1.2.3.20 But he must be God,
or else we can not be saved
But the Church will tell us that it is necessary for
Jesus (pbuh) to be the son of God and to die on the cross as
an ultimate sacrifice in atonement for the original sin,
otherwise they are all destined for hell. As Paul taught
them "without shedding of blood is no remission."
Hebrews 9:22. Let us study Paul's claim:
If the sin of one man can make all mankind sinners as
claimed in Romans 5:12, then:
1) This requires that all babies are sinners from birth
and are only saved if they later "accept the sacrifice of
their Lord and are baptized." All others remain stained
with the original sin and destined for destruction. Till
recently, unbaptized infants were not buried in consecrated
ground because they were believed to have died in original
sin. Saint Augustine himself is quoted as saying:
"No one is clean, not even if his life be only for a
day"
A dictionary of Biblical tradition in English literature,
p.577).
This, however, contradicts the words of Jesus himself
"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid
them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of
heaven."
Matthew 19:14 (also Mark 10:14, and Luke 18:16).
So Jesus (pbuh) himself is telling us that children are
born without sin and are destined for heaven without
qualification. In other words, no one is born stained with
an original sin. Once again, the teachings of Islam. Islam
teaches that you are destined for salvation from your very
birth. This will be your reward unless you refuse this gift
and insist on disobeying God.
2) All the many millennia of previous prophets (Moses,
Abraham, Jacob, Noah, ...etc.) and their people are all
condemned to never receive true salvation simply because
Jesus, the alleged "Son of God," arrived to late to save
them. In other words, they have sin forced upon them (by
Adam, 1 Corinthians 15:22) and the chance for redemption
withheld from them (By Jesus' late arrival after their
death, Galatians 2:16). Paul says
"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even
over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's
transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
Romans 5:14
"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath
reason to boast; but not before God."
Romans 4:2
If Jesus had only arrived as soon as Adam committed his
sin and not thousands of generations later then maybe all of
these generations could have received true salvation (like
this generation).
Did Abraham or any of the other prophets ever preach the
"crucifixion"? Did they preach the "Trinity"? I am asking
for clear and decisive words and not personal forced
interpretations of their words or "hidden meanings" for
their words. If you are not sure then why not ask the Jews
who we are told faultlessly transmitted two thirds of the
Bible to us? Have any of them ever worshipped a
Trinity? Many people do not bother to think about this. As
long as they are going to heaven, what does it matter what
happens to others?
3) What right did the prophets of God have to deceive
their people and tell them that they would receive eternal
salvation and expiation from their sins if they but kept the
commandments? What right did they have to teach them all of
these commandments and the observance of the Sabbath and
other hardships if all of their works were worthless and
belief in Jesus' sacrifice which would not occur till many
thousands of years after their death was the only way to
salvation, or as Paul put it :
"a man is not justified by the works of the law ...
for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.."
Galatians 2:16.
4) Explain Ezekiel 18:19-20 "Yet do you say: Why
shouldn't the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the
son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept
all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear
the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear
the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous
shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be
upon him.." This verse was revealed long before the
birth of Paul and his claims of "original sin" and
"redemption." It clearly states that all
mankind are not held accountable by God
Almighty for the sin of Adam.
"The fathers shall not be put to death for the
children, neither shall the children be put to death for the
fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own
sin.."
Deuteronomy 24:16
"In those days they shall say no more, The fathers
have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on
edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every
man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on
edge."
Jeremiah 31:29-30
"The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, What
mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of
Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the
children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord
GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb
in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the
father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that
sinneth, it shall die. But if a man be just, and do that
which is lawful and right, And hath not eaten upon the
mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of
the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor's
wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath
not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his
pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread
to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He
that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any
increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath
executed true judgment between man and man, Hath walked in
my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he
is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God"
Ezekiel 18:1-9
"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity,
and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his
heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he
delighteth in mercy."
Micah 7:18:
"So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye
[are]: for blood it defileth the land: and the land
cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by
the blood of him that shed it."
