-----Original Message-----
From: [deleted email address] [mailto:[deleted email address]]
Sent: 19 September 2003 19:21
To: Islamic Queries
Subject: Re: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Islamic Queries <questions@islamic.org.uk>
To: [deleted email address] <[deleted email address]>
Date: Friday, September 19, 2003 1:15 PM
Subject: RE: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

Dear Paul,

 

If you seriously think that Muslims worship some moon-god then I must say that you do not think seriously. This is self delusion of the most dangerous kind and you may soon need to go on medication!

 

Besides the fact that Christians throughout the Arabic speaking word pray to “Allah” and do not use the English word “God” and that the word is linguistically related and almost identical to the Aramaic name for God which Jesus would have used, you don’t need to look far to get a fair view of who Muslims understand Allah to be. Just read a few verses from the Qur’an. It is clear on every page. Here is one relevant example:

 

There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: "We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides God: we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in God and Him alone": And yet Abraham said to his father: "I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from God." (They prayed): "Our Lord! in Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal.

 

Surah 60 Verse 4

 

With peace,

 

Lamaan

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [deleted email address] [mailto:[deleted email address]]
Sent: 19 September 2003 17:24
To: Islamic Queries
Subject: Re: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

 

Lamaan,
I assumed you understood in my last e-mail, but I will answer you question directly about my submission to Allah.  My explanation will not be pleasing to you.  It may even offend you, but if you are searching for God's truth then the truth can hurt.

 

First, I do not submit to the will of your god Allah!  As I stated before I am in God's will because I know that Jesus is his son who died for my sins, he conquered death, was resurrected, ascended into heaven and will return to earth in his time and glory!!!! AMEN!!   Here is the lie that is told by Islamics.  Allah is not the God of the Bible.  We worship two different beings! 

 

The God of the Bible is God Jehovah, He is God.  Allah is a false god!!!  Allah is not the God of Abraham, God Jehovah is!!  Allah was one of the 360 idols in Kaaba worshipped by the idolators before Muhammad.  Some tribes refer to him as the moon god.  Why Muhammad chose him we will never know.   Therefore we are comparing apples to oranges!  They are not the same!!  Exodus 20 vs.3--"You shall have no other gods before me" Read below

-----Original Message-----
From: Islamic Queries <questions@islamic.org.uk>
To: [deleted email address] <[deleted email address]>
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2003 7:16 AM
Subject: RE: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

Dear Paul,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

It was certainly an enthusiastic reply! However, you still did not directly answer my question:

 

 “Do you submit yourself to the will of God?”

****

See above.

 

 

Your answer seems to be something like:

 

“No. I don’t need to obey God because I accept Jesus’ sacrifice on my behalf.”

 

****

By accepting Jesus' sacrifice, I am obeying God.  Why is it hard to understand something that is very simple.  God Jehovah is a God of Love, he loves you, Jesus died so that we might be reconciled to him.  That does not mean when we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord we are then made perfect, no we are just forgiven. However, because we acknowledge him as Savior and Lord we want to live like him but knowing that we are human and we will still make mistakes.  It is that simple.

 

Is that a fair description of your position?

 

Now, what did Jesus teach about forgiveness of sin? And let me say that I totally accept his teaching here! He taught that we should pray to God to forgive us for our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

 

This is Christ’s basic teaching of how we relate to God. We are loving, kind, forgiving and merciful unto others so that God is loving, kind, forgiving and merciful towards us.

****

IMPORTANT

Your explanation is wrong here!  God's love, his kindness, his forgiveness, his mercy to us is nothing that we can earn!! It is his free gift by accepting Jesus as his son and savior of all mankind!!!

 

God’s action towards us is therefore conditional on how we relate to one another and to God’s creation generally. This essential teaching of Christ is reflected throughout the Qur’an. This is why you find verses such as:

 

*****

Wrong!!! God's action towards us in unconditional, the Bible says that while we were sinners Christ died for us. Doesn't the Koran say that Allah hates sinners.  No where in the Holy Bible will you find that God hates us. Have you ever asked yourself why for thousands of years God chose to reveal himself through scripture then in the 600's he changed his mind and chose to contridict basic teachings found in the Bible with teachings found in the Koran?  If he is the same person then why?  I know islamic teaching says the Bible has become corrupt. When did this occur?  If if occurred before the time of Muhammad, why did he include Biblical scripture and teaching in the Koran?  Does this make since to you?  Honestly, it can't because the God of the Bible is not the God found in the koran. 

