The Old Testament clearly indicates that only God is to be worshiped. Numerous examples exist of prophets starting to worship angels (since they are so glorious) and being sternly corrected for that.
However, Jesus never corrected anyone who worshiped and bowed down to him. Numerous examples in the New Testament call Jesus “Lord and God” and have persons freely worshiping Him. Such is blasphemy...an offense one would be executed for under Jewish law...IF it were not true.
Jesus even used the covenant name for God...Y_hw_h, (or “I Am.”) referring to Himself...and was nearly stoned to death for it....(showing they indeed knew was He was saying). To this day Orthodox Jews avoid saying that name out loud...it is so holy....yet, Jesus used it to refer to Himself.
God is indeed Spirit, but the Gospels clearly indicate the Holy Spirit, in real history, came upon the blessed virgin Mary and miraculously made her pregnant. Without the virgin birth we don’t have anyone who can possibly be a Mediator...someone fully God, yet, also, fully human, the one Man, Christ Jesus.
Christians have ALWAYS worshiped Jesus as God—if you don’t—you’re free to do that, but you are simply not a Christian, and to be historically truthful, you shouldn’t claim the name.
3 forms of water don't work...3 leaves of a clover don't either...3 parts of an apple...all of these are simplifications which try to make esentially rational, or capturable...by our finite brains, that which, or rather He whom, is infinite and un-capturable.
Some charge that we call this doctrine a mystery because we want to cover up how illogical and preposterous it is. No, it is a mystery because it exceeds our powers of imagination and comprehension. But shouldn’t we expect the inner nature of God to be greater than our finite minds? Any reality that our minds can master is by definition inferior to our minds. The Supreme Being by definition has to be greater than our minds.
The glory of it all, is that this incomprehensible God chooses to know us, and to allow Himself to be known...(as much as we know) and to draw us up, in way, into the loving union He has had for eternity with Himself--in 3 Persons.
Praise to be our Lord & Master, Mediator & Friend, Jesus Christ, to Him be glory and honor, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever!!!
That statement is so wrong that, depending on your motives, becomes a lie.
There have been controversies about this since Christ's death. John's epistles testify to that.