June 4, 1997 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The Bible teaches that it is idolatry and wickedness to worship any one or any thing other than the one True and Living God.

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matt. 4:10).

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14).

"I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).

THE FACT THAT JESUS CHRIST ACCEPTED WORSHIP IS INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE THAT HE IS ALMIGHTY GOD

The elect angels refuse to accept worship (Rev. 19:10). The Apostles also refused worship (Acts 14:11-15). The Lord Jesus Christ, though, was repeatedly worshipped by those who approached Him, and not once does the Bible record that He corrected or refused worship. He accepted the worship, because He is Almighty God, the Creator of all things, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End --

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, AND WORSHIPPED HIM: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" (Matt. 2:11).

"And, behold, there came a leper and WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean" (Matt. 8:2).

"While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live" (Matt. 9:18).

"Then they that were in the ship came and WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God" (Matt. 14:33).

"Then came she and WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, Lord, help me" (Matt. 15:25).

"Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, WORSHIPPING HIM, and desiring a certain thing of him" (Matt. 20:20).

"And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, AND WORSHIPPED HIM" (Matt. 28:9).

"And when they saw him, THEY WORSHIPPED HIM: but some doubted" (Matt. 28:17).

"But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and WORSHIPPED HIM" (Mark 5:6).

"And THEY WORSHIPPED HIM, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:52).

"And he said, Lord, I believe. And HE WORSHIPPED HIM" (John 9:38).

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

"And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God WORSHIP HIM. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom" (Hebrews 1:6-8).