What was the Gospel of Jesus Christ ?

[shabeer_hassan]

Jesus Christ is that great son of man who was appointed to return the lost children of Israel to the House of the Lord. The Saviour of Israel who was born in Bethlehem twenty centuries ago lived casting out radiance upon his people. As one engaged in a battle against the institution of a decadent priesthood as well as the traditional belief systems, he had to confront much opposition. Indeed, the high priests had even decided upon the crucifixion of the great man on the cross. He had shown miracles to prove that he was sent by God Himself.

What was this 'Gospel' which he had preached at the cost of sacrifices and by way of his showing miracles?

He had spoken of the Day of Judgment. Christ was that great lover of humanity who had realized the fact that mere legislations and governments alone can never make a man good. He taught that the ultimate objective of human life was entry into Paradise and escape from Hellfire. He proclaimed the eternal life of the Kingdom of Heaven to be much higher than the transitory goods and comforts of this life. He had enlightened the people on this matter with the aid of some of the most beautiful and lofty examples that could be conceived.   "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Mathew 6:19-21)

Christ who strictly taught that it is better to cut off here, and now, the parts of the body that are the cause of sin than to subject one's whole body to the fire of Hell, essentially teaches that it is better to save oneself from Hell in the hereafter even if it were to entail the loss of one's own life in this world. He said : "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' Everyone will be salted with fire. "(Mark 9:43-49)

Christ taught that to enter into Paradise and escape from Hell one would have to act righteously. In particular, he had stressed that such righteousness must not be founded on the desire for worldly recognition. Look at the advice of Jesus: "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Mathew 6:1)

"... so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Mathew 6:4)

The Messiah, who taught that even the enemy was to be loved, actually instructed the Israelites, who had lived a life in mutual animosity and conflict, in the message of love and in the way in which that message was to be the cause of moral transformation. He had advised thus, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." (Mathew 5:44,45)

Christ had sought to alienate the people of Israel, who were given to conflicts and quarrels, to murders and to anger against their own brother and to abusing him, from all these misconducts by teaching that all of these were acts that could potentially lead to Hell. "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Mathew 5:21,22)

Christ strongly opposed adultery. Indeed, he taught that to even cast a glance upon a woman, with the intention of desire, was tantamount to having sinned. "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mathew 5:27,28) Here, all circumstances that may lead to adultery have come in for criticism. The fundamental reason for the decadence within the modern world wherein feminine charms have been made the objects of display is highlighted in these words of Christ made two millenniums ago.

Christ taught the masses that they were to live in accordance with the directives issued by the Lord Creator and Sustainer. He advised his followers that they were to come closer unto Him through prayer and meditation. But he had stressed that such acts should not be undertaken as a hypocritical gesture that is to be displayed in front of the people. He said that as it is the Lord Himself, who is best aware of all secrets, who confers rewards, it is meaningless to perform deeds in order that they be seen by the people.

However, Christ had taught that the belief in one God was the highest of all commandments. Observe the reply he had given to the question as to which commandment was the greatest of all. "'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is this: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'" (Mark 12:29,30)

Look at the prayer which Christ taught, "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Mathew 6:10-13)

Christ had taught that all prayer must be made to the Lord God alone. While teaching the maxim, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Mathew 7:7) he had taught that the Father in Heaven would respond in even more generous terms to those who ask of Him. (Mathew 7:11). Indeed, in the most critical junctures in the life of that great lover of humanity, we have seen that he had always resorted only to the calling upon the one Creator alone. Observe, for instance, the occasion when he had called upon the one and only God to save him from the cross prepared by the wicked high priests of the land: "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'" (Mathew 26:39)

But what is it that the Christians of today do? The majority of them are those who are involved in the act of be- seeching their saints and idols apart from the one God who created and sustains the entire universe. However, we do not see, even a single instance, wherein Christ ever called upon or consider a mediator, any of the other saintly personalities who preceded him. It is, therefore, not possible for any genuine follower of Christ, pledged as he is to the life in accordance with the life of Christ, to call upon any other than the one and only God.

