Mormonism claims that Jesus is our spirit brother, and that all of us were born to Heavenly Father before being born on earth. But while Jesus certainly had a human nature, the Bible teaches that there are significant differences between Jesus and us…

For one, Jesus receives Worship

The Bible tells us of people bowing down to worship someone other than God. In fact one such instance was to an apostle, and another to an angel (Acts 10:25, Revelation 19:10).

But instead of receiving the worship, in both cases they said, “You must not do that! Worship God alone!”

While the Bible condemns the worship of creatures, it commends the worship of Jesus!

After Jesus walked on water, the disciples present in the boat worshiped Him (Matthew 14:33). And after the resurrection, a couple women leaving his tomb saw Him.

Matthew records that they,

“took hold of his feet and worshiped him” (Matthew 28:9).

And again, doubting Thomas, after sticking his fingers in Jesus’ crucifixion wounds, cries out saying

“My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)

Yet in all of these examples, instead of turning people away and stating “You must not worship me, for I am a man!”,

Jesus willfully receives and approves of being worshipped.

In fact, the author of Hebrews even tells us that even the angels are commanded to worship Him (Hebrews 1.6).

Jesus even states at one point that if he did not receive worship from people, then the rocks themselves would cry out (Luke 19:40)!

But why? What makes Jesus “worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” as Revelation 7:12 says?

Because Jesus is not like us, He is greater than us!

He is “God over all, blessed forever” as The Apostle Paul says of Jesus in Romans 9:5.

The Bible reveals that God alone is worthy to receive worship (Exodus 20:1-3, Exodus 34:14). Yet we see Jesus, knowing this, and standing in approval of those who bow down before Him in worship.

Latter-day Saints sometimes feel uncomfortable about worshiping Jesus, but this is why Christians are eager to celebrate the fact that we worship Jesus.

Second, Jesus is Fully Divine

The Gospel of John states that

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2)

This “Word” is Jesus, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)! Jesus existed before you and I were created. He was with God, and He was God (John 1:1-2).

In fact, he made everything that exists, and without him nothing would be here (John 1:3)! That cannot be said of any mere human! The author of Hebrews says that He is the

“…radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” (Hebrews 1:2-3).

The Apostle Paul even tells us that

“…in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19).

It would be pure blasphemy to say that the whole fullness of deity dwells in you or me. In fact, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day recognized this exact truth.

When Jesus stated,

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)

They immediately reached for stones to kill Him on the charge of blasphemy because, they said,

“You, being a man, make yourself God.” (John 10:33)

At one point in Jesus’ ministry, he took His closest disciples to the top of a high mountain to reveal His true nature to them. The Bible records that Jesus

“transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. (Matthew 17:2)

Jesus was showing His disciples that He is completely unique! He has what no mere man can have, a glory unique to God alone.

All of these things should be a clear indication that Jesus is not merely our brother! Jesus even says at one point,

“You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23)

The Mormon teaching on Jesus falls short of who He really is. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the eternal unchanging Creator. Hebrews even says that

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

These things that the Bible teaches us about Jesus are simply not true of you and me, but they are true of the one worthy of glory, honor, and praise—Jesus!

 

Verse References
  • Acts 10:25
  • Revelation 19:10
  • Matthew 14:33
  • Matthew 28:9
  • John 20:28
  • Hebrews 1:6
  • Luke 19:40
  • Revelation 7:12
  • Romans 9:5
  • Exodus 20:1-3
  • Exodus 34:14
  • John 1:1-2
  • John 1:14
  • John 1:3
  • Hebrews 1:2-3
  • Colossians 1:19
  • John 10:30
  • John 10:33
  • Matthew 17:2
  • John 8:23
  • Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus was showing His disciples that He is completely unique! He has what no mere man can have, a glory unique to God alone.“