|
Part 7: The True Perspective Back To Main Index CHAPTER XXVII: THE LAST 'WORD OF GOD' - THE MESSAGETransmitted Through Faithful Companions And Tabi'un Strangely - though it is not surprising with all else Islam seeks to do - many in Islam declare the apostle Paul to be 'the founder' of Christianity's belief in the Blood Atonement. [We shall examine this later.] Thus, they accuse both he and the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus of an unprecedented crime - something the Sunnis would only accuse Abu Sufyan of doing, and which the Shi'a would only accuse the caliphs of doing - agreeing to corrupt the true Religion as given them by Jesus, and he only having gone to Heaven some short time before!! 1 They allege that these faithful men were not only willing to turn Jesus' words upside down but even to lie about Jesus in their records! Yet the same followers of Islam profess to believe something very different 'inside' Islam: "157 Ibn Mas'ud reported Allah's Messenger (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) as saying: There was never a prophet whom Allah raised in his people before me but he had in his Ummah his disciples and his companions who held fast to his Sunnah and followed his command. Then they were succeeded by people who professed what they did not act upon and acted upon what they were not commanded to do... (Muslim)" (Mishkat, Saddiqui, Vol. 1, p 103; emphasis added) The result of their shallow accusations is that a Prophet is accused of stupidity not only for choosing Companions [we recall that Jesus chose his Companions after praying all night!) who would do this, but for wasting three years of valuable time on teaching people who, it is alleged, were not going to adhere to nor teach others what he taught them! Of course, this also accuses God of stupidity not only for guiding His Prophet to choose such men, but since, it claims, He was willing to have a Prophet teach for three years for nothing! It further claims that God showed utter disregard of those who sought to please Him through trusting the Prophet in his choice of Companions who were to propagate his teachings! Obviously those in Islam will stop at nothing in their efforts at attacking others, including these efforts to accuse Jesus' Companions and Tabi'un, and even Jesus and God. All this in order to create 'Proof' for Islam's own disorder and try to make their own religion appear plausible. The truth is that the same Gospel which was known in the little village of Meccah in the midst of the wilderness of Arabia, where Waraqa was copying the written text (see Sahih Muslim #301), is the Gospel that has 298 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective always been declared, yes, even before Paul was converted. Not Salvation By Obeying A 'Law', But God's Mercy To Those who Have Faith In Jesus' Atonement The original Message is still present in the Gospels for anyone to read. While portions of it are decried in the footnotes of Qur'ans and other Islamic writings, the Injil continues to declare God's Mercy in a New Covenant, one sealed in Jesus' blood. This was something Jesus declared was written about by the Prophets, and his Companions and Tabi'un recorded that Jesus had said he was going up to Jerusalem to be killed on our behalf, and was, thereby establishing a New Covenant. It is a Covenant in which a person is considered by God to be 'justified' [acquitted from His punishment] through faith in what Jesus accomplished on our behalf and in our place. The Companions and Tabi'un relate that God gave the Covenant of the Law to Moses so that people would constantly see before them the reality of sin. Breaking the Law was sin and sin required that 'atonement' be made to 'cover' the sin and re-establish the fellowship with God which was broken because of the sin. As God said "Your sin has separated you from your God." (Is. 59:2) Jesus established a New Covenant which superseded the Law of Moses. First Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Law perfectly by living a sinless life (something even Islam admits). Then he offered that sinless life as an 'atonement' for everyone else's sin. Here we see that a sinless one does exist, one who can bear the burdens of the sinful. This was the end of righteousness being obtained by keeping a 'Law', and now righteousness was obtained through a New Covenant. In it God considered people as righteous if they had faith in the 'atonement' made on their behalf by the sinless Jesus on the cross. The effects of sin, namely the Wrath (anger) of God and the punishment of Hell (called the second death), is turned away from those who enter this Covenant. It has a parallel in the action of God in the days of Moses. When the people sinned against God and He sent poisonous snakes to kill them in His anger, yet on Moses intercession, He commanded that a bronze serpent be made, lifted up on a pole with the Promise that all who looked upon the serpent would not die! It is for this reason that Jesus said: 299 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up so that all who believe in him may have eternal life." (Injil John 3:14, 15) The Companions and Tabi'un related another parallel with the days of Moses. In the time when God was going to bring Bani Israel out of Egypt, He determined to kill all the first born sons of the Egyptians. BUT the Lord promised to 'pass over' the Israelite homes and forbid the angel of death to strike their firstborn child IF the Israelites had placed the blood of the Passover lamb upon