Apostles Prayed to the FATHER
Now just one or two points more, and we shall have an END to these nonsensical and perverted arguments against Christ's commands. This man says, as quoted above, that no prayers were addressed to the Father after the Four Gospels — that is, as recorded in the Book of Acts, and other Books of the New testament following.
He even had the audacity to quote Acts 4:24, 29, and say they were praying to Jesus, and not to the Father!
Peter and John had been put in prison overnight, and threatened.
"And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that they lifted up their voice to GOD with one accord and said, Lord, thou art GOD . . ." (Acts 4:23-24).
Now TO WHOM were they praying? This dissenter says that "God" sometimes means Christ — which is true — but apparently does not know that the word "Lord" also sometimes refers to THE FATHER, as it does here!
Let's read on. It becomes very PLAIN as TO WHOM they are praying:
"For of a truth against THY HOLY CHILD JESUS, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles . . . etc. (Verse 27).
Jesus is called the holy CHILD of the One to whom they were praying. Jesus was the child of GOD THE FATHER. So they were praying to the FATHER, whom, they said, "THOU hast anointed." They were praying to the One who had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit. The FATHER anointed Jesus (Mat. 3:17; Mark 1:10-11). Therefore they were addressing this prayer TO THE FATHER!
Now notice verses 29-30. The prayer continues: "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants . . . that signs and wonders may be done by the name of THY HOLY CHILD JESUS."
Again, they were addressing their prayer to THE FATHER of Jesus. They were NOT asking that signs and wonders might be done TO Jesus direct — but that they might be done "by the name" of God's Son, Jesus — BY HIS AUTHORITY!
Quoting Acts 4:24 this man admits: "Portions of this prayer appear to be spoken to the Father." Then why contradict himself, saying: "Why are there no prayers recorded after the Gospels . . . with any indication that the prayer is being addressed to the Father?"
Isn't it absurd that a man with a college education, as this man claims to have, would claim that Jesus CHANGED, when He says He has never changed, and that Christ did away with His own teachings and commands, just before His death — and that he would argue that "in Jesus name" means TO Jesus; and that no prayers were addressed to the FATHER, after the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?
Jesus thanked God that these truths are revealed unto BABES, and hidden from the wise and prudent. A college education in this world's colleges can be a very great HANDICAP, rather than a help. Still, ANYONE can understand the TRUTH whose heart is willing!
Access to the Father
This man would deny God's own children access to their heavenly FATHER. But what IS the very WAY of God, by which we are converted? Our SINS have cut us off from God (Isa. 59:1-2). Sin is the transgression of the LAW. There is ONE Lawgiver — God the FATHER (Jas. 4:12). Sin cuts us off from the FATHER. When we repent of sin, our repentance is toward God the FATHER (Acts 20:21). But saving FAITH is toward Christ (same verse). When we repent, and receive Christ as Lord and MASTER, and are baptized as the symbol of our FAITH toward Christ, then what happens? The blood of Christ RECONCILES us to the FATHER (Rom. 5:10).
And, once reconciled to the FATHER, He puts His SPIRIT into us, BEGETTING us as HIS BEGOTTEN CHILDREN. We are not begotten by CHRIST to become sons of Christ. Jesus is our elder Brother — the first-born of many BRETHREN. To be reconciled to the Father for transgression of His Law is to have ACCESS direct to Him.
Now notice: "For through Him (Christ) we both (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit UNTO THE FATHER." (Eph. 2:18).
Christ has purchased for us and given us direct access to the Father! He has AUTHORIZED us to go direct to the Father in PRAYER. Notice again: ". . . according to the eternal purpose which He (the Father) purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him . . . For this cause I bow my knees (in prayer) UNTO THE FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . that He would grant you, according to the riches of His Glory, to be strengthened . . . (Eph. 3:11-16). The Apostle Paul bowed his knees (both knees) in prayer direct to THE FATHER!
Why did this man say no prayers were addressed to the Father after the Four Gospels?
Col. 1:3: We give thanks to God and the FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ, PRAYING always for you." WHY does this man deny this Scripture?