How deplorable is the fact that those who actually call themselves true Christians are, in fact, themselves engaged in the worship of Christ and, therefore, in the act that is contrary to his own advises! If only those who call upon and make prayer to Lord Jesus had at least listened to the advice of that great man. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Mathew 7:21) Through these words Christ had sought to strongly criticize the act of calling him 'Lord' and to advice the people to do the will of the Father.

We have understood that Christ had preached the unadulterated faith in the one God. Indeed, all prophets right from Noah to John the Baptist had preached the same message of 'Our Lord is one Lord.' Jesus had only repeated that message. However, the church today holds as good a doctrine that was unheard of by Christ or any of his followers for that matter. That doctrine is the doctrine of Trinity.

Even if all the books of the Bible ranging from Genesis to Revelation, which stretched through the Old and New Testaments, are sifted, cross examined and studied, nowhere will there be found even a single statement to support the idea that the God Lord comprises of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. The 'Father' who is introduced in the Bible is actually the one and only, Merciful God who created and sustains this universe. The 'Holy Ghost' is but one among the creations which work in accordance with the Divine commandments. The 'Son' is but a great messenger who had come to guide the Israelites along the path of righteousness. These three are not the same; they are three distinct individualities.

What, indeed, was that emotion which had then prompted the Church to accept the doctrine of Trinity which, unlike the faith in the one God taught by all messengers appointed in the world which could easily be comprehended by the mind of man, was difficult to comprehend and was never in the original teachings of the prophets themselves?

It was four centuries after Christ that the Doctrine of Trinity was accepted as the canonical belief of the Church at the Synod of Constantinople. Up until that time the doctrine was unknown to the apostles, who were still alive, as well as to their followers. If by not accepting the doctrine of Trinity one forfeits the reward of eternal life, it will be Christ himself who will, first of all, be hurled into the fire of Hell.

It can be seen that this belief has been borrowed from the other existing perverted beliefs of the day. Indeed, the idea of three gods as well as of their union was an idea that was in vogue even before the time of Christ. Historical excavations have now made it clear that the Babylonian civilization which existed two thousand years before Christ nurtured a belief in the oneness of the three gods Ishamther, Shin and Shamesh. The Egyption civilization which existed about the same time, too, held the belief in the oneness of the three gods Horus, Osiris and Isis. According to the Palyrian beliefs that were extant in the first century after Christ, the Universe was held in balance by the union of the persons of the Moon-god, Sun-god and the god of the heavens. The Hindu belief was that the one God, Parabrahmma, resided in the three manifestations of Bhrahmav, Shiva and Vishnu. The Buddhists, too, held a belief in the three manifestations of the Divine: Vajjupani, Manjushri and Aralokitheshwaran. The Mithraists of Persia were a people who worshipped the three gods Oramasdas, Mithran and Ahirman.

The Emperor Constantine too was a religionist of such a perverted mentality. He was, in fact, one of the most cruel emperors the world had ever seen in that he had mercilessly butchered his own father-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew, wife and son. It is held that he had embraced Christianity in order that he be freed of the sins he had committed. Even so, Constantine, who readily and eagerly believed the Christian belief that all sins of the past would be forgiven once the baptism commenced, was himself baptised only on his deathbed. This implied that he had no opportunity, whatsoever, to sin again after his baptism. (Ref. T.W. Doane: The Bible Myths: Should we believe in Trinity ?, Watch tower Bible Society)

It was this Emperor Constantine who had presided over the Nicene Council in the year 325 C.E. It must thus be remembered that even while he presided over the council he had undergone no baptism himself. It was this very council that laid the basis for the acceptance of the belief that 'Christ and God are one and the same' which ultimately led the church towards the recognition of the doctrine of trinity itself. It is, therefore, not difficult to see that it was nothing but the ploy of Constantine to consolidate his own political power through the conjoining of the religion of the worship of the sun, which was prevalent in Rome, with Christianity, which had worked behind the origin of this deviation from established norms.

