Lactantius Jr

Submitted by Sohail (United Kingdom), Apr 3, 2007 at 10:11

Thank you for speaking openly, please let me reciprocate. You have said so much I would like to interact with, but for now, won't do that, instead, I will concentrate on the very heart of your posting. In saying:- "CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM, JEWISM (sic)..........these 3 religions have a strong bond..........which most people are unaware of.........learn about these religions...and you would know about THIS BOND,"

you deny the massive difference between Christianity and Islam, Islam being a profound theological opponent of Christianity, denying The Lord Jesus Christ's divinity, saying He was just a man, a good man, but nowhere near as good as Muhammad, saying that trusting the Lord Jesus for salvation is blasphemy, saying that He wasn't crucified, saying that Allah (upon whom be peace), put a "lookalike" on the Cross, (and if Allah's deception is to be believed), deceived Christians at the time, deceiving Christians and Muslims for the last 1,400 years, and by denying the Lord Jesus' crucifixion, knows nothing about His glorious resurrection from the dead, on which Christianity absolutely stakes its claim to validity.

Christianity and Islam don't disagree on much do they? only on "incidentals" like the nature and lostness of human beings, on the nature and character of the Biblical God and the Qur'anic Allah, on sin and salvation, heaven and hell, on how to attain the first and avoid the second, they don't differ much do they "Abd Allah?" which "strong bond" between Christianity and Islam do you have in mind?

Lactantius you forgot to mention Judaism which also denies the trinity and the Gospel of Peter which denies Jesus' crucifixion. Did i forget to mention that Judaism denies that another person could die for somebody sins.

I now quote some ayat from the Qur'an, and I do so not because it is authoritative for me, I quote it believing you, as a Muslim will accept as authoritative what it says of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. (quoting Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation):-

"Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel." Surah 5:47

"If only they had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course: but many of them follow a course that is evil." Surah 5:66

"Say: ‘O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.' It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith." Surah 5:68

The torah and Gospel the Quran mentions is not the torah and Gospel which you have and also in those verses it says Gospel and Gospels meaning that there is only one Gospel according to the Quran.

Demonstrating from the Qur'an that you can trust what the Bible says, I now concentrate on the Biblical diagnosis of our problem, and the cure made freely available to us by the God of the Bible, described in His printed Words, the Bible, and supremely demonstrated in His Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. Believing the Bible to be all-sufficient in matters of belief, conduct and doctrine, I quote it extensively, and the Biblical references I quote may be referred to in numerous translations at:- http://www.biblegateway.com/ and I suggest a modern-language translation such as The New Living Translation, or the Contemporary English Translation, but whichever translation you use, it's the same Gospel, the same good, good news, or news which brings joy.

The Quran doesn't support the bible becasue it says it only supports the torah which is the first five books and the Gospel which doesn't include paul's writings.

Mentioning "bad" and "good" people, be they, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or Buddhist etc. points to the very heart of our problem, which is that everybody has a fatal disorder, the Lord Jesus Christ saying "……………no one is good except God alone." Mark 10:18 with the heart of the problem being the problem of the human heart, "the heart being desperately wicked" Jeremiah 17:9 the Bible diagnosing the "heart" of our problem, using that much-misunderstood little word, sin. Sin is anything that is contrary to the law or will of God. For example: if we lie, we have sinned. Why? Because God has said not to lie Exodus 20:16. If we do what God has forbidden, then we have sinned. In addition, if we do not do what God has commanded, we sin James 4:17. Either way, the result is eternal separation from God Isaiah 59:2. Sin is lawlessness 1 John 1:3 and unrighteousness 1 John 5:17. Sin leads to bondage Rom. 6:14-20 and death Romans 6:23. The Bible saying "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23 and "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Let's the whole verse of Mark 10:18 which says:

18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. Mark 10:18

Here is the best understanding of this verse:

1. God alone is (absolutely) good.
2. Jesus is not (absolutely) good.
3. Therefore, Jesus is not God.

Simple as that.

Everyone has sinned, everyone that is except the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible and the Qur'an agreeing that He alone was without sin, and being absolutely sinless, He was able to be "The lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world." John 1:29 the Bible affirming He "…………..came into the world to save sinners." 1 Timothy 1`:15 and that "God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8 reality being that the Biblical God has taken the initiative (and what an initiative!!), in providing a solution to our massive problem as sinners, utterly helpless and unable to save ourselves, the Bible clearly describing the salvation available in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him only, saying "For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 and that, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." Romans 10:9-10 saying very clearly that, "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other Name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Jesus did sin, he lied about the last day. Jesus didn't die for everyone sins but for only for thoses who believe:

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18

I now consider what the Bible has to say about those who are "in Christ," and compare/contrast that, to the Muslim's position with Allah.

