Christian/Muslim ThreadsWas Jesus Perfect God and Perfect Man at the Same Time?Once more.....
Not knowing the True pronunciation of YHWH does not disprove Jesus being God, how does it?
You say that bowing down before someone did not necessarily mean to worshiping them. This is true, too. There was indeed a kind of bowing down that simply showed as sign of respect. But then there was also a kind of bowing down that showed worship. And, it was wrong to bow down before anyone in a worship pose if that being was not God. For example, in Revelation 19:10, John, overwhelmed by the vision, fell down in a worship pose before the angel. And the angel immediately forbade him from doing this: "Do not do that...worship God." Likewise, in Acts 10:25 Cornelius fell down in a worship pose before the Peter--and Peter immediately forbade him from doing this because Peter was not God: "Stand up; I too am just a man."
On the other hand, whenever anyone fell down in a worship pose before Jesus, Jesus acknowledged and accepted their worship--which showed that He is God, not just man. Notice all these instances where Jesus accepted worship to Himself: - And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Matthew 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. Matthew 9:18
- Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. Matthew 14:33
In fact, Hebrews 1:6 describes even the angels as worshiping Jesus Christ. In the throne scene in Heaven (Revelation 5:12-14), both the Father and the Son (Christ) receive worship together.
" Proskuneo" is the Greek word for worship in these passages. And, it clearly means just that--worship--not just expressing respect. Notice its use in John 4:24--"God is spirit, and those who worship Him (proskuneo) must worship (proskuneo) in spirit and truth."
But there are many other passages that also speak of the deity of Christ. To begin with, prophecies of Christ spoke of His being deity. For example, Isaiah 9:6 refers to HIm as "Mighty God." Micah 5:2, prophesying of the Christ's birth in Bethelehem, says "His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." That is, He is described as being eternal (when He was born to Mary, Christ simply took upon himself a human body--He did not begin His existence at this time).
Then, again, in the New Testament, Christ--referred to as "The Word" (see John 1:14), is described as being God in John 1:1--"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
In Colossians 2:9--"For in Him (Christ) all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form..."
You have got to admit it: this statement is especially clear in regards to the Deity of Christ!
Bless You!
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