Numbers 35:33
5) Isaiah 43:11 "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me
there is no savior." How is Jesus the savior if God
Himself denies this? Remember, we have already
discarded the doctrine of "Trinity."
"I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there
is none like me,"
Isaiah 46:9
"the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him,"
Deuteronomy 4:35
"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god
with me,"
Deuteronomy 32:39
"That all the people of the earth may know that the
LORD is God, and that there is none else,"
1 Kings 8:60
"Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I
know not any,"
Isaiah 44:8
"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no
God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known
me,"
Isaiah 45:5
"and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a
Savior there is none beside me,"
Isaiah 45:21
"I am God, and there is none else."
Isaiah 45:22:
6) "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love
me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with
him." John 14:23. "If ye keep my commandments,
ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's
commandments, and abide in his love." John 15:10.
So what were Jesus' words to us?:
"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master,
what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is
none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him,
Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not
commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear
false witness. Honor thy father and [thy] mother:
and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself The young man
saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth
up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be
perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:
and come [and] follow me."
Matthew 19:16-21.
Jesus (pbuh) refutes that he is even "good." This is a
characteristic of a MAN. When you compliment a man,
and this man is humble, he will say: "why are you
complimenting me? I am not so good, I am just a humble
man." This is how good and decent men speak. It is how
they display humility before God. However, if Jesus (pbuh)
is God then he must claim to be good. This is because
God is the source of ultimate good. If God claims not
to be good then he will be a hypocrite and a liar which is
impossible.
Jesus then goes on to completely bypass any mention of an
original sin or an atonement. He does not tell
this man that "a man is not justified by the works of the
law ... for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.." Rather, he tells him that the keeping of
the commandments and the selling of one's belongings is the
path to perfection. No mention of an original
sin. No mention of an atonement. No mention of a
crucifixion. No mention of faith without work. As we have
seen in sections 1.2.5 through 1.2.7 (and we shall see much
more of this in later sections), all of these beliefs were
the beliefs of Paul and not Jesus.
Paul, a disciple of Jesus' disciple Barnabas, is quoted
to have said that the law of Moses is worthless. Belief in
the crucifixion is the only requirement
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of
the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the
faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified"
Galatians 2:16
Also: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified
by faith without the deeds of the law."
Romans 3:28
And: "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made
the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is
ready to vanish away"
Hebrews 8:13.
And: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Mark 16:16
Please compare the above with
"The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting
the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure,
making wise the simple."
Psalm 19:7
Jesus (pbuh), however, tells us that
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from
the law, till all be fulfilled, Fulfillment of Law of
Moses. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these
least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall
be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but
whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called
great in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:18-19.
Even James emphasizes that:
"What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a
man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save
him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily
food And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be
[ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them
not those things which are needful to the body; what
[doth it] profit? Even so faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone Yea, a man may say, Thou hast
faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy
works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man,
that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon
the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and
by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was
fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was
imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not
Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received
the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
works is dead also."
James 2:14-20
It comes down to this: Who's words carry more weight with
us, Jesus or Paul? Jesus and James both say "have faith in
God and obey the commandments and you shall be saved." Paul
on the other hand says "Forget the commandments, just have
faith in the death of Jesus!" So who do we trust, Jesus or
Paul?
When God Almighty sent down the Noble Qur'an in order to
"bear witness" over the previous scriptures and to
"rectify" the changes which have crept into them over
the ages, He also provided us with the path to salvation.
Strangely enough, in the Qur'an we find a confirmation of
the message of both Jesus and James:
"And whosoever does of the righteous good deeds, be
they male or female, and has faith, such will enter Paradise
and shall not be wronged even so much as a 'Naqeer'(the
speck on the back of a date stone)"
The noble Qur'an, Al-Nissa(4):124
"And whosoever works deed of righteousness and has
faith, then he shall fear no injustice nor any curtailment
[of his reward]."
The noble Qur'an, Ta'ha(20):112
"Verily, those who believed and did righteous deeds,
they are the best of creatures"
The noble Qur'an, Al-Bayyinah(98):7
"[God swears] by all time!. Verily, humanity
is in loss. Except such as had faith, and did righteous
deeds, and encouraged one-another in truth, and encouraged
one-another in patience."