It was not just the recognition of the doctrine of Trinity, which had taken place at the council at Constantinople. It was at this council that the cross of light, the symbol of the Sun god, which resembled the cross on which Christ was crucified, was accepted as the symbol of Christianity itself. It was again at this very council that it was decided that December 25th, the birthday of the Sun god, would be celebrated as Christmas day and that Sunday, which was the holy day for the Sun god, would be observed as the day of the Sabbath. It was only through the exile and murder of the great,scholarly critics of the Nicene Council which approved the intermingling of these false and perverted ideas of other groups with the pristine teachings of Christ, the messenger of God, that the Church came to accept these grave distortions as canonical.

We have understood that Christ had never taught the concept of Trinity. All that he did say was that it is only the One God who is to be worshipped. He had worked many a miracle But he never claimed that he had done these to prove that he was God or that he was one in a triple God-head. He had said, "I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father had taught me." (John 8:28)

Jesus was, indeed, a great man. A man who had endured great sacrifices for the sake of the Israelites. For that reason itself he was, doubtless, great. But the Almighty who had appointed him is much greater still. This has been stated by Christ himself: "..the Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) Here, Christ has struck at the very root of the Trinity doctrine which holds that the One God is essentially a combination of three equally powerful personalities: the father, the son and the holy ghost.

The most important gospel of Christ was this, " 'Worship the Lord, your God, and serve him only.'" (Mathew 4:10) Yes. It is only, the pure and holy Creator, the Sustainer of all life, who is to be worshipped. Krishna, Christ and the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) : all were creations; never the Creator. It is the Creator who is to be worshipped. The Almighty, All-Powerful Creator alone. This is the Gospel of Christ.

That which the Quran quotes from the words of Jesus is also the same message. "'It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'" (Quran 3:51)

Jesus had departed from this world conveying the news of the arrival of a great messenger from God who was to come after him. He said: "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Pericletus will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement....

"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:7-13)

The Pericletus prophesied by Jesus was born in Arabia. It was the prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who came confirming and attesting to the truth of the mission of Jesus, who taught the world concerning sin, truth, justice and law. Indeed, it was he who had guided the world unto all truth. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who had taught the etiquettes that were to be observed in all fields of life, was truly the follower of Christ as well as the last of the messengers. Islam is the religion that has been completed through him. He had exhorted the people to tread upon the path of Jesus and all the earlier prophets.

Accept, therefore, the prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the follower of Christ, as the messenger of God. Order life in accordance with the dictates of the Quran - the Divine book revealed to the world through him. That, and that alone, is the path to eternal salvation.

[TheEyeofGod]

[shabeer_hassan]

Has Christ ever claimed that he was one person amongst the triple God-head of the Trinity? Is there any evidence in the Bible to the effect that he did make such a claim? Let us examine the matter.

Father, Son and Holy sprit

The following verses from the Gospel according to Matthew have been produced as evidence in support of the Trinity: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19,20)

These verses are, however, not the proofs for Trinity. Indeed, these verses are better suited as criticism against the Trinity. The only thing that is evident from these verses is that there are three entities namely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. However, it is not given to understand here that these three are one. If these three were indeed the three personages of the One God then it should have been made clear in the verses themselves or Christ should have declared it himself. Why did Christ, who taught concerning the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, not say himself that these three were the personages of the One God? Is it that Christ had covered up the 'fact' that these three were one from the masses? No. That can never be. The Messiah, who had come as the very messenger of truth would never have covered up anything which he himself knew and which would have served as the means of salvation for his people. He, who had shown the truth and the way, had never abstained from conveying to the masses any belief that would have provided life eternal itself. Yet he had never given out - not even once - the slightest hint of the doctrine of Trinity. It is evident from this itself that the idea of the Trinity does not fall into that group of fundamental beliefs which would serve to provide for eternal life.

'I and the Father are One'

Some have asked the question as to whether Christ had not himself said that "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30) and whether this does not then imply that he and God were, indeed, two parts of the same and single entity. Let us examine this verse in all its completeness. "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." (John 10:27-30)

There is not even a single indication anywhere in these verses which serve to convincingly present the claim that both Jesus and the Father belong to the triple parts of the same Divine essence. If that is so, then why has it been said here that "I and the Father are one" ?