 

"A

 

nd swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for God loves not any arrogant boaster.  
Surah 31 Verse 18

The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from God: for (God) loveth not those who do wrong.

 

Surah 42 Verse 40

 

In a sense though, I am missing the point here. You have another idea of sin. It is something you are born with, not something you did; not something you even know about. In Islam we see that this cannot be: God is just. Your deeds are judged by Him according to what is in your heart. If you try to do what is right - that is what counts. You cannot be held guilty for something you never even thought of, never mind did!!! Of course many people are prone to do bad things, but that is because of a lack of devotion to doing God’s will. It is not an innate part of being human. This is expressed well in the following part of the Qur’an:

 

 

By the Fig and the Olive,

And the Mount of Sinai,

And this City of security,-

We have indeed created man in the best of moulds,

Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of the low,-

Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: For they shall have a reward unfailing.

Then what can, after this, contradict thee, as to the judgment (to come)?

Is not God the most just of judges?

 

Surah 95

 

 

You are right to say that “The concept that man has a sinful nature is foreign to the Koran.” A man becomes sinful because of his choice to neglect his duty of devotion to God. Since God is just, there is absolutely no need for a supreme sacrifice as is claimed in the crucifixion narrative. Since God is just there is no “original sin” to be redeemed.

**********

Sorry but again you are wrong here.  Sin exists, it has existed since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden. That is like saying the sun does not rise in the morning, it does.

 

The Holy Bible is very clear on the concept of sin and sin being the cause of separation between God and man. 1John 1:8..if we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  Romans 3:23 states that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Psalm51:3--my sin is ever before me., Proverbs14;9--fools mock at sin...., John 15:22, John8:7, John1:29--behold the lamb(Jesus) who takes away the sin of the world.  Lamaan, the bible plainly states that we are lost in our sin. It also states in Luke15:7 that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner coming to repentence.  

 

 

(Incidentally, the Qur’an doesn’t state that someone else was in Jesus’ place on the cross. It states:

O.K.--But the Koran says they did not kill him, wrong--Christ died and arose from the grave has he stated he would.  Remember you asking me about Jonah's sign. Christ was predicting his death, burial, and resurrection.  One thing to remember here.  Christ went willingly to die for us, he could have called 10,000 angles to come and set him free but he chose to die for us.  Has anyone else ever loved you so much that he died for you? 

 

That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-

 

Surah 4 Verse 157

)

 

In conclusion, I follow the religion of all the prophets including Jesus. I worship the same God that Jesus worshipped. Jesus is an example to me. In this sense, I accept Jesus totally.

 

*******

Sorry but you do not.  As I stated earlier, Allah is not the God of the Bible.  I am glad Jesus in an example to you but if you do not accept the fact that he is God incarnate, he died for our sins and arose from the dead, then you are lost in your sin and have no assurance of salvation.  Hell fire awaits you in the next life but it does not have to be so.  The bible plainly states that the "wages of sin is death".   All you need to do is confess your sin and accept that Jesus died for you and you shall be saved and have eternal life.  If you have access to the bible, please read the Gospel of Luke or John. 

 

I try to avoid hurting others so that God will not hurt me. I try to be loving and merciful to those around me and to all of God’s creation, that is what God wants from me and I do this in the confidence that God is then the most loving and merciful towards me. I seek God’s forgiveness in the confidence that God is the most forgiving and the most loving.

 

*******

Just living a good life will not earn us salvation.  Yes, it is God's desire that you do all of these things but that you do them because you realize who Jesus is and what he did for you on the cross.  You can have freedom, real peace, joy, and be glad in Christ Jesus.

 

These are the teachings of Jesus, there are at the centre and core of his message. These are in the most, if not the only, widely memorised Christian prayer: “the Lord’s prayer” as it is called.

 

I would be interested in any comments you have on a piece I wrote about this some time back: 13 July 2002 - The New Lord's Prayer

 

Now what did Jesus actually say about the way to heaven? I think this is best captured by a parable about a vineyard owner who employs people to harvest the crop. Do you know the parable? What does it say to you?

************

Jesus was teaching that his relationship to each of us is the same regardless of our status in life. He was teaching that he loves each of us unconditionally and equally.    

