Wednesday, March 11, 2009

THE DEATH AND THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.



Sura al-Nisa 157 says:

They said, "Indeed we have killed Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, the Ambassador of God; actually they did not kill nor crucify him, he appeared only so to them. Truly the people who quarreled about Jesus, the murderers of Christ were doubtful about whom they had killed."

This Quranic verse, is very often used by Muslim preachers, and he(Hamran Ambrie) had often used it himself formerly, to reject the fact that Jesus Christ really died on the cross.

Previously, he had thought that it is impossible for the favorite of God,who became his prophet, to die on the cross without any protection. Moreover, as the Christians called him the Son of God, it is impossible that God the Father had not given him his protection at all.

After being convinced that the truth of the Bible was supported by the Quran as he had been inspired by Sura al-Maida 68 and others, he considered the subject about "The Death of Jesus at the Cross" studied again and researched fairly, in accordance with what was written in the Quran, as well as in the Bible:

1.) According to the Quran, we read about an event where "someone had been crucified and died," but the identity of the person who died was not confirmed. The Quran teachers deny that it was Jesus Christ who died. They say that the person who died on the cross was Judas.

2.) The Quran says the jews were indeed convinced that they had actually "killed Jesus."

Now he(Hamran Ambrie) had to look for better and more convincing information about who had actually been crucified and died; Jesus or another. In order to get this information, we had to find a proof of objective historical documents. This can be found in the Bible, which is an open documentation that can be used as a source for true historical information.

The story of the death of Jesus Christ at the cross can be studied in the four books of the New Testament, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The testimonies of these writers are based on the actual events which three of them had witnessed themselves.

If we accept the condition of the law that two or three eyewitnesses for a certain event are enough to confirm that this event is true according to the law (Deuteronomy 17:6-7), then the testimonies of three of these four writers who had witnesses the crucifixion and the death of Jesus, are true, legal and believable compared with the testimony of Muhammad or the Quran, which was written six centuries after the event, as an unconvincing supposition, because the writer did not witness it himself.

Another testimony can be added: when Jesus was pronounced dead by the commander of the guard, Joseph of Arimathea entered into the presence of Pontius Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. The request was granted (Mark 15:42-46). Suppose the body which was taken down from the cross was not the body of Jesus, surely Joseph of Arimathea would reject and deny its genuineness.

Suppose the person who was crucified was not Jesus. It was impossible that he would utter such loving words which revealed his true character: "Father, Forgive them! They do not know what they are doing,"and, "It is completed." All this proves that the man who was crucified was none other than Jesus Christ himself.

Thus he(Hamran Ambrie) come to the convincing conclusion that the man who "was crucified and died"as related in Sura al-Nisa 157, was undoubtedly Jesus himself, not any other person such as Judas. The true testimony of the four writers of the gospel is quite convincing, legal and true.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

THE TRINITY OF GOD.



Before he (Hamran Ambrie) accepted conversion to Jesus Christ, the trinity of God was another obstacle for him. It had also become an obstacle to many. This obstacle is due to the misunderstanding of the Christian faith.

He found that the truth in the meaning of "The Trinity of God" does not at all violate the Doctrine of the Oneness of God (Tauhid).

Sura al-Maida 73 says:

"Truly these are the unbelievers who say that God is the third of the three."

Sura al-Nisa 171c also says:

"Do not say that God is three."

These Quranic verses are often expressed by our Muslim bothers, including himself before his conversion, as a fixed formula to reject the Christian understanding of the Trinity of God. Actually, these Quranic verses reject only the belief in three different Gods and not the oneness of the Holy Trinity in Christian belief.

We Christian can appreciate these Quranic verses because Christianity rejects every form of Polytheism, including Tritheism, which is an unbiblical belief in three separate Gods. Moreover, Christianity also rejects Atheism and Pantheism.

The Bible has sealed the basic belief in God as follws: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one!" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) Jesus confessed this creed publicly! (Mark 12:29-30).

In Isaiah 45:5 it is written: "I am the Lord and there is no other."

In John 17:3 it is written: "This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

There is not even the slightest proof that the Christian belief in the Trinity of God, contradicts the Oneness of the only True God. It does not even mean that there are three united gods, as some people interpret it.

The Trinity of God can be explained as follows:

1). GOD the creator, called "The Father"is the Creator of the universe, similar to the word A-Qadir with the meaning of "the Mighty"in Islam.

2). His WORD, also called his "Son" became flesh in the birth of Jesus. He is the LIVING Word, to reveal God's law and will, to state God's promises to men, and to talk in the language of human beings. (His being the WORD is similar to the adjective "Murid - Willing" in Muslim Doctrine.)

3). THE SPIRIT OF GOD, or "The Holy Ghost", who gives help and guidance - the True Spirit - to believers who devote themselves to him. (This SPIRIT of God is equivalent to the adjective "Muhyi - lifegiver"in Islam.)

The three appearances of God (The Father, the Son/Word and the Holy Ghost) are portrayed and described as three Persons (equal the the word "Sifat" in Islam) but they are in one essence of God's existence. Each one is inseparable from the others, each has the same might, immortality, and neither one existed before or after the other. Father, Son/Word and Holy Ghost, all can be expressed by one word: God.