Observe another of the statements from the Gospel of John: "... that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent me. I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and You in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me and: have loved them even as You have loved me." (John 17:21-23)

In these verses it has been said that not only is God one in Christ alone, but the followers too constitute this oneness with God. If it is claimed that Christ is one in a triple God-head based on the aforementioned statement, "I and the Father are one", it must then be conceded, again on the basis of the above mentioned statement, that the followers of Christ, too, will find an existence within the Divine essence. It is then not the oneness in essence which is mentioned in these verses, but the oneness in ideal and belief. Here, it is the Greek word hen which has been translated as 'one'. This word is never the oneness in essence; it is the oneness in the attitude of co-operation that is implied here.

The saying of Christ that "I and the Father are one" is merely similar in intent to the saying used in the Malayalam language to the effect that "We both are bound to each other (in purpose)." Both Christ and the Father, who are involved in conveying the Divine message are, indeed, one. The followers of Christ, who accept it and attain to life eternal are also members in that communion. It is the communion of the Father, the prophet and of the apostles.

'He who has seen me has seen the father'

Some have asked based on the saying of Jesus, "he who has seen me has seen whether he could not, indeed, be God. Can man ever see God? The fact is that this can never be. Both the Old and the New Testaments have thrown light on this reality. Look at what the book of Exodus quotes Jehovah as having told Moses: "But , he said, 'you cannot see My Face, for no-one may see Me and live.'" (Exodus 33:20) If Christ was, indeed, God, then it would not have been possible for the masses to have seen him. As for Christ, he had lived as one seen by the people and as one seeing them in turn.

What then is the implication of the statement that "he who has seen me has seen father"? Examine this statement in full. "Philip said, 'Lord show us the Father and that will be enough for us.'

Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? " (John 14:8,9). Here Christ has made it clear that none can at any time ever see God and that it is through Jesus that one must come to know God Himself.

Look at what John himself has to say, "No-one has ever seen God, but God, through His only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." (John 1:18). Look at this verse in particular. The phrase used has been that 'No one has ever seen God.' There is no two opinion concerning the fact that this was written after Christ. This has been stated by John who only knew that the people had seen Christ. This means that John had never believed that Jesus Christ was God. Indeed, in the usage of 'God' Christ was never included. Of that we may be certain. It is, therefore, clear that John was a person who knew nothing of the God of the Trinity.

Divine truth was made manifest through Jesus. For he is the messenger of God. Indeed it is simply because of that anyone who knew Jesus came to know of God as well. This means that the son has made him (God) manifest. (John 1:18). This is the essence of the saying of Christ that ' he who has seen me has seen the father. Even when Christ said that "the words that ye hear are not mine, but of the Father who hath sent me" (John 14:24), it was the same message that is being conveyed.

Son of God

Another of the claims has been that as Christ has declared himself to be the son of God and that as his followers never discouraged the practice of calling him as such, it must follow that he did, indeed, possess such divinity. Whenever the Bible does make use of the term 'Son of God' it is necessary, firstly, to examine the meaning that has been intended there. The only Biblical meaning that can be conferred upon the term 'Son of God' is a man, particularly appointed by God Himself. Paul had written that "As many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:14)

The term 'Son of God' has been, therefore, reserved only for the elect of God. This has been the usage both in the Old and the New Testaments. Christ himself has made this clear. "If he called them 'gods' to whom the word of God came - and the Scripture cannot be broken - what about the one whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?" (John 10:35,36). This would then mean that even as the God of the Israelites had referred to those to whom the Book was revealed as being gods, so was Christ, the messenger, who was sent into the world for the purpose of the guidance called the 'Son of God'.

It can be seen that the term 'Son of God' has been employed as a way of addressing right from the Old Testament itself. In fact, Jacob, Solomon, Ephraim and David: all are the sons of God in the language of the Old Testament.

"Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, ..." (Exodus 4:22)

"I will be his father, and he shall be My son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men." (Samuel 7:14)

"They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son." (Jeremiah 31:9)

"I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, 'You are My son; today I have become your Father.'" (Psalm 2:7)

If it is contended that Christ is one in the three personages of the Divine Trinity for the reason that he has been addressed as the son of God, then it must also be conceded that all the prophets in the Old Testament, who were referred to as the sons of God, must all be the personages of the Divine essence as well. But that is not all. The New Testament refers to all those who believe in Christ as the sons of God. Writes John, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). If Christ is, indeed, one person in the essence of the God of the Trinity because he is the Son of God, then it must follow that the apostles, too, who were conferred the right to be the sons of God, must find their membership in the same essence as well.