their door. As He said to them "when I see the blood I will pass by" (Exodus 12:13). So too His Wrath to be poured out on Judgement Day will 'pass over' those who have faith in Jesus' Atonement. This is why the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus referred to Jesus with the words "Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7). When we accept the atoning blood as the 'cover' for our sins God determines to 'pass by' us on the Day of Judgement!! Even more - He considers people to be His adopted children from the moment of their entering this Covenant. Good News - 'Acquitted' Because Another Took Your Judgement Thus we find the Companions and Tabi'un speaking of being: - "justified [acquitted from God's Judgement] by faith" - not by the work of obeying a system of Laws or by doing more good deeds than bad ones; - "justified [acquitted from God's Judgement] by faith in his [Jesus'] blood", alluding to the necessity of faith in the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf; - "justified [acquitted from God's Judgement] by faith in his [Jesus'] name", alluding to Salvation being found only in Jesus' Name, none other; - "justified [acquitted from God's Judgement] by faith in his [Jesus'] resurrection", alluding to the fact that at the Resurrection God will raise to live eternally in His Holy Presence in a new body like Jesus' resurrected body, those who have faith in Jesus [but the Unbelievers will be raised and sent into Hell forever]. Acquittal from God's Judgement by faith (justification by faith) is the basis for the Final Message - that of the true Last Testament of God. As it is written: "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known to which the Law and Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left unpunished the sins committed beforehand - he did it to demon |
||
|
300 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective strate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:25,26; emphasis added) Acquittal from God's Judgement is given by Him, then, not because men are righteous or because their good deeds outweigh their misdeeds, but because they have believed God's Plan that He would acquit anyone who placed their hope for Mercy in His Provision - that another took our Judgement and Punishment. This is what God has Decreed Forever - it is "His WORD". Only these people are free from the fear of Judgement Day. Surely it is obvious that the Holy and Righteous God cannot accept into His presence anyone who was less than holy! God in His love for His creation has provided this means of cleansing unto holiness by paying for our unrighteousness and sin through Jesus' blood sacrifice on the cross. He had purposed, even from the days of Adam, to redeem man from sin and save from Judgement all who would believe. The Final Message The Message itself is in fact the fulfilment of God's Word as spoken at the Fall of Adam as is recorded in the Taurat (Torah). In summary it is as follows: When Adam and Eve sinned and obeyed Satan instead of God, they obtained the knowledge of good and evil which God had forbidden them. Because of what Satan had done, God proclaimed "the seed of the woman will crush your [Satan's] head". Because of what Adam and Eve had done, sin came into the world, and mankind was 'fallen' from their created state. They were banished from the garden of Eden [something declared to have been located on the earth] by God so that they could not also eat of the Tree of Life and live forever - something that they had been able to partake of until that time. Though God still spoke with them, His purpose for them was not the same. The luxury of living in Eden in God's Presence and the possibility first offered, to physically live forever as they were created, were lost. They were sent out of Eden. Eve was now to bear children in pain, and Adam would work the earth with sweat to gain his food. But, God in his mercy began to fulfil His Word and purpose. The Most High revealed Himself to Abraham and made a promise that through Isaac his descendants would be counted. [The prophetic line was thus through Isaac.] These same descendants prophesied by the Holy Spirit of God (distinct from Gabriel the archangel) that One would come who would be born of a virgin. He would be called "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" and his kingdom would never end. The Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus recorded in the Gospel records that this was fulfilled among them, and that this one was Jesus who claimed 301 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective he had come to fulfil what was written about himself in the writings of the prophets which Bani Israel (the Jews) possessed. The followers of Jesus recorded that he spoke of the fact that he must die for the sins of the people as it was also written about him by the prophets. And, that though he would leave them and return to Heaven where he had come from he told them another Comforter, the Holy Spirit who "has been with you but will be in you", would be sent. They also recorded that all this indeed did occur, and that when Jesus died on the cross, the veil/curtain in the Temple was torn "from top to bottom", thus signifying in an obvious way to the Jews that the barrier which had prevented men from freely entering God's Holy Presence had been removed - by God. 2 They recorded too that Jesus also was resurrected. That after he thus rose from the dead, he walked and talked with as many as 500 of his disciples at