2:62 VERILY, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians [49] -all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds-shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. [50]

As a revert Muslim who was raised in the Catholic doctrine of the Christian faith, it never seemed right that the Prophet Jesus (PBUH), his mother Maryam, or certain “earthly” saints were elevated and given so much more emphasis in ritual and prayer then the actual prayer and worship of Allah (SWT).

The scriptures of the Quran, Torah, and Gospels brought forth by the Prophets all commanded the same by Allah, YHWH, or God (whichever you prefer) that we all worship the ONE and ONLY, TRUE GOD.

However, even in Islam this is not the case. Sectarian doctrine (Hadith or Sunnah) innovated by “man” (by the way, which is prohibited in the Quran) has actually elevated the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) to that of almost being borderline idolotrous. Very much like the need for Christians to have elevated the Prophet Jesus (PBUH) to the “son of God” or “God in the Flesh”. Thank to you Constantin and the generous attendees of the Council of Nicea for this corruption of yet again another Holy Scripture!

The 1st Commandment, is the same for all of the peoples of The Book. Unfortunately, man seems to think that he has had to “assist” Allah, God, or YHWH with his devine scriptures throughout time and add to or interpret them because either God wasn’t clear enough, or forgot a few things along the way?

Let’s think of the Holy Scriptures as God pitching a baseball game and all we had to do was follow the rules?

Prophet Musa (Mighty Moses) on the mound;

1st Pitch - Old Testament/Torah.

Ooooh……STRIKE ONE!

Send in the relief pitcher!

Prophet Isa (Jesus) on the mound;
2nd Pitch - “Original Gospels”?

Ooooh……STRIKE TWO!!

It’s not lookin good for the ole earthbound team tonight folks. They just can’t seem to get their heads in the game!

Sending in the replacement pitcher.

Prophet Muhammed on the mound;
3rd Pitch - “Quran”

Tune in tomorrow for the exciting ending of this game. Will the hometown “earthies” head the call? Could this be the amazing comeback of ALL TIME!!!

Or will the constant bickering, scandal, and corruption of the team members lead to an 0-3 record?

SO, I agree, at the End Times we will all just have to see what doctrine was best.

Asalaamu Laikum,

Bismillah, ir-Rahman, ir-Rahim!

2:62 VERILY, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians [49] -all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds-shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. [50]

Is she looking to excuse skepticism and doubt? Or is she saying ‘the gray area’ allows for another way to Christ? Good gravy, what do starving children have to do with those who blatantly reject the Savior with so much access to the Bible? I recommend she come out of the loftiness of her own ego and discern what being a true watchman is about. Ezekiel 33: 5-11 teaches that if we do not watch and warn, blood is on our hands.

Sorry, Brother, if you are wishing I would salt a little heavier on the grace, but we are in perilous times and that was not a Christian ‘critique’ of your post. You have done an excellent service here and I cannot allow it to be discredited by those who “ever-so-politely” rewrite and interpret scripture to pacify. Isn’t that the point of the series? Oh, my heart grieves to think what Jesus must see and feel!

In Christ’s Abiding Love, Odale

However there is enough information in scripture to say that apart from Jesus Christ, a person is lost. So if Billy Graham or T D Jakes give people a false hope (and by those clips, it was so left so open to interpretation) and give them the impression that there is another way apart from Jesus Christ, then that is heresy as it is very clear in scripture that salvation can only be found in Jesus Christ. My authority is scripture and scripture alone

Even when we look at Romans 1:20 which you quoted, we only have to go a few verses before where it says that the GOSPEL OF CHRIST leads to salvation and therein lies the righteousness of God. It also says that the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Paul also stated that if an angel or anybody else preaches another gospel, them them be accursed. That is how serious it is

Now in regards to someone who has not heard the name of Christ, if a person asked me, I personally would say I do not know (which is the truth), however I would make it clear what the bible teaches and ask them ‘Now what is your excuse?’. I am afraid that the truth will always divide

If the name of Christ is not known to a given person, even a little child can see the unfairness of the position when it comes to having to go to Hell. In some cases, this would be the fate of a child born in sub Saharan Africa, blinded by flies, starved to malnourishment, perhaps physically mutilated, and perhaps endingup murdered shortly after the attainment of the age of “accountability” (whatever that is) ONLY TO GO TO HELL????? Absolutely not. I think Jesus would call you a blind guide if you believe this. The scriptures show a fair God…witness His handling of Sodom and Gomorrah where He repeatedly states that righteous behavior would save the most all time sinful cities.

C.S. Lewis also felt that while Jesus Christ was the only way…he saw this as incontrovertible fact regardless of the actions of a given man…a sort of paradox….that profession of faith is at once necessary, but not necessary. This is perhaps similar to St. Paul’s acknowledgement that the Creation itself declared the story of salvation so that man is without excuse, indicating that acknowledgement of the Christ does indeed have another form.

It is not comfortable to dwell in the gray areas, yet I have learned that that is often where God is to be found. It is dangerous territory because deceivers and false teachers are everywhere as you have seen for yourself…as have I, sadly. Isn’t that a possible interpretation of Paul’s instructions…to “work out our salvation” with fear and trembling?

There are many Christians who do love God and who are on a search for a closer relationship who are satisfied to go and live, by God’s grace, a life which allows the Lord Christ to show through. God is perfect, but our understanding of Him, nor scripture, is perfect. One cannot, in fact, worship scripture over God Himself brcause our wisdom and understanding are simply inadequate. It is arrogant to think, when we all have little or no idea of how the internet is put together by positives and negatives…that the God who created EVERYTHING and ordered the entire UNIVERSE and was even before THAT…well, doesn’t it make you just a wee bit uncomfortable to make too many assumptions about other people’s salvation?

It is dangerous simply to judge men of God who have, so far as we can see, lived open lives, trusting in the Truth (The Lord Christ) of God throughout a very long journey. Their opinion is valuable in that these are road maps of Christian journeys, of lives dedicated to following Christ. To stand jeering on the sidelines is unseemly.

In my opinion, as one who has struggled through mountains and valleys in my “walk to Emmaus”, the need to have everything absolutely black or white is related to fundamentalism (as opposed to Christian orthodoxy or the true fundamentals of Christianity). I think fundamentalism is a spiritual disorder or demonic or what have you that affects not only the Christian church, but other populations of people and numerous belief systems. It is ugly. The answer to it may be that we just need to walk HUMBLY with our God.

One of the keys to the kingdom is the wisdom to realize the difference between discernment and judgement. I have often found “keys” to the Kingdom that Jesus speaks about in the form of paradox…such as saving your life just to lose it…the first will be last…we have liberty in Christ but not license to sin…we are not under the Law, but we are under the law because Christ fulfills it. I think this subject is much like that…Christ is the only way…but maybe not just in the way we think or reason it out.

I urge caution in all ways when it comes to making accusations which are divisive and hurtful since our earthly wisdom rarely approaches the Divine…even with the assistance of the Holy Bible.

I pray for wisdom in discernment for myself, you, and your readers. We must love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. And love our neighbors as ourselves…and not be provoked into taking up an agenda in place of seeking the Lord Himself.

Thank you for your time.

Here is a link to articles our ministry has created on Osteen’s heretical compromise that is anointed as “Christianity” today.

http://www.spiritwatch.org/behindsmile.htm

Your actions can never save you. Ephesians 2:8.p say “For by grace you have been saved through faith, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast

Jesus gave his reason for coming and that was to save us from our sins and to seek and save they that are lost which is all of us. As a result of being saved by God, we will want to do the good works but the good works in and of itself can never save us