Eph. 5:20: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the FATHER in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Praying TO the FATHER. Yet by authority from Christ, who gives us access to the Father.
In 51-52 A.D. Paul and Timothy gave thanks to God the Father (I Thes. 1:1-2).
We are to call on God the FATHER (I Peter 1:17).
Col. 1:12-13: "Giving thanks unto the FATHER . . . who hath . . . delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."
If we have the Holy Spirit, "we cry (pray) Abba, FATHER" (Rom. 8:15) as Jesus prayed (Mark 14:36).
Our High Priest
Finally, what about Christ as our High Priest?
WHY is Jesus Christ, the living HEAD of our Church, now appearing before God the Father, at God's right hand? He is there to make intercession for us.
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25). Yes, Jesus Christ is able to save those who come to GOD the Father — and we have been given access to come to the Father IN PRAYER — by Christ. We cannot approach the Father by our own merits. We have none. Christ is the door — the way. One does not go to a door and STOP. He goes on through the door. Christ gives us access to GOD. And He INTERCEDES with God for us.
This intercession of our blessed HIGH PRIEST does not mean that we pray to Christ and that He then carries our request to the Father.
Notice Scriptural proof of this: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself MAKETH INTERCESSION for us . . ." (Rom. 8:26). Nowhere does the Bible give any teaching or example of Christians praying TO the Holy Spirit. Here is a plain example of Christians not knowing WHAT to pray for — but God's Holy Spirit intercedes for them. They do not pray TO the Spirit, and then the Spirit transmit their request to God; but rather, the Spirit itself moves upon God for that which they did NOT ask, since they did not know WHAT to ask!
In like manner, we have access direct to the Father, to pray direct to Him by CHRIST'S PERMISSION. Christ, our High Priest at the Father's side, also petitions the Father for us — offering HIS SACRIFICE in lieu of our unworthiness.
Elijah made intercession to God AGAINST Israel (Rom. 11:2). This was not acting as a go-between to transmit THEIR prayers to God. Paul taught that we HUMANS should make intercession for ALL MEN (I Tim. 2:1).
Our FELLOWSHIP
Many of our brethren hunger for the fellowship, of other brethren. They long to be able to TALK WITH others of like mind and the same Spirit.
But our FELLOWSHIP is first of all "with the FATHER, and with the Son Jesus Christ." (I John 1:3).
How do we have FELLOWSHIP? By meeting with — conversing with!
When we pray to the Father, and/or to Christ, we are speaking to them. When we read and study the Bible, they are talking to us. The Bible is the Word of God. Although Jesus is the WORD — the direct author of the Bible — yet He spoke only as the FATHER commanded Him. So the Bible is the WORD to US from both the FATHER and the SON.
When Jesus Christ, our Savior, High Priest and Lord, reconciles us to the FATHER — gives us direct access to the Father, we have the great HONOR, paid for by Christ's very life which He gave, to speak directly to the Father.
But our fellowship is also with Jesus Christ, God's divine SON. Christ is now on the Father's throne with Him, at His right hand as our High priest. We have fellowship with Jesus Christ ALSO.
WE DO, WE MAY, WE SHOULD, ALSO PRAY TO JESUS CHRIST! Yet the teaching and examples of the Bible place overwhelming main emphasis on praying to the Father.
God's Church does not forbid any to pray to Christ. It is not so much a matter of to WHICH Person we are to pray. We do not condemn this couple for praying to Christ. Rather, they condemn God's Church for praying to the Father. But we DO SAY that one who has no fellowship with the FATHER by prayer is CUT OFF from God!
Our accuser quoted Scriptures to show that the apostles (Acts 1:24-25) prayed direct to Jesus to show them, by lot, which of HIS DISCIPLES who had followed with them in Jesus' personal ministry He had chosen to take Judas' place. Of course! And so should God's ministers of today, under the same circumstances! Jesus had taught these candidates personally. God gave Him this ministry personally. Jesus is GOD — and the FATHER is God. Jesus is worthy of our worship — and that of angels! But the FATHER is the HEAD even of Jesus!