Matthew has made it clear as to who it is that are entitled to be known as the sons of God. "Blessed are the peace-makers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9). However, none among the peace-makers have raised the claim of being a part of the Divine Essence.

The Miraculous Birth

We have understood that Christ had never claimed to be God or that he was one personage in the God of the Trinity or even that he was the begotten son of God. It is also claimed that he was the son of God as he was born without a father. If that is so, then it must be Adam, who was born without a father and a mother, who is more entitled, than Jesus, to be the son of God! In fact, the Bible does introduce Adam as being the son of God (Luke 3:38). Is it possible to accept Adam as a personage in the essence of God on the premise that he has been recognized as the son of God?

The Bible introduces Melchizedec, the high priest, as one who has neither beginning nor end. Look at what Paul has to write about Melchizedec, the King of Salem, the high priest of God: "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever." (Hebrews 7:3) If it is claimed that Christ was the son of God simply because he was born without a father, it must then be conceded that Melchizedec, who has neither father nor mother, no beginning or end, was even more deserving than Christ in being the son of God. At this rate the number of personages within the divine essence can only but increase. Indeed, the doctrine of Trinity will very well change into a multiplicity of the divine unity!

The Holy Prophet

Who was Christ? This question still remains to be answered. He had himself never claimed to be God or even to be the begotten son of God. Then what was it that he actually did claim?

Read through the statements concerning Christ which have come up in the New Testament. He has been referred to as the 'Son of God' in a very limited number of occasions within the Gospels. This epithette has been, however, used more frequently in the writings of Paul. The Gospels have, on the other hand, referred to Jesus as the 'Son of Man' 63 times.

Yes .... Christ was, indeed, the Son of Man. A man who was subject, like every one of us, to the feelings of hunger, thirst and other emotions. A man great in the sense that he had laboured to sacrifice all his desires for the sake of God's pleasure. A messenger who had striven to his utmost to lead the Children of Israel along that path of Truth and virtue. That which he uttered was but the revelation of God. He said, "He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." (John 14:24) He had performed many a miracle. These were, however, shown by God. Christ had made clear the fact that he could do nothing of himself except that which God had taught him." .... 'I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." (John 5:19)

Christ was, indeed, a very human messenger. A messenger like Abraham, Ishmael, Jacob, Moses and Joseph. He was the guide of the Children of Israel. He was innocent of sin; a great individual who had persevered to guide society along the path of righteousness by his own example. He was not God; nor even the son of God. Nor yet one in the three personages of the Trinity. He was but a messenger; a very human messenger.

The Complete Man

Examine the New Testament. We see, therein, Christ, the man. If we study the accounts from his birth onwards. We cannot arrive at a picture that is different from that of a human being.

- Jesus is born as the descendent of Abraham and David (Luke 2:21).

- Jesus is circumcised (Luke 2:21).

- Jesus is breast-fed (Luke 11:27).

- Jesus travels on back of the ass (Matthew 21:5).

- Jesus takes food and drink (Matthew 11:19).

- A homeless Jesus (Matthew 8:20).

- Jesus uses clothing (John 19:23).

- Jesus has brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:35).

- The knowledge of Jesus increases with his age (Luke 21:40).

- Jesus, of his own self, can do nothing (John 5:30).

- Jesus is unaware of the time of fruition of the Fig tree (Mark 11:12).

- Jesus exercises obedience through his patience (Ebriar 5:8).

- Jesus experiences hunger (Mark 11:12).

- Jesus experiences thirst (John 19:28).

- Jesus sleeps (Matthew 8:24).

- Jesus is fatigued in a journey (John 4:6).

- Jesus sighs in anxiety (John 11:33).

- Jesus weeps (John 11:35).

- Jesus grieves (Matthew 26:37).

- Jesus exerts his strength (John 2:13).

- Jesus exhorts unto the taking up of the sword (Luke 22:36).

- Jesus fears the Jews (John 18:12,13).