When someone trusts in Jesus' atoning death for themselves, they are placed ‘in Christ.' This is what makes them righteous. They are made the righteousness of God in Him. This righteousness alone overcomes our desperate, sinful condition, and measures up to all the demands of God's holiness. Here are some additional thoughts concerning this gift of God's righteousness that are received in Christ.

1) God's righteousness is a gift: the only righteousness God will receive back from us is His own. We can't make it ourselves. We can't earn it in any way as if to buy it from Him. We can't get so that we deserve it by any action, character quality, or special knowledge we obtain. Rather, it is a gift, like rain falling on flowers. It is no more difficult for God to save a big sinner than a small one. Criminals, terrorists, megalomaniacs and good people all need the same righteousness. This is because of the wickedness of sin and the absolute moral and ethical purity of God. Sin is so bad, it took the death of God's sinless Son to atone for it.

2) God's righteousness is unchangeable. God does not change so His righteousness does not change. It is the same righteousness that Paul received, that all the great Christians through history received, and that we, too, receive. It is the privilege of all who believe in Jesus. Saints, priests, ministers, missionaries do not possess a greater righteousness before God.

3) God's righteousness is permanent. Once we receive it, it is ours forever. For example, we don't become Christians by just confessing our sins. We can't remember all of our sins and there's always tomorrow. Confession is like trying to mop up the floor with the sink overflowing. Salvation is an act of God by which we belong to God forever.

Listen to God's word again:

"For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified."

Hebrews 10:14

4) When we receive Christ, we receive the full righteousness of God. It takes us all the way to heaven. It is heresy to say, "God would love me more if I were better." 24 hours a day Jesus supplies what God demands. Hebrews 7:25-28

We are made righteous in fact, not fiction or imagination, before the Holy God. This is why the Apostle Paul could say, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 This is how God can say to us:

"What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:31-39

With this gift of righteousness that justifies us before God, we are put into a position of safety and privilege that neither the world, nor Satan can wreck. We are in Christ, surrounded, supported, protected, encompassed by, and identified with Him, the Lord of the universe. His righteousness, purity, merit, grace, and power are given to us as a free gift.

And as if that is not enough, God in grace enriches that position by giving us a new identity. Believers in Christ are given a number of titles when we believe to explain our new status.

Jesus only died for the sins of those who only believe in him.

B. A Muslim's position with Allah

We often see things more clearly in contrast. Consider the contrast Islam provides in what is offered the Muslim believer.

1. The Title ‘Abd: "Slave; Servant" of Allah

In the Qur'an, this is the normal title for a human being in his relationship to Allah as a creature and possession of Allah. It also has the sense of worship and worshiper. Though the basic idea is that of slavery, there is also dignity in that it is an honour to be even a slave to Allah. Becoming a believer in the Islamic sense does not elevate a person above this level; even prophets are regarded as human slaves of Allah. Surah 43:59 has Allah saying of Jesus, "He is nothing but a slave on whom We bestowed favour." Surah 19:30 puts these words into the mouth of the infant Jesus, "Lo, I am a slave of Allah…" In Islam, Allah is every person's master and the individual has no claim over his life. They are the property of Allah who has the right to use or dispose of them in any way He pleases. There is no mutuality in the relationship with Allah, no covenants, no unconditional promises, no family relationship, and no personal relationship with the God revealed in the Bible, and suprememly in the Lord Jesus Christ. Fear of the terrors of judgement is the chief motivation to obedience for the Muslim believer.

Also, the Qur'an emphasizes different attributes for Allah than those possessed by the God of the Bible. His power, sovereignty, and right to judge are emphasized rather than His love. He is an impersonal being, separate from his creation revealing not himself, but his will to his creatures. "Islam" means submission, not peace, and "Muslim" means ‘one who submits.'

Even in al-janna, the ‘paradise' described by the Qur'an, the greatest thing a Muslim might attain is the possibility of having a sight or vision of Allah, but does not live with him or have communion and friendship with him. This is such a far thing from the eternal bliss Christians are promised in enjoying the very presence of the Lord.

Also, Christians, by believing in Christ, are elevated from the basic position of a creature/slave/servant before God to being a child and intimate friend in God's family. Listen to Jesus' words in John 15:14, 15:

"You are My friends, if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves; for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."

2. No Justification of the sinner in Islam

Islam has no doctrine of atonement, no substitution by a Saviour, no justification of the believer by the sacrifice of Christ. The Qur'an denies the crucifixion even happened Surah 4:157 and offers a possible salvation based on the person's good works and repentance, rather than on the merit of a Saviour. The Qur'an teaches repeatedly that no one can bear another's burden of sin Surah 6:165; 17:15; 29:12,13; 35:18; 39:7; 53:38

Here's what the bible got to say about non-christians:

7Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 2 Jon 1:7

It says that we are antichrist. I am proud to be one.

Sohail

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