 

Jesus' words about heaven are this..."No man comes to the father but through him"..   He also said on the cross " It is finished"  meaning his work on earth was done.  There was no need for any other, as he fullfilled all that was said about him. We can be reconcilled to God the Father through him.  Are you not thankful that it can be so?  I asked earlier.  Who would you rather be with.. A god who is your master and you are his slave or with God who is your father and you his child?    For me----JUST GIVE ME JESUS!!! 

 

Something to think about.  If what I say is wrong and Jesus is not who he said he is, when my life here on earth is over, then I have lost nothing!! I have lived a good life and it will be over.  But, if Jesus is who he says he is(and he is) and all that the Bible says about him is true(and it is), then you Lamaan have lost everything.  Think about it!!!  Are you willing to loose your eternal soul ?  I pray not!

 

Regards--A friend--Paul

 

Warm regards,

 

Lamaan

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [deleted email address] [mailto:[deleted email address]]
Sent: 15 September 2003 23:23
To: Islamic Queries
Subject: Re: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Islamic Queries <questions@islamic.org.uk>
To: [deleted email address] <[deleted email address]>
Date: Friday, September 12, 2003 7:16 PM
Subject: RE: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

Dear Paul,

 

The answer to your question 1 is in the quotes in my last email as is the answer to the next 2 parts of question 2. Will you answer the question I posed in my email?

When have you done enough? I think this is answered at  http://islamic.org.uk/pereln.html

 

**Actually, you have not answered the question about what the Koran says about salvation and eternal life, Because the Koran does not address these issues.  The concept that man has a sinful nature is foreign to the Koran. Yes ,there is reference to sinful acts but the Koran does not address the fact that all man is sinful in nature and thus in need of reconcillation with God Jehovah!  Salvation is a free gift by believing in Christ that he died for our sins.  In the Koran one must work for this salvation. Sura13:22-23.  There again, when have you done enough in allah's sight that he will give you salvation and eternal life.  You can't know can you?  Please take this to heart.  You can be sure, by trusting in Jesus.  Jesus said that he came so that we might have life and have it more adundantly.  Back to the sin question.  Doesn't the Koran say many times that allah does not love sinners?  I think at least twenty four times. Sura 2:190ff  or Sura3:76.  Here is a big difference.  The Lord God loves you!!!!  John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life"  Love is the theme of the Holy Bible and Christianity.  The bible also says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  You may have had a bad experience knowing a Christian or have been taught a history where "so called Christians" have done evil to other men.  I condemn those acts as they do not reflect the spirit of Christ or his love for all people.  Remember we all are sinners and we do make mistakes.  Christ forgives us and wants us to live according to his word and teachings.

 

I am not sure what you mean by “tough questions”. You have so far not asked me any tough questions.

 

Lazarus died and was brought back to life. And? Jesus’ final great miracle was the sign of Jonah, (Matthew 12:39-40). Jonah, presumed dead but miraculously lives another day. I believe Jesus was a great prophet, a messiah but I do not believe Jesus (peace be upon him) was or is God incarnate.

 

**

Here you are talking about when the Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus to prove he was the Christ.  This was after the had done many miracles and the Pharisees were seeking to destroy him. Jesus was predicting his death, burial and resurrection.  He said just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days in the tomb and he will arise. Luke11; 29-32 also refers to this.  They(the pharisees) like many others and even people 2000 years later could not and do not believe that the messiah would come to the people the way that Jesus did.  The Pharisees were looking for a warrior king/messiah.  They wanted the prophets to be fullfilled in a messiah who would establish his kingdom on earth.  Friend, this was not what God had in his plan.  The messiah--savior for all mankind--came as a lamb.  He is coming again and for those who believe, we will be apart of his kingdom.  Please do not allow a spirit of fear to control your life.  Research what I have said, study, and ask Jesus into your life.  He can give you peace and freedom that will be found in no other.

 

 

 

Does that make me guilty in your eyes?

 

I am not your judge, but the bible says that all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  1john1;9 says that if we confess our sins, he(Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

The central problem in Christianity is this: If the crucifixion happened with the significance that, by it all our sins are automatically forgiven, then what about those people before the crucifixion? Either “salvation” becomes massively easier for people, which makes God unjust – or the way to “salvation” has not fundamentally changed with the crucifixion.

 

One or the other is true and they cannot both be true. So which is it? God is just. The crucifixion seems to me to be a repeat of the sign of Jonah. However it happened, somehow Jesus amazingly survived. It has the same significance as a proof of his mission as a prophet and it didn’t change the basics of “salvation”.

