we are praying in the Holy Spirit. Examples show that we can begin our prayers with God, Father, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Father, both Jesus and the Father, Lord, Jesus, aware at all times of the unity of the Godhead. This is praying in the Holy Spirit. “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20). And we are approved to say “in the name of Jesus Christ.”

i “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:5).

ii “COMMANDS or statements to establish the fact in the matter. In Acts 15:12 Paul and Barnabas showed that the miracles and wonders God done among the Gentiles evidenced that God approved of the Gentiles. Therefore, we have given APPROVED EXAMPLES by which divine authority was established to decide the matter. In verse 7-11, Peter tells of the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile, and thus reaches the NECESSARY CONCLUSION that God had "put no difference between us and them" (verse 9) and therefore it would not be right "to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples"(verse 10). "We shall be saved, even as they". (verse 11). - http://www.wisechurch.com/topic9.html; https://allanturner.com/authority.html; http://www.insearchoftruth.org/articles/authority.html; http://www.bible.ca/d-authority-acts-15-silence.htm; http://www.fryroad.org/_fryroad/BibleStudy/Authority/EstablishingAuthority/tabid/134/Default.aspx.

iii When the apostle Paul makes vows associated with the Levitical system, he makes it clear in his writings that he has freedom to practice circumcision, etc., to not offend but in order to win the Jews. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. … To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22).

iv “(...Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:4,5).

v Popular New Testament commentary. This verifies that even in Jerusalem the Greek Bible was being used by the Jews. The Jews used this Bible throughout the Empire until the nation revived their Hebrew version to separate themselves from the church.

Relating To Our Lord #10