Apologetics
About a thousand years before Jesus was born King David, through the Spirit of God, had a glimpse of a conversation in the unseen heavenly realm. It was between God and a personage whom David referred to as his superior and lord. d d Psalm1101. In the conversation God made a covenant that Christ, seated at His right hand, would be made an everlasting priest.
When Jesus came to earth a thousand years after, he pointed to the same prophetic writing of king David as one of the prophecies about him, the Christ e e (Mark 1236-37). Overtly the prophecy came to fulfillment at the ascension of Jesus when he was to present his blood that was shed at crucifixion for every transgressors that believes before the Father. He assumed his divine role as the chosen eternal high priest. And that marked the beginning of what is generally called new covenant, which God promised in the prophecies of Jeremiah of the Old Testament writings. The book of Hebrews chapter seven to chapter ten details this.
It isn’t any wonder that Jesus firmly stated: ‘no man can come to the Father except through me’ f f John 14:6. The raison d'être is somewhat uncomplicated. Before any man can approach God to settle the issue of his iniquity he must present a lamb without flaw. And a serving high priest must offer it, with blood outpoured. It is so comprehensible that we cannot sidestep the high priest of the new treaty - Jesus the Christ. We can’t protest this. God had sworn not to change his mind concerning this. Christ has been ordained as a priest by God till the end of age for all who seek expiation and forgiveness of sin. Before we choose to ignore the gospel this truth must be clear to us:
*No blood, no atonement for the soul. * No God chosen priest, no acceptable atonement.
*No atonement, no forgiveness of sin. Thus no heaven or paradise for a guilty soul that is unwashed in the blood of the lamb – the Lamb of God.
This is my unprejudiced, logical and truthful conclusion. This invalidates what I had once believed that Jesus was not crucified. I do not only now know that he was truly crucified, I understand fully why God wanted him go through the pains – all for me, all for you, all for all, only if all believe. And that is all.
I read in the Bible about a man whose life typified that of a true Moslem. Cornelius lived in the bible days; and by all standards his life and conduct made him a good Moslem. He was referred to as a devout that prayed (observed his solat) habitually; gave (zakat) money bigheartedly to the people and feared God (Allah) to the highest degree. God could not resist the piety of this non-Jewish worshipper. At this time Cornelius wasn’t one of those that believed in Jesus just like us. Nobody had been to his house to preach Jesus as the only God-ordained priest of the new dispensation through whom everyone can receive cleansing from all sins. He was simply devoted to God; and the Heaven acknowledged his religion and good works. And because God was pleased with him He had to send one of His winged sentries to Cornelius in a vision. God saw the need to point the man to the most needed truth, which would prepare him for his expected ecstasy.
The angel could not preach the gospel. Angels are not sent or allowed to, possibly. And Cornelius was asked to “send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter…”
The intention of sending for peter was for Cornelius to hear the gospel and believe. And that happened in the eventual. Cornelius obeyed God, believed the gospel and was converted to the saving faith in Christ. G G See acts 101-48. ‘God shows no partiality’, Peter said, ‘but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him’. That same love is extended to us. We love God and are devoted to serve him. But God is telling us that if good works and religion were enough for us to make heaven, He would not have bothered Cornelius to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And if Cornelius had refused Him, he would have sent himself to eternal condemnation. Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. – h hEccl.7 20. Not even the man Cornelius. In fact the Law of Moses requires that almost everything be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”- I I Hebrews 922
God set the standard, which He bent not for Cornelius. He loved us too, and He wouldn’t bend it for us Moslems, either. Jesus said to the first set of Christians,
‘Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believed and is baptized shall be saved; and he who does not believe shall be condemned…”- j j Mark 16 15
Our lives as Moslems appear to have a parallel in the Biblical account of events at the tower of Babel. Having good works and self-righteousness as bricks and one common language of worship, we use pillars of religion to build a tower that wouldn’t reach the heaven. But there is a name, one mighty tower under heaven and no other one wherein we can run to and be safe. Salvation is not of works but through grace. Our good works are a similitude of a passport. Authorized official or high commissioner of a state must visa it before any legal entry into such desired country is allowed. Heaven is such a great homeland where God presides. We all desire to have our eternal abode in this inimitable empire. But one thing is required: The high priest must sign our good works and with his blood. A gladdening news is that, ‘he that comes to me I shall in no wise cast away’- Jesus. That is an unfailing guarantee from the ambassador of the best monarchy the world is yet to know. ‘A city whose streets are made of pure gold, clear as crystal…but nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.’ K kRead Rev. 21.
The promise of Jesus was and is that everyone who believes shall be saved. That is, every one who comes to him for entry permit to heaven shall have their names registered in his book – the Lamb’s book of life.
For those of us with Islamic background and all Moslem faithfuls, if we have accepted this truth about the man Jesus and the gospel, this question will be in our hearts:
WHO THEN COULD HAVE SENT OUR PROPHET MOHAMMED?
Answers to this question and more are provided in my e-book, available on this site-faithwriters. To be downloaded for private use only. Unauthorised mass production or for commercial purpose is prohibited without prior written consent of copyright owner.
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When checking your e-book, I found that it ended in the same place as these articles. All in all, these essays were well written, flowing, and historically accurate. There were a few parts that I found confusing. Other than that, good job and God bless!