Chapter 8 -
How can we receive the forgiveness of sins?
As far as damnation and
Heaven are concerned, also the Muslims believe in them. They believe that these
places exist, and that before them there lies a doomsday when God will judge us
by our actions. Then, on doomsday, the books will be opened and everyone's acts
will be weighed: some will go to Heaven, while others will be forced to go to
Hell - this is a description that very much resembles the description of the
last judgment found in the Bible, in the Revelation:
- (Rev 20:12-15) And I saw the dead,
small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book
was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea
gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead
which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and
hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire.
However, a good question is
how can we receive the forgiveness of sins and how can we get assurance of the
approval of God and that we are not going to Hell? We will try to find an
answer to this below.
Can Muhammad act as A mediator?
If you are a Muslim, you have
certainly thought about the possibility that Muhammad could act as a mediator in
the last judgment. Many Muslims have thought that Muhammad - as the latest
prophet and the seal of the prophets - will pray for Muslims and the doors of
Heaven will open for them as a result of this prayer.
But we may, however, ask how could Muhammad act as a mediator
for others? He himself was very sinful - also the Koran says that he sinned -
so how could such a person help us? How could he act as a mediator for others
or be our assistant in front of God's tribunal, because his life did not differ
in any way from ours?
If we take a look at the Koran in the light of the next verses,
we can see his deficiency and his sins. How could he, in this light, help us?
Give glory to your Lord and
seek His pardon. He is ever disposed to mercy. (110:3)
We have given you a glorious
victory, so that God may forgive you your past and future sins, and perfect His
goodness to you; that He may guide you to a straight path. (48:1,2)
…Implore Him to forgive your
sins and to forgive the true believers, men and women. (47:19)
THE ACT OF GOD
When it is a question of
getting the approval of God, we must note that we cannot achieve it through our
own actions. We can only add to our debt of sin because of our imperfect daily
lives. Neither can we get assurance of the approval of God because of the same
imperfection; it remains to be inexperienced because we keep the foundation of
salvation in our own works and only look at our imperfection. The next Bible
verses talk about this:
- (Rom 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
- (Rom 3:9) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for
we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin
- (Gal 3:22) But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be
given to them that believe.
- (John 7:19) Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of
you keeps the law? Why go you
about to kill me?
However, there is a solution
to this problem: God has already made ready for us that which we cannot do by
ourselves. He has made everything ready for us, so that we do not need to try
to get His approval. Below, we will try to explain this and how it has
happened.
God sent Jesus. Firstly, the
Bible says that God sent Jesus here to save us. The initiator was and is God
himself, His motive is His love towards people, because He does not want anyone
to perish and go to Hell. He wants us to be saved and because of this, He sent
Jesus. This is why all of us can come to His presence:
- (John 3:16-17) For God so loved
the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
- (Rom 8:31-32) What shall we then say
to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- (1 John 4:9-10) In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent
his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
- (Luke 19:10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that
which was lost.
The sins were put upon Him. The second issue
is connected with our sins being put upon Jesus. He Himself lived a sinless
(John 8:46 etc.) and perfect life, and so God could do this. These sins and
wrongdoings did not stay in the scale of our actions as we might think; Jesus
took them away and carried them on the cross. Jesus became the substitute for
us, so that we do not need to carry our sins anymore:
- (Isa 53:5-12) But he was wounded for
our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the
LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as
a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he
opens not his mouth.
8 He was taken
from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was
cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people
was he stricken.
9 And he made
his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had
done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has
put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall
see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall
prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see
of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my
righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall
divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death:
and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin
of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- (1 John 3:5) And you know that he
was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold
the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
Salvation is a gift. As God has
already prepared everything for us in Jesus Christ, so it is clear that we can
receive salvation only in one way: as a gift and by grace. Salvation does not
depend on us or our goodness, as we often may think; it is completely by grace
and the gift of God that can be received immediately. If you personally want to
receive salvation, there is no need for good deeds or your imperfect merits:
you can receive it as a gift, immediately:
- (Eph 2:8) For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
-
(Rom 3:24) Being justified freely
by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus
- (Rom 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- (Luke 14:17) And sent his servant at supper time to say to them
that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
- (Rev 21:6) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the
fountain of the water of life freely.