- Jesus is betrayed (John 18:2).

- Jesus is captured (John 18:12,13)

- Jesus is humiliated (Matthew 26:67)

- Jesus is beaten (John 18:22)

- Jesus fears death (Mark 14:36).

- Jesus prays to God (Matthew 26:42).

- A messenger from heaven appears so that Jesus may be strengthened (Luke 22:43).

Let us now think. Is Jesus God or was he human?

Common sense answers that he is, indeed, human. A great messenger!

The Holy Quran had been right all along: "O people of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and his Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not 'Three': desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is One God: glory be to Him: (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs." (Quran 4:171)

[TheEyeofGod]

[TheEyeofGod]

Christ was, indeed, a very human messenger. A messenger like Abraham, Ishmael, Jacob, Moses and Joseph. He was the guide of the Children of Israel. He was innocent of sin; a great individual who had persevered to guide society along the path of righteousness by his own example. He was not God; nor even the son of God. Nor yet one in the three personages of the Trinity. He was but a messenger; a very human messenger.

These scriptures Let it clear to everyone that He(Jesus) is the Son of God, why? Because it was said by God Himself.   
 *Luke 1:  28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32  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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."
*Luke 9: 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, " This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.
*Matthew 3: 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased..... "

So can I ask you, was heaven opened when God called Abraham, Moses and other people that you mentioned? And did they all died for the atonement of human sins? These are the differents between Jesus and them. God was the who claimed Jesus to be His Son and Heaven was opened, no doubt or arguments on this matter again because it is clear.

Jesus is born as the descendent of Abraham and David (Luke 2:21).

Psalm 132: 11 The LORD swore an oath to David,
a sure oath he will not revoke:
"One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne.
 Jeremiah 23:5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.
John 7:42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David's descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?

- Jesus is circumcised (Luke 2:21).
- Jesus is breast-fed (Luke 11:27).
- Jesus exercises obedience through his patience (Ebriar 5:.- Jesus experiences hunger (Mark 11:12).
- Jesus experiences thirst (John 19:28).
- Jesus sleeps (Matthew 8:24).
- Jesus is fatigued in a journey (John 4:6).
- Jesus sighs in anxiety (John 11:33).
- Jesus weeps (John 11:35).
- Jesus grieves (Matthew 26:37).
- Jesus fears the Jews (John 18:12,13)
- Jesus exerts his strength (John 2:13).
- Jesus takes food and drink (Matthew 11:29)

Yes of course, He must pass through all this, because He's God in Man. He must pass through waht Men passes through.

- Jesus travels on back of the ass (Matthew 21:5).

Been on an ass means , humility, victorious. Or do you ever see a president on the ass? Jesus did this as a sign of humility. Jesus did this as a sign of victory, and ass is meant for the Kings, He is the King of kings. Isaiah 9:6

- A homeless Jesus (Matthew 8:20).
- Jesus fears the Jews (John 18:12,13).
- Jesus is betrayed (John 18:2).
- Jesus is captured (John 18:12,13)
- Jesus is humiliated (Matthew 26:67)
- Jesus is beaten (John 18:22)

All these were permitted because of me and you.
Assuming He was not betrayed, how can he fulfilled His mission on earth? But "woe to the person that will show Him" He says. If He was not captured , beaten and crucified, our salvation is nothing.
Do you think, he didn't have power to command to leave Him, or to destroy them when they were doing all this to Him? No! When Peter cut a ear of the servant of high priest, Jesus still did a miracle there, and told peter that , He can avenge for  Himself by calling legions of Angels to fight for Him, but He didn't , just because for the scripture to fulfilled. Matthew 26:51-56. Isaiah 53:7

[QuranSearchCom]

These scriptures Let it clear to everyone that He(Jesus) is the Son of God, why? Because it was said by God Himself.

Islam came to correct the lies that you have invented on your scriptures.  From www.answering-christianity.com/convert_christians.htm:

"Son of God" in ancient times meant no more than a righteous Servant and Chosen one of GOD Almighty: [1].  Christians have simply failed to properly define ancient idioms and terminologies.
  

