Many today practice and believe that praying to Jesus is a New Testament teaching. In fact it is a much needed doctrine in view of Protestantism which concocted their own gospel plan of salvation which oftentimes includes praying to Jesus for salvation. But is that true? Does the book of Acts show us examples of alien sinners praying to Jesus to be saved? What does the Bible teach concerning this doctrine? Look at Acts 7:59 . . .
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
There are some that look at this passage for authority to pray to Jesus
I want you to note that every example given by the proponents of praying to Jesus are individuals who are already Christians
They heard, they believed, they were baptized, we see the fulfillment of Christ's commission (Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16) in the book of Acts.
Concerning prayer we are told to imitate, Paul, who imitates Christ (1 Cor 11:1)
Jesus prayed to the Father (Mt 6:6; Lk 11:1; Jn 17:1)
He taught His apostles to teach future disciples all the things He commanded them (Mt 28:20), which included praying to the Father (Mt 6:9)
Paul prayed to the Father (Col 1:3)
And commanded Christians likewise to pray to the Father (Eph 5:20; Phi 4:6; Col 3:17)
We are told “whatsoever ye do” to do in the name of (by the authority of) the Lord Jesus (Col 3:17), praying is inclusive of this command (Eph 5:20; 1 Pet 2:5)
Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Php 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1Pe 2:5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable toGod through Jesus Christ.
We are to pray “to” God “through”Christ, that one Mediator between God and men (1 Tim 2:5) . . .
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himselfman, Christ Jesus,
I would say that if someone saw this same miraculous vision, as did Stephen
Then it may be authorized, but we know that the Bible teaches that the miraculous manifestations of the 1st century ceased (Micah 7:15; Dan 9:24; Zech 13:2; Jn 9:1-4; 1 Cor 13:8-10; Eph 4:8-14)
This was a miraculous situation, a one time event, it is ludicrous to even try to use this as a passage giving one authority
There is such a movement in the church to be like “the (denomi) nations round about them”
One of the biggest of these movements is Pentecostalism, emotionalism, feelgoodism
That’s where this fits in
The church is not about how I feel, or what I want
But rather, what God wills
It is a life of self-sacrifice, and service,
upholding and propagating the soul saving gospel of Jesus Christ.
Stephen’s statement here “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” is basically Stephen’s acknowledgment in the fact that he was about to be a partaker, in fact likely, the first partaker of the first resurrection (look at Rev 20:4-6) . . .
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Stephen would be bypassing his wait in comfort in Hades until the Last Day and would be going directly to Heaven. Reward for martyrdom is a truth that can be seen in many places in the NT and will aid to one’s understanding in many difficult passages (e.g. Phili 1:21-23; 3:10-11; Luke 20:35; ect), basically this has been studied away by many religious bodies in order to soften the gospel of Christ.
For a deeper look into this doctrine go here . . .