It is obvious that the Oneness of the Trinity of God in Christianity does not violate the Doctrine of Tauhid, and it does not mean a unity of several Allahs or gods.

The Quran does not object to or reject ths meaning of the Christian Trinity of God. What is rejected by the Quran appears in Sura al-Maida 73 or Sura al-Nisa 171, which is a belief in three different gods or Tritheism. The Christian religion itself rejects Tritheism or the belief in three gods completely.

For that reason he (Hamran Ambrie) think that there is not a single verse in the Quran which really conflicts with the Christian Trinity of God.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

THE MONOTHEISM (TAUHID) OF CHRISTIANITY.


The term "Tauhid" sounds strange to Christian believers, because it is seldom used in Christian Theology. The Tauhid in Christianity explains the oneness of the Trinity of God. This Oneness of the Trinity, the core of the Christian faith, was often discussed, but is in general not well-understood by most of our brothers who have a Muslim education and background.


The Only One True God.

Every Muslim believes in the existence of Only Oe True God. It is a well-known fact in the Islamic Doctrine, that this issue can never be changed, or eliminated.

The same conviction exist in the Christian religion too. Christian also confess the Only One and True God. Are Muslim and Christian ideas regarding the term "the Only One True God" actually the same?

In the teaching of Islam, the Oneness of God is explained in Sura al-Ikhlas 1, Sura al-Baqara 163, Sura al-Maida 73b and others.

In the Bible the oneness of God is explained in:

Isaiah 45:5 - "I am the Lord, and there is no other."

John 17:3 - "There is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

1 Cor. 8:4b - "We know that there is no other God but one."

2 Cor. 8:6 - "For us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."

The Muslims always assume that Christians violate the Doctrine of the Oneness of God. They are wrong. We confirm that the Christian teaching actually purifies the Doctrine of the Oneness of God.

The Christian Monoteism (Tauhid) is the purest and the best teaching about God. We can test this point by explaining the meaning of Polytheism (Shirk) below.


The Problem of Polytheism.

In Islam Polytheism is an essential matter. We should pay carefully attention to it, so that the oneness of God in Christianity will not be mixed up with Polytheism.

Polytheism in Islam is one of the three unpardonable sins. For that reason this question became crucial in our attempt to compare the two religions. We always looked carefully to see whether the Christian Doctrine contained an element of Polytheism or not.

First of all I found an outstanding verse in the Bible saying: "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations of those who hate me."
(Exodus 20:3-5)

John reminds us: "My children, keep yourselves safe from false gods"(1 John 5:21). Concerning these idols, there must be a clear definition when something is called an "idol." Not every statue can be called an idol. Not every column is called an idol. Not every gravestone can be called an idol either, just as not every historical buildings could become idols or be idolized, if people perfor religious duties to them, or worship and pray to them.
Occultists, fortune-tellers, and wicthes with all sorts of incantations and instruments such as incense to call or to exorcise the spirits of dead people, are indications of participation in Polytheism. The Bible emphatically reminds us never to get involved in such practices and to avoid persons performing such divination, as asserted in Deuteronomy 18:10-13: "Don't sacrifice your children in the fires on your altars; and don't let your people practise divination or look for omens or use spells or charms, and don't let them consult the spirit of the dead. The Lord your God hates people who do these disgusting things, and that is why he is driving those nations out of the land as you advance. Be completely faithful to the Lord."
Concerning Polytheism, we can summarize:
1). The Christian religion professes that God is only one. Everybody is obliged to worship and to be devoted to this one God. Any deviation to other gods is great sin. (Read Luke 4:8; Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:13; Joshua 24:14-15.)
2). In realizing the Oneness of God, the Christian Doctrine does not justify the existence of other gods besides God in any form, such as idols, buildings or statues of nature made by men, not even Kaabah (Baitullah) on pictures or carpets printed in white, red or black colours. There is no justification for kneeling down in front of it, nor at its bottom, in a form of worship. (Read Exodus 20:3-5.)
3). According to the Bible, a real Christian avoids going to or trusting in fortune-tellers, the incantations of witches, mascots, (even if they are made from Bible), and the burning of incense in order to call or to drive away spirits of the dead. He must be free from the fear of superstitions and the influences of dark spirits. (Read Deuteronomy 18:10-13.)
4). A devoted Christian shall and will not fear the influence of evil spirits or something which could be interpreted as magic or dark powers. In many cases the Bible has stated that the power of Christ has defeated and conquered all the power submit to Christ the Lord and his followers. (Read John 14:12; Mark 16:17.)
5). Christian will not regard certain objects, like pecious stones in a ring, creese, amulet or other things as if they have special supernatural power. The only power in Christianity is the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost. (Read Romans 14:17-18.)
6). Fear, uneasiness, worry, as well as other problems in the life of a Christian are matters which must be brought only into the presence of God in prayers. He alone can understand our requirements and answer our prayers. (Read Psalm 5:3; Matthew 6:25-34; Matthew 7:7-8;.) Do not go to the holy graves, even not to the graves of the prophets whatever their names are.
Finally, with a good conscience, we can profess and believe that the Christian Tauhid is the most excellent and purest Tauhid. There is no room for spirits, idols or man-made gods. There is only one God the Father and his active, living, Word, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

JESUS IS CALLED LORD (TUHAN)



Why is Jesus called "Lord"?