once. He told them then that it had been written in the prophets that he had to die and rise from the dead and that further, repentance and forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. [His Message was clearly Universal and Final.] They recorded also that they watched him as he rose up out of their sight to heaven and that they were told by an angel that Jesus would return in the same way as they had seen him go. It was recorded by the Tabi'un Luke, that as the disciples obeyed Jesus' command to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came, that indeed the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and filled them all! He also recorded that they were so emboldened and empowered by the Holy Spirit's indwelling Presence, that they were no longer afraid, but went out into the street preaching to the people that they must repent and believe in the name of Jesus in order to be forgiven, find acceptance with God and received the indwelling Holy Spirit as 'Proof' that they had received eternal life. The Companions and Tabi'un proclaimed that Jesus had been "given the name that is above every name", the "only name given among men by which we must be saved". And many believed what was told them, that they had been guilty of forcing the death of Jesus, but that it was God's purpose from times past that it must happen, and that God had made Jesus "both Lord and Messiah" (i.e. al-Masih). It is recorded that those who believed were "cut to the heart" over what they had done to their Messiah, and cried out in anguish, "What must we do?" The response to those who expressed faith was "Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."- and 3000 responded. This was not a small thing for them, for the community of Bani Israel in Jerusalem had just rejected Jesus' claim, and had been responsible for crucifying him on the grounds of blasphemy in claiming that he was the Messiah, the expected Son of God. For them to now declare that they believed in him would be considered by their people to share his guilt of 'blasphemy'. Despite all the opposition, the loss of families that resulted, the loss of 302 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective possessions, and for many the loss of their lives, these people believed and clung to their beliefs - Jesus was the Son of God, as he had admitted to the high priest who questioned him - he was the One Who was to come into the world as the prophets had foretold, to die for the sins of the people. Many miracles were done "in the name of Jesus Christ" as this Gospel was proclaimed. It is recorded that the followers of Jesus suffered persecution and were driven out of Jerusalem, and as they went out, they proclaimed the Gospel. The records of the Companions and Tabi'un also declare without reservation that there is no other way to be reconciled to God except by believing in Jesus' death for your sins, believing that his blood was shed as a sacrificial atonement to God. This was to be the last sacrifice for sins, the final Act of Redemption by God. The True God has thus determined that He can ONLY be approached through acceptance of, and faith in His Son and what he has done. This being the recorded belief of Jesus' Companions and Tabi'un, it is necessary For Those Who Want Truth to examine with all their heart the evidence and decide if it is the record of the Only Way to be accepted by the true God. [In the hope of being able to help with some of your questions, besides the topics which follow, Appendix C has been dedicated to answering some questions.] APPENDIX C - SEE END OF CHAPTER
Jesus The 'Not-By-Sex' Son of God (a)According To The Companions And Tabi'un Of Jesus Even in the time of Muhammad the Sonship of Jesus was a topic over which Islam has sought to avoid the obvious. We find from ibn Ishaq: "They were Christians according to the Byzantine rite ...They argue that he is the son of God because he had no known father.... When the two divines spoke to him the apostle said to them, 'Submit yourselves.' They said, 'We have submitted.' He said, 'You have not submitted, so submit.' They said, 'Nay but we submitted before you.' He said, 'You lie. Your assertion that God has a son, your worship of the cross, and your eating pork hold you back from submission.' They said, 'But who was his father Muhammad?'" (Sirah, p. 271f, suhuf. 403; emphasis added) Indeed, Christians have never believed anything like the type of teaching attributed to them by the Qur'an and men like Yusuf Ali. We find the Qur'an states: "They say: "Allah hath begotten a son": Glory be to Him - To Him belongs all that is in the heavens..." (Q2:116) Yusuf Ali states: "It is a derogation to the glory of God - in fact it is blasphemy - to say that God 303 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective begets sons, like a man or an animal. The Christian doctrine is here emphatically repudiated. If words have any meaning, it would mean an attribution to God of a material nature, and of the lower animal functions of sex." (The Holy Qur'an, A.Yusuf Ali, ft. 119, p. 49, Amana Corp. 1983) This text and footnote are not alone. Again we read: "Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "God hath begotten a son"" (Q18:5). The footnote reads: "The warning is not only needed for those who deny God or deny His Message, but also for those whose false ideas of God degrade religion in supposing that God begot a son, for God is One and is High above any ideas of physical reproduction." (Y. Ali, footnote #2329) And again: "It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When he determines a matter He only says to it, "Be", and it is." (Q19:35) Yusuf Ali's footnote reads: "Begetting a son is a physical act depending on the needs of men's animal nature. God Most High is independent of all needs, and it is derogatory to Him to attribute such an act to Him." (Y. Ali, footnote #2487) Another aya reads: "They say: "(God) Most Gracious has begotten a son!" (Q19:87) Y. Ali's footnote reads: "The belief in God begetting a son is not a question merely of words or of speculative thought. It is a stupendous blasphemy against God. It lowers God to the level of an animal." (Y. Ali, footnote #2529) Again: "Had God wished to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He doth create" (Q39:4) It is not surprising to see that finally the fantasy takes full form: "It is blasphemy to say that God begot a son. If that were true, He should have had a wife (vi, 101) and His son would have been of the same kind as Himself" (Y. Ali, footnote #4246; underlining added) [Q6:101 reads, "How can He have a son when He hath no consort?"] However, God does not need to 'have sex' to have a Son. And indeed, if He did not want to, He did not even have to use the ovum of the woman. But, since it is asserted that the One promised by God even from the time of Adam, being called then by God "the seed of the woman", and being that He was to be "born of David's (Daud's) line", this One was not simply 'born of God's command' like Adam was, but was born of God's command using the very ovum in the woman's body to produce this One. 304 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective Thus when God commanded, His command was responsible for that ovum becoming fertilised by a non-sexual means. Surely it is obvious that such a One would be "of the same kind as Himself". We note that even the broken Qur'an admits the end result if in truth there is one who is in truth the Son of God, "of the same kind as Himself": "Say: "If (God) Most Gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship." (Q43:81) Here Y. Ali's footnote reads: "The man of God does not object to true worship in any form. But it must be true: it must not superstitiously attribute derogatory things to God, or foster false ideas." (Y. Ali, footnote #4679; underlining added) Sadly, while acknowledging this truth, that indeed if God had a Son he would need to be worshipped, the need for some way to defend the other texts of the Qur'an has led Yusuf Ali and others in Islam to stoop to an 'outwitting' which includes falsely accusing Christians collectively of blasphemy. Everyone knows that only Hinduism, Greek mythology and heretical cults believe such things as gods and humans (or God and Mary) having sex. But, the only true authority on what Christians have always believed on this matter lies with the writings of the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus. They not only acknowledged Jesus as the non-sexual Son of God, but they reported that this was what Jibreel (Gabriel) said to Mary when he told her she would have a son. They also reported that Jesus made this claim for himself. Of what Gabriel said to Mary we read from the Tabi' Luke: "...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.... "...the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will rule forever." "How will this be" Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" "The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Injil Luke 1:26-35) It is all too obvious from this text that Christians believe Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. Why do the followers of Islam continue to ignore this by asserting that 305 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective we believe Mary had sex? It is because they believe the Qur'an and so assert that God would have to have "a consort", and sex, to "have a Son"! The other writings of the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus assert the (non-sexual) 'Sonship' of Jesus. In these it is recorded by the Companion John that even Yahya (John the Baptist) said of him: "Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.'" (Injil John 1:34; emphasis added) And also that Yahya said: "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life for the wrath of God abides on him." (Injil John 3:35, 36; emphasis added) Of what Jesus said of himself the Companion John states: " I tell you the truth whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has passed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man." (Injil John 5:24-27; emphasis added)Of the Jews' reaction to Jesus' claims the Companion John wrote: "So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at work to this very day, and I too am working." For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own father making himself equal with God." (Injil John 5:16-18) It must not be thought that such references occur only in the Gospel record of John. Rather they occur throughout the four Gospel records and the Letters testifying that the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus were in complete agreement as to what Jesus said of himself in their midst and what they believed about him. The following citations attest to this and the person responsible for saying it is named in brackets after each: Matt. 1:21 "She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins... 