From: www.answering-christianity.com/convert_christians.htm:    Father and Son Definitions: Definition of Key Terms (a discussion between me and a Christian): 1-  What does "The Father" really mean in the Bible?  How is it defined in Islam? (see point #5 below)  How does the Bible really define it? 2-  What does "Son of GOD" really mean in the Bible?  3-  Jesus had to at least match Melchizedek in Miracles and  Power.  See this text-debate between me and a Christian brother. 4-  Does the Bible say that Yahweh created Jesus?  Yes it does.  In Islam, there are three "Worlds" or Realms: (a)-  GOD Almighty, who is not seen by anyone or anything, nor is like unto anyone or anything. (b)-  The World of Command, which is the invisible world of the Beings that were made by the Word and the Spirit. (c)-  The World of Creation, the flush and blood, dust and water physical world and Universes (plural). Also visit: Is the Noble Quran a Creator or Creation?         "Father" and "Son" in Islam and the Bible: 5-  Is Islam the anti-Christ system according to 1john 2:22?  No it isn't.  Here are some Bible facts regarding "FATHER" and "SON": (a)-  Allah Almighty is the Believers' only Guardian (المولى): See Noble Verses 8:40, 22:13, 22:78.  In Arabic we say ولي الأمر , which means "The Legal Guardian".  المولى is derived from the root word ولي  .ولي also means a chosen friend to Allah Almighty, as in the following point.    (b)-  FRIENDS = SONS in the Bible and Quran (ولي , وليهما and خليلا): We further read the following in the Bible: Isaiah 41:8  "But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, Chronicles 20:7  Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants ofAbraham your friend? James 2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. So being GOD Almighty's "SON" in the Bible is equal to being GOD Almighty's "FRIEND".  Now compare this to the following from the Holy Quran: [002:257] Allah is the friend (ولي) and patron of those who believe. He brings them out of the depths of darkness into light. While those who do not believe, have the forces of evil as their friends; they lead them out of light, into the very depths of darkness. Such ones shall be the inmates of the fire. They will stay there forever. [003:122] (And remember) when the two groups among you lost heart (and almost fell out), even though Allah was their Friend and Protector (وليهما)? In Allah (alone), should the believers place their trust! [004:125] Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to God, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in Faith? For God did take Abraham for a friend (خليلا). So the Bible's "FATHER" & "SON" for GOD Almighty and the Believers is clearly metaphoric, and it only means that GOD Almighty: 1-  Is the Protector. 2-  Is the Friend. 3-  Is the Guardian. Please visit the following link to further see what Words the Glorious Quran uses for these words and definitions: http://www.answering-christianity.com/blog/index.php/topic,1368.msg5203.html#msg5203     (c)-  BEGET = CHOSE: Regarding the following verse, and many others like it: King James Bible Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Let us look at Noble Verses 27:59, 3:33, 3:42, 7:144, 22:75, 35:32, 38:47, 39:4 from the Glorious Quran: [027:059] Say: Praise be to God, and Peace on his servants whom He has chosen اصطفى (for his Message). (Who) is better?- God or the false gods they associate (with Him)? ‏27:59 قل الحمد لله وسلام على عباده الذين اصطفى ءالله خير اما يشركون [003:033] God did choose اصطفى Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of 'Imran above all people,- ‏3:33 ان الله اصطفى ادم ونوحا وال ابراهيم وال عمران على العالمين [003:042] Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God hath chosen thee اصطفاك and purified thee- chosen thee above the women of all nations. ‏3:42 واذ قالت الملائكة يامريم ان الله اصطفاك وطهرك واصطفاك على نساء العالمين [007:144] (God) said: "O Moses! I have chosen thee اصطفيتك above (other) men, by the mission I (have given thee) and the words I (have spoken to thee): take then the (revelation) which I give thee, and be of those who give thanks." ‏7:144 قال ياموسى اني اصطفيتك على الناس برسالاتي وبكلامي فخذ ما اتيتك وكن من الشاكرين [022:075] God chooses يصطفي messengers from angels and from men for God is He Who hears and sees (all things). ‏22:75 الله يصطفي من الملائكة رسلا ومن الناس ان الله سميع بصير [035:032] Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our Servants as We have chosen