Christian/Muslim ThreadsHow do Muslims go to heaven???It's regretable that things like this become an endless cycle of shouting/bashing. And I don't think that joke is appropriate, Galaxy. We should really know better. The Bible does teach that we must believe on the name of the Son of God, and by believing we may have life in His name (John 20:31; 1 John 5:13). John 3: 18 -- He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. However, Jesus also says in Matthew 7: 21 -- Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven." This is because believing in the name of Jesus is not simply believing (in the way we think) that he is what he says he is or that he exists. There are many people who "believe" that God exists, and yet that is where it stops; that belief does not change their lives. The Bible says, "even the devils believe and tremble!" (James 2: 19). To truly believe means more than that. To believe means to wholeheartedly accept Jesus' words and follow them. "If you love Me, keep My commandments," Jesus says in John 14:15. Believing in his name also means that I accept his atoning sacrifice for me -- that I die to my old, sinful life, and rise up to a new life in him. Romans 6:4 -- Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life. So, indeed truly believing, in the Biblical sense, means that we are assured of eternal life, but never because we do anything on our own, but that God empowers us to live a new life. Many Muslims I have come in contact with (my best friend is Muslim) hear this idea of simply believing, and they think that Christians use that as an excuse to sin. Perhaps that is true for some Christians. But a true Christian knows that to truly believe means that I give my life over to Jesus, and I let his righteousness transform me. As for all "the violence and bigotry" in Christian history, this is not due to Christ's teaching, for he taught that you should "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you." (Matthew 5:43) To say that violence and bigotry represents all of Christianity would be dangerous, since I can also say that about your history. This is not to slander or to disrespect Islam, but my point is that we should not use arguments that can be turned around. Surely, you will agree that in all religions, there are both good and bad people. Finally, about your comment that Christ came to "purge your sins, but apparently failed to do so," it is not that He failed, for his sacrifice is enough to atone for all. The issue is whether or not I let him purge my sins; whether or not I accept him into my life and change me. God never forces himself into our lives. He never forces us to comply and obey. He wants us to respond to him willingly in love, knowing that he first loved us and sent his Son as a propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). The failure then, is not in God, but in you and me. I hope this has opened some of your understanding. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me. God Bless! |
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