 

********

The crucifixion and resurrection is not a problem but is the main difference from all other world religions.  God had a plan of salvation from the moment that sin entered the world.  It was not God's plan for this to happen.  When he made Adam in the garden of Eden, he gave Adam a soul and gave him free choice.  Adam chose to disobey God.  Thereby, sin entered the world.  Every person from that time forward was born into a fallen(sin filled) world..  God gave his people the law until his plan of salvation was to be fullfilled.  He sent many prophets to tell of the coming messiah.  These prophets told many ways we would know the messiah.  Jesus fullfilled every single prophecy about him.  Before the time of Jesue, people were made righteous by following God's law.  Those who did not were condemned.  When Jesus died he took the keys to the gates of hell and death and opened them.  All who had gone before were given a chance to accept God's son Jesus . Revelation1:18.  Praise God in heaven that Jesus has done this for us. 

 

On a historical note:  Make no mistake.  Jesus was put to death.  No one took his place, not a look-a-like or Judas as the koran mentions.  It is recorded in Roman writings that Jesus was put to death.  Did you know that crucifixion was so horrible that Roman citizens could not be put to death this way?  It was reserved for the worst criminals, slaves, people who were not Roman.  Jewish writings also recorded the death of Jesus. Josepus and other priest have recorded it.  Make no mistake, the Romans made sure that the condemned man died.  The Bible says that the two thieves who were crucified with Christ had their legs broken.  When the Roman soldier came to do this to Jesus, he saw that he was already dead.  He did not faint, pass out, or somehow was rescued.  He died!!!!!!  His resurrection was no hoax either.  Too many people saw him.  If the apostles had wanted to make this up, the accounts of his appearing to them would have been the same.  They are not!!  Jesus stayed with them for forty days after his resurrection before he ascended back into heaven.  He is there now preparing a place for us.  Jesus promised that one day we would come back and receive us unto himself. Are you ready for his return?

 

 

“Salvation” was, is, and will always be simply this: God guides us human beings to do what is right. We are each responsible to act on the knowledge we have and to sincerely seek to obey God’s will.  That is it - a simple truth.

 

 

I hope I have answered your questions adequately. Will you answer my question?

 

Do you submit yourself to the will of God?

**

Friend, I am a follower and believer in Jesus Christ.  Nothing can change my belief.  I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because he died for me. He was not ashamed of me when he was on the cross.  Think of this.  If you(Lamaan)were the only person on earth, Jesus would still have come and he would have died for you because he loves you that much. Jesus does not want anyone to perish but wants everyone to know him.  The Holy Bible says this in Philippians2;10-11.  "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord".. This means that all people will confess this. Every person that has ever lived or will ever be born will confess this.  We have a choice, except Jesus in this life or reject him an be separated from him forever.  The agony of dying and going to hell without Jesus is that you will know that Jesus is Lord and it will be too late for you to come to him.  Today could be our day, Lamaan will you accept him?  I will pray that Jesus will come into your life.  

I Love You in Jesus name.

Paul 

 

Regards

 

Lamaan

 

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [deleted email address] [mailto:[deleted email address]]
Sent: 12 September 2003 14:16
To: Islamic Queries
Subject: Re: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

 

Dear Lamaan,

I am sorry for shouting at you, I did not realize that I was. Also, I am a very bad speller at times but I think that this is rather a small point.  I realize that you are well grounded in your faith ,as I am in my belief that Jesus is the only way to heaven.  But, since we have made contact, maybe you can answer a few other questions.

 

1.  What does the Koran say about your salvation and eternal life? 

 

2.  How can you get eternal life from Islam?  Do you have to do good works in this life?  How do you know when you have done enough?  The only positive answer from the koran, is that one must die for allah in order to have the assurance of eternal life!  If this world is all there is to life, then it is not worth the living.  Faith, hope, and love abide in Jesus the Christ.

 

3. Why do muslims say that we christians have insulted them when we present them with tough questions?  I do not think your website or your questions insult me.  If I do not know the answer, I will seek out someone who does and not just say you insulted me. 

 

4.  You ask an age old question that is very worldly.  Where is the proof that Jesus is the only way?  There has been volumes and volumes of testimony that would take a lifetime to read giving proof.  The basics of faith is that we believe!!  The proof is that Jesus is the only one who has conquered death!  His tomb is empty.  Do not many muslisms journey to the tombs of the muslim prophet and clerics to pray?  Where is the tomb of Jesus?  When you find it, it is empty!  Read and study the Gospel of Luke.  Doesn't the koran even deny the death of Jesus?  Make no mistake, the Romans were very good at putting people to death.  Jesus died and as he said he arose from the grave!!!!

