amin@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Aminuddin Ahmad) (07/18/90)
I S J E S U S R E A L L Y G O D ?
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Published by:
THE INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
P.O. Box 41129,
Chicago, Ill 60461-0129 U.S.A.
Sponsored by:
Muslim Community Center,
Chicago, Illinois U.S.A.
Digitized by:
Aminuddin Ahmad
Islamic Study Center
3030 N.Maryland Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211.
(Malaysian student at UW-Milwaukee, July 1990)
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Without a doubt, you have often heard the claim that
Jesus is God, the second person in the "Holy Trinity."
However, the very bible which is used as a basis for
knowledge about Jesus and as the basis for doctrine
within Christianity clearly belies this claim. We urge
you to consult your own Bible and verify that the
following conclusions are not drawn out of context:
1.GOD IS ALL KNOWING... BUT JESUS WAS NOT
When speaking of the day of judgement, Jesus clearly
gave evidence of a limitation on his knowledge when he
said, "but of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not
the angels which are in heaven, neither the son, but the
Father" (Mark 13:32 and Matt 24:36). But God knows all.
His knowledge is without any limitations. That Jesus, of
his own admission, did not know when the day of judgement
would be, is clear proof that Jesus is not all-knowing,
and that Jesus is therefore not God.
2.GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL... BUT JESUS WAS NOT
While Jesus performed many miracles, he himself
admitted that the power he had was not his own but was
derived from God when he said, "Verily, verily I say unto
you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth
the Father do..." (St. John 5:19). Again he said, "I can
of mine own self do nothing: As I hear I judge, and my
judgement is just because I seek not mine own will but
the will of the Father which has sent me" (St. John
5:30). But God is not only all-powerful, he is also the
source of all power and authority. That Jesus, of his own
admission, could do nothing on his own is clear proof
that Jesus is not all-powerful, and that therefore Jesus
is not God.
3.GOD DOES NOT HAVE A GOD...BUT JESUS DID HAVE A GOD
God is the ultimate judge and refuge for all, and He
does not call upon nor pray to any others. But Jesus
acknowledged that there was one whom he worshipped and to
whom he prayed when he said, "I ascend unto my Father and
your Father, and to my God and your God" (St. John
20:17). He is also reported to have cried out while on
the cross, "My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?"
(Matt 27:46). If Jesus were God, then couldn't this be
read, "Myself, myself why hast thou forsaken me?" Would
that be pure nonsense? When Jesus prayed the Lord's
prayer, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup
pass from me: Nevertheless not as I will but as thou
wilt" (Matt 36:36-39). Was Jesus praying to himself? That
Jesus, of his own admission and by his own actions,
acknowledged, worshipped, nd prayed to another being as
God is clear proof that Jesus himself is not God.
4.GOD IS AN INVISIBLE SPIRIT... BUT JESUS WAS FLESH AND
BLOOD
While thousands saw Jesus and heard his voice, Jesus
himself said that this could not be done with God when he
said, "No man hath seen God at anytime" (St. John 1:18).
"Ye have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His
shape" (St. John 5:37). He also said in St. John 4:24,
"God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship
him is spirit and truth." That Jesus would say that no
one had seen or heard God at any time, while his
followers both saw and heard him, is clear proof that
Jesus was not God.
5.NO ONE IS GREATER THAN GOD AND NO ONE CAN DIRECT HIM...
BUT JESUS ACKNOWLEDGED SOMEONE GREATER THAN HIMSELF WHOSE
WILL WAS DISTINCT FROM HIS OWN
Perhaps the clearest indication we have that Jesus
and God are not equal, and therefore not one and the
same, come again from the mouth of Jesus himself who said
in St. John 14:28, "My Father is greater than I." When
someone referred to him as good master in Matt 19:17,
Jesus responded, "Why callest thou me good? There is no one
good but one, that is God..." Furthermore, Jesus drew
clear distinctions between himself and God when he said,
"I proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I of
myself but He sent me" (St. John 8:42). Jesus gave clear
evidence of his subordination to God, rather than his
equality with God, when he said in Luke 22:42 "not my
will but thine be done" and in St. John 5:30, "I seek not
mine own will but the will of the Father which has sent
me." Than Jesus would admit that he did not come into the
world on his own initiative but was directed to do so,
that he would acknowledge another being as greater than
himself , and that he would negate his own will in
deference to affirming the will of another, give clear
proof that Jesus is not the Supreme One and therefore
Jesus is not God.
CONCLUSION
The Church recognizes the Bible as the primary
source of knowledge about God and Jesus. But since the
Bible makes it clear that Jesus is not the Supreme Being
and the Supreme Being is not Jesus, upon what basis have
you come to believe otherwise?
My brothers and sisters, the belief that the Supreme
Being is a Trinity is false and completely inconsistent
with the words of Jesus as presented in the Bible. God is
one, not three. He is a perfect unity.
If you are interested in the truth about God and
your relationship to Him, we invite you to investigate
the religion of Islam.
WHAT IS THE WORD OF GOD ABOUT JESUS:
A.REGARDING SONSHIP OF JESUS:
That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word of truth,
concerning which they are doubting. It is not for God to
take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a
thing, He but says to it "Be," and it is (Qur'an
19:34,35).
And they say 'The All-merciful has taken unto
Himself a son.' You have indeed advanced something
hideous. The heavens are well nighrent of it and the
earth split asunder, and the mountains well nigh fall
down crashing for that they have attributed to the All-
Merciful a son; and it behooves not the All-Merciful to
take a son. None is there in the heavens and earth but he
comes to the All-Merciful as a servant (Qur'an 19:88-93).
Truly the likeness of Jesus, in God's sight, is as
Adam's likeness; He created him of dust, then said He
unto him, "Be," and he was (Qur'an 3:59).
People of the Book, go not beyond the bounds in your
religion, and say not as to God but the truth. The
Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only the Messenger of
God, and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a spirit
from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers, and say
not, 'Three', Refrain, better it is for you. God is only
one God. Glory be to Him - that He should have a son! To
Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth,
God suffices for a guardian.
B.REGARDING JESUS BEING GOD
And when God said, "O Jesus son of Mary, did you say
unto men, "Take me and my mother as gods, apart from
God?" He said, 'To You be glory! It is not mine to say
what I have right to. If I indeed said it, You knew it,
knowing what is within my soul, and I do not know what is
within Your soul; You know the things unseen. I only said
to them what You did command me: "Serve God, my Lord and
your Lord." And I was a witness over them, while I
remained among them; but when You did take me to Yourself
the Watcher over them; You are the witness of everything'
(Qur'an 5:116,117).
C.REGARDING CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
And for their unbelief, and their uttering against
Mary a mighty calumny, and for their saying, 'We slew the
Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of God'... yet
they did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a
likeness of that was shown to them. Those who are at
variance concerning him surely are in doubt regarding
him, they have no knowledge of him, except the following
of surmise; and they did not slay him of certainty... no
indeed; God raised him up to Him; God is Almighty, All-
Wise. There is not one of the people of the book but
will assuredly believe in him before his death, and on
the Resurrection Day he will be a witness against them
(Qur'an 4:156-159).
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For more information please contact:
THE INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
P.O. Box 41129
Chicago, IL 60641-0129
U.S.A.
or:
MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
Milwaukee, WI 53201.
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