This dissenting couple accuse God's Church of by-passing, and insulting JESUS. We do neither — we OBEY HIM, and honor Him in so doing. It is rather THEY who are by-passing and ignoring THE FATHER. We are to WORSHIP GOD, as well as Christ. They quote Acts 7:59-60, where Stephen called out to Jesus Christ. God's Church knows that, and always has taught it!
This couple falsely accuse God's Church of putting them out for no more than "calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." That is a deliberate falsehood and effort to discredit God's Church and draw a following after themselves. We TEACH all members to "CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST." Since all members do, how absurd would it be to put two supposed members out for doing what we teach should be done?
They were put out for the wrong spirit they allowed to possess them, and for false doctrines, and for having disfellowshipped themselves from THE FATHER, thereby cutting themselves off from God, His fellowship, and ours.
II Thes. 3:6: "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us."
Here, by AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST is a command for all members of God's Church to WITHDRAW FROM this couple who walk thus disorderly, and not after GOD'S true tradition they did receive from us. These Scriptures have been gone into with this couple personally, in long sessions, and they rejected them and set out to mislead God's people and discredit God's Church.
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine (of Christ and His Church) receive him not into your house." (II John 10).
Let us realize that this is not a harsh or unkind command. It is God's punishment of them, and His mercy and protection for His Church. God punishes every son whom He loves. To be CUT OFF FROM GOD is the most severe curse that can come to any person or people. To condone such a crime and make light of it by remaining in the friendship and fellowship of those who commit it is to 1) harm and injure them, by encouraging them to be deceived into thinking they do right; and 2) to cut ourselves off from God — for whoever even bids them God speed is PARTAKER of their evil deeds. If we truly LOVE these people, and also LOVE GOD, we will do as God says.
A Grave DANGER!
This totally unscriptural doctrine, based on erroneous human reason, promulgated by this couple is a satanic doctrine of great DANGER!
What is the essence of all pagan doctrines? How did Satan deceive the world with heathen doctrines? The ancient pagans knew there was one SUPREME GOD and FATHER over ALL.
But, like this misguided couple, they reasoned that He was unapproachable! He was totally INACCESSIBLE! They had to approach only a go-between — a lesser god. Satan represented his demons as demigods, to whom people should address their prayers. THAT IS THE WAY THE IDEA OF THE MANY GODS of the pagans originated. The Roman Catholics make Mary such an intermediary. They pray to her! Also to dead "saints."
To turn Jesus Christ into such a demigod IS HERESY, and AN INSULT to Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ paid THE SUPREME PENALTY for us — why? To purchase for us access direct to God the Supreme FATHER over all! To DENY that access is to DENY the very blood of Jesus Christ! Far from honoring Christ, this erring couple, in the smug conceit of their own supposed intellectual human reasoning, are DENYING Him — disobeying Him — insulting Him!
Jesus Christ, who is very GOD, is also our ELDER BROTHER! He made it possible for us to have access to the Father so that we might be begotten by the FATHER. We are not begotten by our elder BROTHER. A brother does not beget and sire brothers! We are begotten by our FATHER into HIS FAMILY.
My sons and daughters have always had a FAMILY RELATIONSHIP with, and full access to, ME. All of us who are God's begotten children have ACCESS to GOD THE FATHER. And, we also have access to our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, and to our still human but begotten brothers and sisters! It is a WONDERFUL family relationship!
Yes, PRAISE GOD for it! We have access direct to the FATHER — and also to Jesus Christ! Many times DAILY we may go into intimate COMMUNION with BOTH God and Christ — our FATHER and our BROTHER! Our GOD and our SAVIOR! How WONDERFUL to really come to KNOW the great supreme GOD! How grateful to Jesus we should be for making this blessed privilege possible! The MOST JOYOUS thing in life is to have this COMMUNION — this close and intimate FELLOWSHIP with both the FATHER and Christ the SON!
God's Church certainly does not forbid members to commune with and pray to Christ Jesus — but neither must we leave UNDONE the communion and fellowship with and prayers to THE FATHER, who is the HEAD of Christ, and of all that is!