-
(Rev 22:17) And the Spirit and the
bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty
come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Your attitude toWARDS Jesus
We have already noted that
Jesus has filled the gap between us and God and become our Mediator (Hebrews
9:15: And for this cause he is
the mediator of the new testament, that ... they which are called
might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.). It is good for us
to understand that we can receive salvation only through Jesus. Only by
turning to Him and through Him can we have the forgiveness of sins, because He
has already done everything for us. Therefore, turn to Him, so you too will
receive the grace of God and the forgiveness of your sins:
- (John 5:40) And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
- (John 8:23-24) And he said to them, You
are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this
world.
24 I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for
if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.
- (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
- (Acts 4:11-12) This is the stone which
was set at nothing of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there
is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- (Acts 10:43) To him give all the prophets witness, that
through his name whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.
- (Acts 13:38) Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that
through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins
On the other hand, if you
reject Jesus, you will also reject the forgiveness of God and also the gift of
eternal life. As a matter of fact, you must then pay for your sins yourself and
must reconcile your judgment in eternal damnation. This all is simply because
you have turned your back on the only possibility to receive salvation and
getting to God's paradise. Do not, therefore, turn your back on your only hope
of salvation:
My friend, if you are damned,
it is not because of your sins but because you have not received mercy, which
God offers to you through Jesus. That is why it is fair. If you reject Jesus,
what can God do? Then, you dismiss your only hope of salvation. (13)
THE PRAYER OF SALVATION:
Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I
confess that I have sinned against You and have not lived according to Your
will. However, I want to turn from my sins and follow You with all my heart. I
also believe that my sins have been forgiven by Your atonement and I have
received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation that You have
given me. Amen.
REFERENCES:
1. Ismaelin lapset, p. 32
2. F.C. GRANT, An introduction to the revised standard version of the
New testament (1946), p. 42 - quote from Raamatun juuret, F.F. Bruce, p.
266.
3. F.G. KENYON, The Bible and Archaeology (1940), p. 228 - quote from Raamatun
juuret, F.F.Bruce, p. 266.
4. F.G. KENYON, Our Bible and the ancient manuscripts, p. 85 - quote
from Voiko Raamattukritiikkiin luottaa?, Tapio Luttinen, p. 40.
5. Ismaelin lapset, p. 14
6. VELI HENRY, Muslimit ja
evankeliumi, p. 40
7. IBN HISHAM, Profeetta
Muhammadin elämäkerta, p. 19
8. JAAKKO HÄMEEN-ANTTILA,
Johdatus Koraaniin, p. 28
9. ANTHONY NUTTING, The Arabs, p. 17,18
10. Ismaelin lapset, p. 63-65, 69
11. Same p. 93,94
12. STEVEN MASOOD, Valoon, p. 69
13. OSWALD J. SMITH, Maa johon
kaipaan, p. 89
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HÄMEEN-ANTTILA, JAAKKO: Koraanin
selitysteos
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KARILUOTO, ASKO: Abu-Ali,
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KVALBEIN, ASBJÖRN: Tony,
kurdisotilaasta Kristuksen todistajaksi (TONY)
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Islam
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MARTTINEN, JOUKO: Nisar,
muslimista kristityksi
MASOOD, STEVEN: Miksi Jeesus? (WHY FOLLOW JESUS?)
MASOOD, STEVEN: Valoon, nuoren
muslimin totuuden etsintä (INTO THE LIGHT)
MILLER, WILLIAM: Islamin kohtaaminen (A CHRISTIAN'S RESPONSE TO ISLAM)
Miten kerron uskostani muslimille - Unknown writer
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SORAMIES, RISTO: Islam ovellamme
VAINIO, OIVA: Terrorismin pelko,
teot ja syyt