'They will call him Immanuel which means God with us." (Jibreel - Gabriel) Matt. 2:25 "Out of Egypt I called my son" (God through Isaiah the prophet) Matt. 3:17 "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased" (God) Matt. 11:27 "no one knows the Son except the Father..." (Jesus) Matt. 14:33 "Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying "Truly 306 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective you are the Son of God" " (the Companions) Matt. 16:16 "You are the Christ the Son of the living God" (the Companion Peter) Matt. 17:5 "This is my Son" (God) Matt. 26:63 "You are the Christ, the Son of God" (the Companion Peter) Matt. 27:54 "truly this was the Son of God" (a Roman soldier) Mark 1:11 "You are my Son whom I love" (God) Mark 9:7 "This is my Son, whom I love" (God) Mark 13:32 "nor the Son but only the Father" (Jesus) Luke 1:32 "and will be called the Son of God" (Gabriel, Jibreel) Luke 3:22 "you are my Son whom I love" (God) John 1:34 "I testify that this is the Son of God" (Yahyah - John the Baptist) John 3:16 "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (Jesus) John 3:17 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him." (Jesus) John 3:18 "Whoever 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." (Jesus) John 3:35 "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands." (Jesus) John 3:36 "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life but whoever rejects the Son will not see life for the wrath of God abides on him." (Jesus) John 6:40 "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 11:14 "so that God's Son may be glorified" (Jesus) John 17:1 "glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you" (Jesus) John 20:31 "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you may have life in his name." (the Companion John) Acts 13:33 "You are my Son" (God) Rom. 1:4 "with power to be the Son of God" (Paul) Rom. 5:10 "reconciled to him through the death of his Son" (Paul) Rom. 8:3 "God did by sending his own Son" (Paul) Rom. 8:29 "conformed to the likeness of his Son" (Paul) Rom. 8:39 He who did not spare his own Son" (Paul) Gal. 2:20 "I live by faith in the Son of God" (Paul) Gal. 4:4 "God sent his Son, born of a woman" (Paul) 1 Thess. 1:10 "and to wait for his Son from heaven" (Paul) Heb. 1:2 "in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son whom he made heir of all things" (Hebrews) Heb. 1:5 "You are my Son" (God) Heb. 4:14 "Jesus the Son of God" Heb. 5:5 "You are my Son" (God) 307 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective Heb. 7:28 "appointed the Son" (Hebrews) Heb. 10:29 "who has trampled the Son of God under foot" (Hebrews) 2 Pet. 1:17 ""This is my Son whom I love" (the Companion Peter) 1 John 1:3 "Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son" (the Companion John) 1 John 1:7 "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son purifies us from all sin" (the Companion John) 1 John 2:23 "No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (the Companion John) 1 John 3:8 "the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (the Companion John) 1 John 4:9 "this is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." (the Companion John) 1 John 4:14 "we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world." (the Companion John) 1 John 5:5 "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (the Companion John) 1 John 5:9-11 "We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (the Companion John)
However, it is noteworthy that the Jews (Bani Israel) have continued to reject Jesus for having made this very claim. In modern times their trouble seems to be that they do not know their own Scripture. The following episode reveals the experience of one young Jew, yet it is the experience of many Rabbis who suddenly open their Scripture instead of their 'traditions' and books on law: "Years ago I happened to travel by train in the same compartment as a young Jew. We were alone, and it was he who invited conversation with me, and informed me that he was a Jew. We quickly came to speak about Jesus Christ, and he was nothing loth to do so. So I asked him if he could give me the reason why the Jews as a nation still rejected Jesus, the supreme Prophet of their race; or to put it more simply, why they refused to accept him as their promised Messiah. He answered unhesitatingly, 'Because he claimed to be the Son of God.' Somewhat astonished, I then enquired of him, 'Can you read Hebrew?' On receiving an affirmative reply, I drew from my 308 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective pocket a small Hebrew Bible which I happened to have with me, turned to Isaiah 9:6, and requested him to read the verse aloud. He read the text excellently, and obviously with understanding. The changing expressions on his face as he read were intensely interesting. When he came to the descriptive words, 'The Mighty God,' he looked startled and astonished. At the end of the verse he gazed at me in silence. Then I inquired, 'Of whom was the prophet speaking?' 'Surely,' he answered, 'it must be the Messiah.' 'You have spoken truly,' I said. 'But have you never read that passage before?' 'Never,' he replied. 'What have you read then?' I enquired. 'Just the five Books of Moses,' he said. 'Why have you not read the books of the prophets?' was my further question. I was startled by his reply. 'The rabbis do not want us to do so.' 