The noble Qur'an, Al-Asr(103):1-3
Jesus (pbuh) himself never said "Believe in my
sacrifice on the cross and you will be saved." He didn't
tell this young man "You are filthy wicked and sinful and
can never enter heaven except through my redeeming blood and
your belief in my sacrifice." He simply said
repeatedly "keep the commandments" and nothing more.
If Jesus (pbuh) was being prepared and conditioned for this
sacrifice from the beginning of time, then why did he not
mention it to this man? Even when this man pressed him for
more, Jesus only told him that to be "PERFECT" he
only needs to sell his belongings. He made no mention
whatsoever of his crucifixion, an original sin, or a
redemption. Would this not be quite sadistic of Jesus (pbuh)
if Paul's claims are true "for by the works of the law
shall no flesh be justified"? We do not know when
or how this young man later died. However, supposing he died
the very next day, right after receiving this command
directly from the mouth of Jesus, would he then be destined
for Hell since he never believed in a Trinity, an original
sin, a crucifixion or an atonement even though he was
following the command of Jesus to the letter?
If Jesus' (pbuh) whole mission in life was to die on the
cross in atonement for the "sin of Adam," and if this was
the founding reason why he was sent, would we not be
justified in expecting him to spend night and day drumming
this into the minds of his followers? Should we not expect
him to speak of nothing else? Should we not expect him to
spend night and day preaching that the commandments shall
soon be thrown out the window (Galatians 3:13) and faith in
his upcoming crucifixion shall be the only thing required of
them? (Romans 3:28). Should we not expect Jesus (pbuh) to
echo the teachings of Paul who never in his life met Jesus
but claims Jesus (pbuh) was preaching these things to him in
"visions"? Should we not expect Jesus (pbuh) to tell
everyone he meets "The commandments are worthless. I shall
be dying on the cross soon. Believe in my sacrifice and you
shall be saved"? Is this not dictated by plain simple logic?
Can we find such an explicit statement from
Jesus anywhere in the whole
Bible?
7) We read in the Bible that Jesus (pbuh) taught his
followers to pray to God as follows:
"..And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors."
Matthew 6:12.
Also: "And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive
every one that is indebted to us."
Luke 11:4.
Jesus is asking us to pray to God that He forgive our
sins. But how does he want God to forgive our
sins? By a blood sacrifices of a sinless god? No!. That is
not what he said. Rather, he taught us to ask God to forgive
us "as we forgive those who are indebted to us." Therefore
one must ask, if someone owes us money and we want to
forgive them, what do we do?:
- Do we say "I forgive you your debt ... now pay
up!"?
- Do we say "I forgive you your debt ... now I shall
kill your neighbor"
- Or do we say "I forgive you," and forget the
matter?
Therefore, did Jesus teach us to pray to God that He
should:
- Say "All of mankind is forgiven ... now pay an
ultimate price"?
- Or, to say "All of mankind is forgiven ... now I need
to kill someone who is sinless"?
- Or, to say "All of mankind is forgiven" and that is
it !?
In the Qur'an we are told that Adam (pbuh) did indeed
repent
"And Adam received from his Lord words (teaching him
how to repent) and He relented toward him. Lo! He is the
Relenting the Merciful"
The noble Qur'an, Al-Bakarah(2):37
So Adam (pbuh) received a revelation from God showing him
how to repent and he did so. God Almighty did not mandate a
gruesome and torturous death for "His only begotten son" or
anything else. He simply accepted Adam's repentance and
relented. This is true mercy.
Tom Harpur, a former professor of New Testament, author
of "For Christ's Sake," and an Anglican Minister writes;
"Perhaps I am lacking in piety or some basic instinct,
but I know I am not alone in finding the idea of Jesus'
death as atonement for the sins of all humanity on one level
bewildering and on the other morally repugnant. Jesus never
to my knowledge said anything to indicate that forgiveness
from God could only be granted 'after' or 'because of' the
Cross."
For Christ's Sake, p.75
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