... maybe beacuse he was born without a father? No! Adam was also born without a father and even without a mother, and yet Adam was never called "Lord." Or, was it because had performed many miracles? No, this could also not be the answer. Moses had done many miracles too, yet he was never called God. Was it because Jesus could heal the lepers and raise people from the dead? No, because Elisha could heal lepers and raise people from the dead also, and yet he was not called God. Was it because Jesus ascended directly to heaven? No, Elija had the same experience and he was not called Lord. Then why Jesus called Lord?


Jesus is called Lord, as we read in John 1:1 and 14, because the "Word of God" became man in the birth of Jesus Christ. For the reason in 1 John 1:1 Jesus is called "The Living Word" or in other verses "God incarnate in man."


The word "incarnate" and similar terms in connection with "God" should never be translated or explained with its meaning in the dictionary or according to its secular meaning. For example: "God exist - Man also exist." The word "exist" in connection with God, has a different meaning from the word "exist" in connection with man. God exists by himself (zat wajib al-wujud). He existed from the very beginning, but men exist because they were made to exist - they are created.


For that reason the word "incarnate" for God should not be translated or used according to its secular meaning. According to the dictionary, if a cat incarnate into an elephant, the cat would disappear, and an elephant would appear. If a stone was transmitted (incarnate) into gold, then the stone would no longer exist, but the gold would. The word "incarnate"in connection with God, has a different meaning. The incarnation that is connected with God does not mean any change in the existence of God because God never changes (Malachi 3:6).


God incarnated as a human being. This does not mean that God no longer exist, and only the man would exist. This idea is wrong. God does not change. God incarnated into a man means that God continues to exist, and that the man exists too. So the word "incarnate" is used analogically, as a likeness for an act and fact exceeding logic, yet its meaning is not the same as in the language of man.


God incarnated into a man means that God has manifested himself, his full being into a man, and that he has revealed his will, power and love in the personality of that unique man, Jesus Christ. Now we can understand the statements of Jesus:


"The Father is in me and I in Him" (John 10:38b).

"I and my Father are one" (John 10:30).

"He who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9b)


The Apostle Paul said:


"For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily"(Collosians 2:9).


The second verse starting that Jesus is really God can be read in Matthew 28:18, where Jesus says:


"All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." Jesus is almighty, the controller of everything.


The Apostle Paul confessed:


"He (Jesus) is the head of all principality and power" (Collosians 2:10).


God himself is Lord as we read in the Quran:


"God is Lord of the Universe."


In the Gospel we read that God the Almighty has made Jesus "Lord" (Acts 2:36). Here we can distinguish the difference between God and Lord: God means "Theos" in Greek and "Allah" in Arabic, but Lord means "Kyrios" in Greek and "Rabb"in Arabic. The meaning of the letter words is always "authority" with the legislative and executive aspect of it. The authority of God reveals itself in Jesus Christ in many ways:


1). Creating

2). Lawgiving and Comanding

3). Guiding (with help and providence)

4). Forgiving and Saving

5). Renewing by his spirit

6). Judging

7). Glory.


The authority of God to command, to guide and to save is found in the personality of Jesus. For that reason Jesus is called "the Living Word of God" and "or Only Savior." As the Living Word, Jesus performs the divinity of God by preaching and forgiving. For that reason Jesus is made "Lord" by God (Acts 2:36; Colossians 2:10).


Jesus is Lord, in a sense that he has the auhority to save completely. Jesus is the Savior of us all, the Living Word. Jesus remind us: "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).




It should be remembered that the obstacle which had made Muslim unable to say that Jesus os Lord was the Islamic testimony. Muslim was taught and had been teaching others:

"THERE IS NO GOD, EXCEPT ALLAH."

In Exodus 20:3 it is written: "Worship no god but me." For that reason we can see that the divinity of Jesus is even suggested in the words of Muhammad which confess that Jesus Christ is the spirit of God and his word, the acting authority of God:

"Jesus truly is the spirit of God and His Word."














Wednesday, March 4, 2009

JESUS IS CALLED THE SON OF GOD.

In John 1:1 and 14 is written: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

In this verse the spiritual meaning of the expression "Son of God" was revealed. The "Word of God" had become a man in the birth of Jesus Christ. Therefore Jesus is called "the Living Word"as stated in 1 John 1:1.

It is obvious that Jesus Christ is not called "the Son of God," because God has physically and biologically given birth as many people mistakenly think, but because "the Word of God" was manifested in the Son of Mary by the Holy Spirit.

Muhammad himself testified several times to the truth of this verse by saying:
"Jesus is truly the Spirit of God and His Word."
(Hadith Anas bin Malik - Mutiara Hadith, page 353.)

In Sura al-Nisa 171 we read:
"Truly Jesus Christ the son of Mary, is the Ambassador of God and his Word, which he threw into Mary and (he is) a spirit of him."