'Friend,' I said, 'perhaps you now can guess the reason why.' (The Christian, 1937, article on 'The Christ Who Was, and Is, and Is to Come', John Thomas; underlining added) The assertion of the young man that the Jews continue to reject Jesus because he claimed to be the Son of God and his startled reaction to finding this teaching in the Prophets of his own Scripture shows clearly a difference between the Jews of Jesus' day and those of today. We note that the Tabi' Luke records that high priest had raised the issue when questioning Jesus: ""Are you the Son of God?" He [Jesus] replied, "You are right in saying I am." (Companion Luke, Injil Luke 22:70) So does the Companion Matthew: "The high priest said to him, "I charge you on oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied." (Companion Matthew, Injil Matt. 26:63) And likewise the Tabi' Mark: "Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am" Jesus replied" (Injil Mark 14:61,62) Again, the Companion John records that the priests even declared to Pilate that this was why he should die: "he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God" (Injil John 19:7) The Companion Matthew relates that as Jesus hung on the cross: "Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "... Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" .... In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him "... Let God rescue him if he wants him, for he said "I am God's Son." (Matt. 27:40- 43) The obvious difference between the Jews of today and those of Jesus' day is that the latter knew that such a One was to come for it was written in their Scripture by Isaiah! To them this was "the Word of God" which had to be fulfilled. It was simply that they did not believe that Jesus was 'the One'. 309 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective The text of Isaiah 9:6 cited above in the conversation between the two men on the train reads in full: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, mighty God, Everlasting Father, prince of Peace." (Is. 9:6) Thus today the Jewish leaders who do not want their own people to know their Scripture, mislead them from reading the ancient Prophetic evidence on this matter. They don't want them to see that Isaiah foretold that al-Masih WOULD BE God incarnate!! Although most in Islam argue that this is evidence of corruption of the Injil and the rest of the Scripture of the People of the Torah and Gospel, we must again remind such persons of the far superior record which we possess, and that that we have seen the true state of the Qur'an which means that all their former arguments of 'something purer than the Injil' - something which God is 'Protecting' must be discarded as a great hoax. But, even more obvious for those who make the 'corruption' accusation, is that they must in the case of the Injil, either accuse the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus of gross sin, or the later followers of deviation. In the case of the Jews they must accuse either them, or the Jews and the Christians of corroborating. Yet, the fact is that any thinking person must consider carefully just how it can be thought that the tremendous number of existing copies of the Scripture spread throughout the earth in so many languages among both Jews (Torah and Prophets) and Christians (Injil), were brought in to accomplish such a revision! It is an absurdity to consider this as a possibility and only blind defiance of logic can accept it. Jesus Said Who Was In The Body Yet the content of the prophet Isaiah's writings, as just noted, raises the true issue which is, who was Jesus truly? Who was in the body? We know that God caused the body to be formed within the womb of Mary, but who inhabited that body? It is obvious that the words of Isaiah "mighty God, Everlasting Father", as just read, cannot be applied to someone merely because of a Divinely originating body. No, it has to involve much more than that. It is here that we take note of Jesus' own words: "And now Father glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began" (Injil John 17:5) But, who was this person who lived in heaven before everything was 310 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective created? The Companion John wrote of him: "In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God... Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made... He was in the world and though the world was made through him the world did not recognise him.... Yet to all who received him to them he gave the power to become the sons of God - children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husbands will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory." (Injil John 1:1, 3, 10-14) The Companion Peter in one of his first sermons after being filled with the Holy Spirit declared like the Companion John: "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:13-16) Of course, as with any other physical death, it was the physical body which was killed, not the one was in the body - in this case "the author of life" who had chosen to indwell it. [This last matter of God's choice to do such a thing needs comment, for it is this very choice of 'the God Who can do anything' that the followers of Islam actually deny. While they assert that they are willing to 'bend the knee in submission', when God says He wills to become incarnate they say "NO YOU CANNOT!".] Paul also wrote the same type of statement as those just noted from the Companions John and Peter: "Your attitude should be that of Jesus Christ: Who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even the death of the cross! Therefore God also exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. In heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:6-13) And elsewhere: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers of rulers of authorities; all things 311 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective were created by him and for him.... For God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 2:15-20)This issue can only be understood in one way. That is through the words of Jesus to the Jews as recorded by his Companions and Tabi'un. For example the Companion John recorded: "The Jews gathered around him saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one. Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you a mere man, claim to be God. ... Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But, if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the evidence of the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father." (Injil John 10:24-33) Long before the followers of Islam made the claim that Muhammad was 'created from the Nuhr [light] of God', Jesus made a claim far superior!! He claimed an indissoluble UNITY with the Father; that through Him and for Him (Jesus) everything had been created; that as such He was God with the Father. It is not any wonder that the Companion known as 'doubting Thomas' when he saw Jesus after he rose from the dead declared: "My Lord and my God." (Injil John 20:31)!? These men did not record such things because they had become polluted, but because they lived and experienced it with Jesus! The followers of Islam who have seen the evidence in this book know they have no reason to adhere to the beliefs as set forth in Islam any longer. If they would please the true God they must lay aside their preconceived notions before they meet the One who also said: "Moreover, the Father judges no one but has entrusted all judgement to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who 312 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective does not honour the Son does not honour the Father." (Injil John 5:22-23) The need to give worship to this One [i.e. "be the first to worship"] is obvious. It means one must deny the teachings of Muhammad concerning both who Jesus is, as well as concerning his perspective on the 'solitary unity' in the Deity. [See Appendix C for some discussion on the Unity of the Godhead.] APPENDIX C - SEE END OF CHAPTER
The Companion Peter Preached When 'Filled With The Holy Spirit' The record of the Tabi'un Luke of what happened in the first days after the Holy Spirit indeed came upon and filled the Companions of Jesus shows clearly his open declaration of everything true Christians believe in and preach today: "One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer - at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them, "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come 313 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen will be completely cut off from among his people.' "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from his wicked ways." ... The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ... They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and everyone else in Israel: it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you completely healed. He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."" (Acts 3:1 - 4:12; emphasis added) For those in Islam this portion of Acts contains every testimony of the Companions they need to hear. Jesus was the "author of life" come in flesh whom the prophets had spoken of, and whom the Jews handed over to be crucified; but he was raised from the dead; he is the "prophet like me" whom Moses wrote about; there is Salvation in no other name but in the name of Jesus Christ. One wonders, then, why men like M. Ali, a man who knows a great deal of the content of the Bible, could state the beliefs of Jesus' Companions concerning the text of the Torah concerning "a prophet like me" (Deut. 18:15-18) as: "The verification referred to here is clearly the fulfilment of the promise contained in Deut 18:15-18: "The Lord thy God will raise up a prophet like unto thee, of thy brethren, like unto me..." ... Even Jesus Christ never said that he came in fulfilment of that prophecy and his apostles truly felt that that prophecy would be fulfilled in the second coming of Christ." The truth is very different from this and only the pre-existent One Who came down from heaven could fulfil it! 314 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective Only The True Message Can Bring Peace And Assurance Of Salvation It is only in becoming obedient (in submission) to this Way that one can have ASSURANCE that one will be Saved from the Day of Judgement. For the Injil is the only Message which will cause one to be forgiven and come into a relationship with the True God. Only God's way can 'work', because only in it is He at work to "Save", to reconcile His lost creation to Himself. Nothing less will 'open Heaven' to us. Nothing less can give confidence for the present and future because in obedience to no other Message will God look with favour on people and give them peace with Himself. As the Followers of Jesus declared: "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For, if the message spoken by angels [i.e. under Moses] was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord [i.e. Jesus], was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." (Hebrews 2:1-4; emphasis added) Here we find testimony that Jesus himself announced that Salvation would be through himself. Others merely passed along his declaration. God's New Covenant