Saturday, September 22, 2012

WHO IS JESUS?



 

Is Jesus God?


Let me start of by saying here that I am not using the Koran to prove the bible right.  I am only using it to show how once people, once they are made to believe or disbelieve something will close their minds to what is obvious.

Now, I happened to watch some videos on debates between Christians and Muslims on who Jesus really is.  Christians generally know that Jesus is God.  I say, “generally” because some “Christians” are really not Christians at all and they don't know.  Some inherited the title of Christian as a culture and do not live the life of a Christian neither do they obey the commandments of Jesus, nor do they read nor understand the bible and its teachings.  Other “Christians” are actually cults – organizations that ride on Christianity to make money for the leadership, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof2Ti 3:5.

We know that part of God which the His Word, became a man and dwelt in this world, for the bible tells us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1;  “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” Joh 1:14.  And in this, the Koran does admit that Jesus is the Word of God, using the term Kalimatullah (Koran 4:17)God has no beginning, and the Word of God has no beginning either, being eternal.  God's word was uncreated for God is uncreated, for there was never a time that God was without a word,  and therefore Jesus, the Word of God has no beginning.

We know too, that Jesus did tell us He is God incarnate as a “Son of Man”, God being born into this world through the body of a virgin.  He also made various statements indicating His Godhood, such as His sayings:

(a)        “If you do not believe I am He, you will die in your sins” ( for who can forgive sins in heaven but God?)
(b)        “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father”
(c)        “ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end”
(d)        “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” in Matt 4:7, when satan was tempting Him.

There are many, many, many more.  Now, as you read you must always remember that the bible already existed some 600 years before Islam was founded.  So, the Islamic scriptures were written more than half a century after the bible recorded what Jesus said.  It is not as if what Jesus said was not put into the bible after the Islamic scriptures were written just to frustrate Muslim attacks against Christianity.  We must also remember that the Christian scriptures do not contain one single verse attacking the veracity of the Islamic scriptures.  It is just that despite what the bible has recorded much earlier, the Islamic scriptures happened to fulfill or contradict.


The Muslim Objection To Jesus Being God

But Muslims have a problem with these sayings for they have been brainwashed to believe that Jesus is a mere man and a great prophet of God.  Muslims charge that Christians blaspheme God by making a man by the name of Jesus into God.  Muslims simply cannot understand that an omnipotent God has the power to come into this earth as a man.  They do not understand the meaning of “omnipotent”; for omnipotent in the Muslim mind comes with the limitations they set for God.  So, omnipotence in the Muslim mind is not omnipotent at all, for it is the Muslim man sets the boundaries of power for God. Their God apparently cannot have the power to come into this world simply because he, the man doesn’t agree to it.  Sure, Jesus is a prophet for is not God also capable of being a prophet as well even when He has taken on the body of a man?

Sometimes though, I do not blame the Muslims for not understanding for 2 reasons.  Firstly, the bible reveals to us “Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”  Secondly, neither do the Christian cultists, being also after the flesh, though they read the bible understand this mystery of God: that God Himself should come into this world.

And further, deeply entrenched into their mind is an abhorrence that Jesus is called the Son of God, for the fleshly Muslim mind cannot understand how God can have a son, unless God had sex with a woman; and to say so is an insult to God.  Little does the Muslim man know that we agree that God did not have sex with Mary, a virgin to cause her to conceive, otherwise would she still have had been a virgin giving birth to Jesus.  All the bible says in Luke 1:35 is that the Holy Spirit “shall come upon” her “and the power of the Highest shall overshadow” her causing her to conceive.  It was not sex.  And note also that Jesus was to “be called” the Son of God.  It is a title, that’s all.  Furthermore, all who believe in Jesus are given the right to become sons of God, with a small “s”, Jesus being of the firstborn status.  That’s is not hard to understand, if the mind is not frozen stiff and the heart hardened.

Why Write This Article?

This article is not meant to convince any Muslim that he is wrong.  In the first place, he has decided not to be convinced; and even if he is convinced, he will unconvinced himself for he knows the price is too high for him to pay should he ever reject what he has been taught.  He will lose his entire social support and will face such persecutions from his society and family that he will find life hard to live. Rather, this is to let Christians know that we can fully trust in what the bible has revealed about Jesus. We can even prove that the Muslims themselves are actually denying the truth in their own scriptures ( not that we as Christians need to rely on their scriptures to prove our faith ) when they reject Jesus is God.  How so?


