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  • Saints - God's regenerated, saved, elect people, both living on earth and in heaven


    Then saith Jesus unto him, I Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

    - Matthew 4:10

    And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

    But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up: I myself also am a man.

    - Acts 10:25-26

    And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

    - Revelation 19:10

    And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

    Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this Book: worship God.

    - Revelation 22:8-9

    Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

    - Acts 4:12

    For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

    - I Corinthians 2:2

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    Our prayers are to be directed to God - not to saints. This is true for the following reasons:

    1. All honor and worship are due to God; not to human beings

    2. Saints have no merits of their own; everything they possess has been graciously given them by the Lord

    3. There is only one Mediator between God and sinners - Jesus Christ

    4. In heaven, the saints are not aware of earthly needs and concerns, neither can they commune with persons on earth nor hear their prayers

    5. No scriptural permission for, or example of, prayer to any creature is given; but it is forbidden

    Nor may our prayers be directed to angels, but only to God. This is verified by Reasons 1, 3, and 5 listed above.

    When we pray to God, we essentially pray to a Triune God, to the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, for they are one in essence. Most biblical prayers, however, are addressed to God the Father, as the first Person and representative of the Trinity.

    Examples of prayers directed to Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, can be found in Scripture. Some examples are printed in the box below.

    EXAMPLES OF PRAYERS
    DIRECTED TO JESUS CHRIST

    But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

    - Matthew 14:30

    And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

    - Mark 10:47


    And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

    And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

    - Acts 7:59-60

    For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

    And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

    - II Corinthians 12:8-9
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