included that the Paraclete, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy The Assurance that this Salvation is a reality is thus certified by believers receiving the indwelling presence of the "Paraclete", the "Comforter". This 'indwelling' is what Jesus said of the Comforter, "for he lives with you and will be in you". It is His Presence which proves one is safe from Judgement. The spiritual gifts given to the Believers by the Holy Spirit and the miracles experienced by some are also the testimony of God to the truth of the Gospel. But Isn't This An 'Easy Salvation'? Just 'Believe' And Sin All You Want? Some followers of Islam say this is an 'easy' Salvation. They say it's 315 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective just "believe and sin as much as you like"! But such people are either simply bent on misleading others, or they have never read the Scripture of the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus. They tell a different story. The Companion John wrote: "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin" (1 John 5:18) [the verb form carries the meaning 'does not continue to deliberately sin'] In agreement with this, the Epistle to the Hebrews declares: "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement which will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:26-31) Also in agreement, the Companion Jude, a brother of Jesus, wrote: "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt; but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home - these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgement on the great Day." (Jude 3-6) Does this sound like an 'easy salvation', 'sin as you like' type of Message? Far from it! And the rest of the Scripture is of the same mind. We notice also, there is no record that anyone will be 'prayed out of Hell' once they are there! Hell is something deliberately eternal. However, the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus acknowledge that God's Mercy is continuously given to those who believe as they seek to walk upright yet stumble in their way. God is merciful and does forgive such people when there is sincere repentance and turning. He does not tolerate rebellion. God knows the heart. No-one can deliberately sin and get away with it. HE KNOWS IT ALL!! 316 |
|
Part 7: The True Perspective Are You 'Submitted' (i.e. - a true 'muslim')? Jesus said: "No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets, 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." (Injil John 6:44, 45) If you have comprehended with your heart this Message, then God has taught you and is calling you to learn from Him and submit to Jesus. If you believe God's Message of Salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus, that it is the only Way, then accept God's Way and follow the example of the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus. Turn to the true God with all your heart. Tell Him you accept His wonderful love for you as shown in Jesus' death for your Salvation, that you trust in this sacrifice as the only way you could be purchased from your sins and go to Heaven. Turn from all known sin, including your involvement in Islam. Confess that Jesus is the Lord. Ask the Believers to baptise ( immerse you) in water calling on Jesus' name. Pray together with them calling upon the Lord to fulfil His promise to make your body a temple for His Holy Spirit, so that you may know the spiritual power and authority of his kingdom. Today many still experience the same things as were known by the Companions and Tabi'un of Jesus, and they gather and rejoice together in this wonderful Salvation which has been provided for them. Find this type of fellowship and join with them as they gather and worship the Lord. Seek their counsel concerning the Scriptures. There is no way out of Hell once Judgement has placed you there. Don't reject the opportunity to enter into God's Salvation, though it means that family and friends turn against you. Jesus warned such things would happen and that the each one must be faithful even to death in order to gain Heaven. He said if you deny him he will deny you before his Father in Heaven. It defies the powers of darkness aligned under Satan to make such a stand. But, it responds to the Love and Mercy which God has shown towards you, and He is far greater than Satan and alone can forgive you and thus remove His wrath from you on that Day. Draw near to the True God by making your 'Deputation' to Jesus before it is too late! As Da'ud (David) in his Zabur (Psalms) wrote: "Kiss the Son lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way." (Psalm 2:12)
Footnotes 1/ The truth is that the apostle Paul recorded that what actually happened was that he went u p to Jerusalem and had the Gospel he preached examined by the Apostles who had been with Jesus (2 Cor. 4:5). To accuse these righteous men of corrupting the religion is a gross sin against the True God and His Prophet. 2/ The Lord's plan for the Temple built under Sulaiman included that a veil/curtain should separate the innermost room (the Holy of Holies) where the Ark of the Covenant of Moses was to rest and where God had said he would cause His Presence to dwell, from the next room in the Temple, the Holy Place. Only once a year on the Day of Atonement did a priest enter behind the veil with the blood of the Atoning Sacrifice to sprinkle it over the Ark's Mercy Seat. For God to tear this veil/curtain meant that He had made the Way into His Presence open for ALL.
317 |