Jesus Identified Himself With The Names of Allah

Let us check what the Muslims know about Allah ( i.e. God ) from the 99 names of Allah and see if Jesus has identified Himself as Allah through some of these names.  Christians should not be surprised because we know all along that Jesus has said and done things that only God can be and do:


             
Remember, 600 years earlier, Jesus had identified Himself as God, and 600 years later the Koran, confirmed 20 of these claims :            




 
In the Koran, God is identified as:


What Jesus said and Did
Arabic  
English Meaning
1
 Allah (الله)
 The Greatest Name

2
 Ar-Rahman (الرحمن)
 The All-Compassionate

3
 Ar-Rahim (الرحيم)
 The All-Merciful

4
 Al-Malik (الملك)
 The Absolute Ruler

5
 Al-Quddus (القدوس)
 The Pure One

6
 As-Salam (السلام)
 The Source of Peace
Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you
7
 Al-Mu'min (المؤمن)
 The Inspirer of Faith
Joh 12:44 Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
8
 Al-Muhaymin (المهيمن)
 The Guardian

9
 Al-Aziz (العزيز)
 The Victorious

10
 Al-Jabbar (الجبار)
 The Compeller

11
 Al-Mutakabbir (المتكبر)
 The Greatest

12
 Al-Khaliq (الخالق)
 The Creator

13
 Al-Bari' (البارئ)
 The Maker of Order

14
 Al-Musawwir (المصور)
 The Shaper of Beauty

15
 Al-Ghaffar (الغفار)
 The Forgiving

16
 Al-Qahhar (القهار)
 The Subduer

17
 Al-Wahhab (الوهاب)
 The Giver of All

18
 Ar-Razzaq (الرزاق)
 The Sustainer

19
 Al-Fattah (الفتاح)
 The Opener

20
 Al-`Alim (العليم)
 The Knower of All

21
 Al-Qabid (القابض)
 The Constrictor

22
 Al-Basit (الباسط)
 The Reliever

23
 Al-Khafid (الخافض)
 The Abaser

24
 Ar-Rafi (الرافع)
 The Exalter

25
 Al-Mu'izz (المعز)
 The Bestower of Honors

26
 Al-Mudhill (المذل)
 The Humiliator

27
 As-Sami (السميع)
 The Hearer of All

28
 Al-Basir (البصير)
 The Seer of All

29
 Al-Hakam (الحكم)
 The Judge
Joh 8:16  And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
30
 Al-`Adl (العدل)
 The Just
31
 Al-Latif (اللطيف)
 The Subtle One

32
 Al-Khabir (الخبير)
 The All-Aware
Mar 2:8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?
33
 Al-Halim (الحليم)
 The Forbearing

34
 Al-Azim (العظيم)
 The Magnificent

35
 Al-Ghafur (الغفور)
 The Forgiver and Hider of Faults

36
 Ash-Shakur (الشكور)
 The Rewarder of Thankfulness

37
 Al-Ali (العلى)
 The Highest

38
 Al-Kabir (الكبير)
 The Greatest

39
 Al-Hafiz (الحفيظ)
 The Preserver

40
 Al-Muqit (المقيت)
 The Nourisher

41
 Al-Hasib (الحسيب)
 The Accounter

42
 Al-Jalil (الجليل)
 The Mighty

43
 Al-Karim (الكريم)
 The Generous

44
 Ar-Raqib (الرقيب)
 The Watchful One

45
 Al-Mujib (المجيب)
 The Responder to Prayer
Joh 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
46
 Al-Wasi (الواسع)
 The All-Comprehending

47
 Al-Hakim (الحكيم)
 The Perfectly Wise

48
 Al-Wadud (الودود)
 The Loving One

49
 Al-Majid (المجيد)
 The Majestic One

50
 Al-Ba'ith (الباعث)
 The Resurrector
Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
51
 Ash-Shahid (الشهيد)
 The Witness

52
 Al-Haqq (الحق)
 The Truth
Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
53
 Al-Wakil (الوكيل)
 The Trustee

54
 Al-Qawiyy (القوى)
 The Possessor of All Strength

55
 Al-Matin (المتين)
 The Forceful One

56
 Al-Waliyy (الولى)
 The Governor

57
 Al-Hamid (الحميد)
 The Praised One

58
 Al-Muhsi (المحصى)
 The Appraiser

59
 Al-Mubdi' (المبدئ)
 The Originator
Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
60
 Al-Mu'id (المعيد)
 The Restorer

61
 Al-Muhyi (المحيى)
 The Giver of Life
Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
62
 Al-Mumit (المميت)
 The Taker of Life
Mat 21:19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.
63
 Al-Hayy (الحي)
 The Ever Living One
Rev 1:18  I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
64
 Al-Qayyum (القيوم)
 The Self-Existing One