اصطفينا: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by God's leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace. ‏35:32 ثم اورثنا الكتاب الذين اصطفينا من عبادنا فمنهم ظالم لنفسه ومنهم مقتصد ومنهم سابق بالخيرات باذن الله ذلك هو الفضل الكبير [038:047] They were, in Our sight, truly, of the company of the Elect المصطفين and the Good. ‏38:47 وانهم عندنا لمن المصطفين الاخيار [039:004] Had God wished to take to Himself an (actual) son, He could have chosen لاصطفى whom He pleased out of those whom He doth create: but Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is God, the One, the Irresistible. ‏39:4 لو اراد الله ان يتخذ ولدا لاصطفى مما يخلق مايشاء سبحانه هو الله الواحد القهار Furthermore, when Jesus was asked about when the Hour will come, he replied by saying that only GOD Almighty Knows, and that no one knows, and that Jesus himself also didn't know.  Please visit: http://www.answering-christianity.com/questions.htm http://www.answering-christianity.com/ac7.htm#links Jesus spelled it out clearly that he knew NOT.  And as to calling GOD Almighty "Father", and that Islam denies that GOD Almighty is an ACTUAL FATHER to anyone, in Islam GOD Almighty is called: 1-  Rab - Lord, Father (you are the Rab of your home for being the husband and the father). 2-  Wali - Guardian. In the old Aramaic and Hebrew, GOD Almighty was called what-is-equivalent-to-Islam our Rab and Wali.  But that doesn't make GOD Almighty our actual Father.  This is exactly as Judaism metaphors such as idolatry is equivalent to spiritual adultery.  No Jew is actually married to GOD Almighty to actually commit a personal marriage-adultery against GOD Almighty!  Yet, the Jews use metaphors like these.  Islam came to straighten all of this out and to set the record straight that GOD Almighty has no son and no daughter.  Otherwise, why would GOD Almighty torture us to Hell if we were His perfect sons and daughters??  No imperfect being could be an actual son of GOD Almighty (and no being is the son or daughter of GOD Almighty, period!): [005:018] (Both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are sons of God, and his beloved." Say: "Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay, ye are but men,- of the men he hath created: He forgiveth whom He pleaseth, and He punisheth whom He pleaseth: and to God belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all)" Again, please visit: http://www.answering-christianity.com/blog/index.php/topic,1368.msg5203.html#msg5203.    6-  Did you know that Elohim is Allah [1] [2].  The "im" in Hebrew is a majestic plural for GOD Almighty.  The root Word is "Eloh".  And the more original Jews such as Yemenites and others say Alohim or Alah-im.  And when you yourself pronounce it, you do naturally pronounce itwith a double "l": Allah.  Jews do call Him: Allah-im.  Aramaic-speaking people also call GOD Almighty Allah.  See the following videos for Biblical references and proofs.  Also, pre-Islamic Biblical archeological findings have GOD Almighty as "Allah".  So the Original Holy Name for GOD Almighty is not Eloh.  It is Allah!  Eloh is a Hebrew dialect, which not all Hebrew speakers use anyway.  Allah had always been the Original and Universal GOD Almighty even before birth of Judaism, and the existence Hebrew.  And Hebrew is a developed language from Phoenician.  See the following links:                      (Click to play videos)        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenician_alphabet         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Hebrew

  

Take care,
Osama Abdallah

[trueneverdefeat]

  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,
But Jesus denied this favor and said his kingdom is not of this world so this verse is not sufficient for your argument.

[QuranSearchCom]

As'salamu Alaikum Everyone,

Trinity is a man-made lie.  The following articles give ample verses from the Bible that thoroughly prove trinity is a lie:

www.answering-christianity.com/trinity_crucified.htm
www.answering-christianity.com/questions.htm
www.answering-christianity.com/godtitle.htm

Take care,
Osama Abdallah

[submit]

it took 300 years for the Greek readers to realize that the stories in the Greek books/chapters contradicted among themselves hence the need to select on which were cannon or non cannon.

And interestingly, 'Jesus Messiah' had to opt for a Hellenistic man from Tarsus rather than his Israelite disciples to propagate a new belief for the gentiles that the Israelite God permits worshiping Him in His new form as Son of God.