It seems like your a little mixed up thomas? You said this: " I can pray and worship in the name of God or Jesus but personally, If I am repenting I would repent to Jesus Christ for forgiveness of my sins so that my prayers can be heard and answered." When you first become a Christian your sins are forgiven past, present and future on the basis of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for your sins. In fact, God says He does not remember your sins, that is your past sins.
After your a Christian and you sin you can pray to God or Jesus Christ for that matter and He forgives you. This is the point of 1 John chapter 2. Now notice what 1 John 3:8 states, "No one who is born of God "practices" sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." In other words, to be sure we still commit sin but as a Christian we are not to make sin a regular practice in our lives. In fact, if you don't "HATE" sin then there is something wrong with your Christianity.
On another note the disciples ask Jesus how to pray at Matthew 6:9 but notice vs12. "And forgive us our sins." Jesus is saying that God the Father forgive our sins. Now look at Acts 7:59,60, and notice who Stephen is praying to? "And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" vs60, And falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, he fell asleep/died."
My point is the fact that praying to God the Father or to Jesus is praying to the same one being of God.
IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
After your a Christian and you sin you can pray to God or Jesus Christ for that matter and He forgives you. This is the point of 1 John chapter 2. Now notice what 1 John 3:8 states, "No one who is born of God "practices" sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." In other words, to be sure we still commit sin but as a Christian we are not to make sin a regular practice in our lives. In fact, if you don't "HATE" sin then there is something wrong with your Christianity.
On another note the disciples ask Jesus how to pray at Matthew 6:9 but notice vs12. "And forgive us our sins." Jesus is saying that God the Father forgive our sins. Now look at Acts 7:59,60, and notice who Stephen is praying to? "And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" vs60, And falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, he fell asleep/died."
My point is the fact that praying to God the Father or to Jesus is praying to the same one being of God.
IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
SALVATION PRAYER (excerpt from online website)
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.
So you're saying I could flip flop the words God and Jesus in the prayer above and it's ok? Just making sure I understand...