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Glory · Worship
The Bible's own worship practice answers the question. Angels and apostles refuse worship with horror, yet Jesus accepts it freely, and at history's high point every created thing worships the One on the throne and the Lamb in the same breath. Worship is the Bible's most practical doctrine of who Jesus is: He receives what no creature may take.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/should-we-worship-jesus · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Revelation 5:1-14
As you read: One act of worship addressed to two distinct persons, and a song only the slain Lamb is worthy to open.
1I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
2I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”
3No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.
4And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.
5One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
6I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
7Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
8Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
10and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on earth.”
11I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands;
12saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”
13I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”
14The four living creatures said, “Amen!” The elders fell down and worshiped.
Acts 10:24-33
As you read: Cornelius falls at Peter's feet, and the apostle's reaction shows the line between creature and Creator.
24On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.
25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.
26But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”
27As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.
28He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.
29Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”
30Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
32Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
33Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
Twice in Revelation, John falls at an angel's feet and twice he is stopped: 'Look! Don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you... Worship God.' Peter has the same reflex when Cornelius kneels: 'Stand up! I myself am also a man.' The rule could not be clearer, and it runs through the whole Bible: worship belongs to God alone, and every faithful servant of God refuses it.
“I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.””Revelation 19:10
“When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.””Acts 10:25-26
Against that backdrop, notice what Jesus does when people worship Him. The disciples in the sinking boat worship Him, saying, 'You are truly the Son of God!' Thomas falls before the risen Christ with the highest confession in the Gospels: 'My Lord and my God!' No angel voice stops him; no apostle corrects him; Jesus affirms instead of refusing. The one person in Scripture who never declines worship is the one who shares the Father's nature.
“Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!””Matthew 14:33
“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””John 20:28
The climax of Revelation 5 is a single hymn to two persons: 'To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!' Then 'the elders fell down and worshiped.' If worshiping anyone but God were idolatry, this scene would be heaven committing it in unison. Instead, worshiping the Lamb precisely because He was slain is the definition of true worship.
“I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!” The four living creatures said, “Amen!” The elders fell down and worshiped.”Revelation 5:13-14
“saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!””Revelation 5:12
Jesus said that true worshipers worship the Father in spirit and truth, and truth includes everything the Father says about the Son: all things made through Him, the exact representation of God's nature, the name above every name. To admire Jesus while withholding the worship angels are forbidden to receive is not humility toward God; it is disobedience of heaven's clearest instinct. The question is not whether we may worship Jesus, but whether we will.
“But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers.”John 4:23
“saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!””Revelation 5:12