 

5.  One final question, Who would you rather serve; a god (allah) that says die for me and you shall enter heaven or a God who came in the flesh and died for our sins so that we might enter heaven? For me the choice is easy.  Brother, God loves you, you can be his child instead of being a slave to a god.  John1;9  says that if we confess our sins that he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!!

 

Psalm 97;1-7--------"The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad, let all shores rejoice!.....justice and righteousness are the foundations of his throne, fire goes before him consuming his foes. His lighting lights up the world, the whole earth sees and trembles.  Mountains melt like wax before the Lord, the heavens proclaims his RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all people shall see him in his Glory!!!!!  JESUS IS WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT!!!!!  HE LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO KNOW YOU. 

 

I hope you can answer a few of these questions for me if you are truly open minded as your website asks others to be, then maybe you can research this.  Especially the question about salvation and eternal life.

 

Paul

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Islamic Queries <questions@islamic.org.uk>
To: [deleted email address] <[deleted email address]>
Date: Friday, September 12, 2003 2:42 AM
Subject: RE: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

Dear Paul,

 

Thank you for your concern.

 

However, your email reveals a number of things which I would like to bring to your attention.

 

Simply asserting that a belief is true, does not make it so. To demonstrate such a claim you need reasons and evidence.

 

You imply that I am a bad person for not accepting your assertions. Why? What have I done wrong? Why are you attacking me in this way? If you preach to people in a way that insults them, accusing them of sinning, without giving an explanation of what their sin is (other than disagreeing with you) then, of course, people will stop listening. The louder you speak, the less people will listen. It is not because they are deaf that your message doesn’t get through. SHOUTING is not the way to get through to people.

 

Finally, you should not accuse me of being in error when at the same time you are make glaring errors yourself.

 

What is a “false prohit”? Of course you mean “false prophet”. What is an “Islamic”? You mean a “Muslim”. Now, if you are accusing Muslims of following a false prophet, then we might start to have a reasonable debate on the issue. However, what should I conclude given that you apparently don’t even know how to word the accusation using the right words? I conclude that you know very little about the Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) and what he taught. As such, your claim that I am in error is weakened to the point where I don’t pay it any credible attention.

 

I do not blame you for not knowing about Islam and Muslims, but I find your unfounded accusations unjust and insulting. That said, I forgive you for it, in the hope that God will forgive me some of my own faults.

 

Let me finish with a couple of quotes from the Qur’an – the holy book of Islam:

 

And they say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew - or - be a Christian." Those are their (vain) desires. Say: "Produce your proof if you are truthful."
Nay,-whoever submits His whole self to God and is a doer of good,- He will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Surah 2 Verses 111 - 112

The Religion before God is Islam (submission to His Will): Nor did the People of the Book (i.e. Christians, Jews and others with scripture from earlier revelations) dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of God, God is swift in calling to account.
So if they dispute with you (Muhammad), say: "I have submitted My whole self to God and so have those who follow me." And say to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, Thy duty is to convey the Message; and in God's sight are (all) His servants.

Surah 3 Verses 19 - 20

Do you submit yourself to the will of God?

 

Warmest Regards,

 

Lamaan

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [deleted email address] [mailto:[deleted email address]]
Sent: 11 September 2003 22:03
To: questions@islamic.org.uk
Subject: Jesus is the only way to heaven!!!

 

Very interesting how you distort the truth!  Many people and false prohits have tried to deny the deity of JESUS but they fail.  You can not compare JESUS to any aspect of Islam because he has no equal, his kingdom is without end, death could not keep him in the grave and his love for you endures forever.    THIS IS THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY ----JESUS IS ALIVE AND HE IS COMING AGAIN FOR HIS CHILDREN.  PRAISE THE ONE TRUE GOD IN HEAVEN THAT THE DAY WILL COME AND ALL THE EARTH WILL SEE HIM IN HIS GLORY!!!!  I BEG YOU OH ISLAMICS, REPENT AND ACCEPT HIM INTO YOUR HEARTS.  HE IS HOLY AND HE IS GOD.  ARE YOU READY FOR HIS RETURN??