65
 Al-Wajid (الواجد)
 The Finder

66
 Al-Majid (الماجد)
 The Glorious

67
 Al-Wahid (الواحد)
 The One, the All Inclusive, The Indivisible

68
 As-Samad (الصمد)
 The Satisfier of All Needs

69
 Al-Qadir (القادر)
 The All Powerful

70
 Al-Muqtadir (المقتدر)
 The Creator of All Power

71
 Al-Muqaddim (المقدم)
 The Expediter

72
 Al-Mu'akhkhir (المؤخر)
 The Delayer

73
 Al-Awwal (الأول)
 The First
Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord
74
 Al-Akhir (الأخر)
 The Last
75
 Az-Zahir (الظاهر)
 The Manifest One

76
 Al-Batin (الباطن)
 The Hidden One

77
 Al-Wali (الوالي)
 The Protecting Friend
Joh 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
78
 Al-Muta'ali (المتعالي)
 The Supreme One

79
 Al-Barr (البر)
 The Doer of Good

80
 At-Tawwab (التواب)
 The Guide to Repentance

81
 Al-Muntaqim (المنتقم)
 The Avenger

82
 Al-'Afuww (العفو)
 The Forgiver
Luk 5:20  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Luk 7:48  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
83
 Ar-Ra'uf (الرؤوف)
 The Clement

84
 Malik-al-Mulk (مالك الملك)
 The Owner of All

85
 Dhu-al-Jalal wa-al-Ikram (ذو الجلال و الإكرام)
 The Lord of Majesty and Bounty

86
 Al-Muqsit (المقسط)
 The Equitable One

87
 Al-Jami' (الجامع)
 The Gatherer

88
 Al-Ghani (الغنى)
 The Rich One

89
 Al-Mughni (المغنى)
 The Enricher

90
 Al-Mani'(المانع)
 The Preventer of Harm

91
 Ad-Darr (الضار)
 The Creator of The Harmful

92
 An-Nafi' (النافع)
 The Creator of Good

93
 An-Nur (النور)
 The Light

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
94
 Al-Hadi (الهادي)
 The Guide

95
 Al-Badi (البديع)
 The Originator

96
 Al-Baqi (الباقي)
 The Everlasting One
Rev 1:18  I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
97
 Al-Warith (الوارث)
 The Inheritor of All
Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine:
98
 Ar-Rashid (الرشيد)
 The Righteous Teacher

99
 As-Sabur (الصبور)
 The Patient One








Conclusion

To conclude, we have more than sufficient evidence that Jesus is:-

(a)        As-Salam (السلام), the Source of Peace
(b)        Al-Mu'min (المؤمن)the Inspirer of Faith
(c)        Al-Hakam (الحكم)          the Judge
(d)        Al-`Adl (العدل) the Just
(e)        Al-Khabir (الخبير)the All-Aware
(f)        Al-Mujib (المجيب) the Responder to Prayer
(g)        Al-Ba'ith (الباعث)           the Resurrector
(h)        Al-Haqq (الحق) the Truth
(i)         Al-Mubdi' (المبدئ) the Originator
(j)         Al-Muhyi (المحيى) the Giver of Life
(k)        Al-Mumit (المميت)the Taker of Life
(l)         Al-Hayy (الحي) the Ever Living One
(m)       Al-Qadir (القادر)the All Powerful
(n)        Al-Awwal (الأول) the First
(o)        Al-Akhir (الأخر)the Last
(p)        Al-Wali (الوالي) the Protecting Friend
(q)        Al-'Afuww (العفو) the Forgiver
(r)        An-Nur (النور) the Light
(s)        Al-Baqi (الباقي)           the Everlasting One
(t)         Al-Warith (الوارث) the Inheritor of All

And we do not even need to look at their scriptures to know it.  They have their scriptures, yet they do not not know.  Truly as Jesus said, Joh 5:39  “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”.  Testify they did!

Yet Muslims often ask “Where in the bible did Jesus ever call himself God?”.   "Where?", they ask.  We, the Christians know.  They, do not want to know.  They just want to ask.

And Jesus in no uncertain ways did show Himself to be the Allah who created all things …… the original God who created heaven and earth.  We, the Christians know Him and who He is.  Others do not, though they try to seek and please Him, and when they are told He is the one that they are seeking, they reject Him.  And shall He take them to the heavenly places if they keep on denying Him?  Shall they blame Him if they go to the fiery place for judgement?

Jesus said in John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”.