What do Christians believe?

We also believe that because Jesus died to pay our debt we can reach heaven- without Jesus no one is capable of doing enough good deeds to pay the debt of sin.

format_quote Originally Posted by Follower

We also believe that because Jesus died to pay our debt we can reach heaven- without Jesus no one is capable of doing enough good deeds to pay the debt of sin.

Interestingly, that particular expression of the atonement, though a dominant theme in protestant theology today, is just one of many ways in which it is stated and not even the original way it was expressed by the likes of Calvin and Luther.

format_quote Originally Posted by Follower

We also believe that because Jesus died to pay our debt we can reach heaven- without Jesus no one is capable of doing enough good deeds to pay the debt of sin.

In the name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

So, with Jesus (peace be upon him) people are able to do enough good deeds to enter heaven?

I do not believe that is correct according to Christian theology I have encountered. If you don't believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) as Lord and Savior then you are doomed. Good deeds as I have seen it are not emphasized when being told to come to Jesus (peace be upon him). It is always----just 'believe'.

Dear Al Ansari:

We do not completely understand all of the ramifications of Jesus’ death and resurrection; however, I am sure that we will one day.

In the old covenant that God had with mankind, sinful men could not approach such a Holy God, so their sin had to be atoned. God stated that blood had to be shed in order that sin could be atoned. It was the blood of sheep and other animals that was shed. The individual actually had to kill the animal himself, which should have made him appreciate the value of the sacrifice and the damaging consequences of his sin. Unfortunately, it simply became a ritual which appeared to have little long-term effect on their behaviour.

In the new covenant that God has with mankind, Jesus was the Messiah who atoned (made amends) for the sins of all men through His death. In this new covenant that mankind now has with God, we can approach Him directly and ask for forgiveness. We can never earn this forgiveness, but he can graciously grant it. Once forgiven, we can become his adopted children, and cultivate a friendship with God.

God has given Jesus the right to judge the world at the end of the age. At this time, those who rejected the Messiah will be turned away to everlasting punishment, while others will receive rewards for their good deeds done while on the Earth.

Regards,
Grenville

Salam alapiana1

Christians believe the Bible.

Now that is something I don't get. Majority of authors of the Bible are unknown, why do Christians believe in it when they don't know who wrote it. And it has so many internal contradictions, conflictions with modern science
(http://www.answering-christianity.com/contra.htm), even passages which I cannot read in front of my mother or my sister. Why should a person believe in the Bible? Quran has none of those problems, so why should I choose the Bible instead of the Quran?

According to the Holy Bible, Jesus was without sin.

I would like to know where the Bible says that(I'm not implying that it doesn't)

He became sin for us (His death on the cross) so that we won't have to be judged for our sin. He is the only one who could do this because he had no sin. He took the punishment for us.

So all of us have the original sin because of what Adam did but Jesus sacrificed himself for Christians so now Christians are no longer sinful. Let me give you an example, if a cop comes to me, handcuffs me and then tells me that my grandfather robbed a jewelery store and I am going to jail for that, is that justified? And then after a while he says that okay, you're free to go. We caught your father, he is will go to jail for that. Now that is not justified even according to us, so how can God, the most Just, can act similar to that cop? In Islam however, there is no concept of original sin and forgiveness of sin. Instead of quoting Quran/hadith, I will quote from the book you believe to be the word of God to give the concept of forgiveness in Quran
EZEKIEL 18
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Christians believe that they cannot earn there way to salvation and righteousness with God. They don't trust in following the law or commandments. That is not to say they don't obey them. They do, but we know it cannot save us. For by faith are you saved through God's grace. It is a gift not of works otherwise we can take the credit for our own salvation. Eph 2: 8,9. We believe in praying without ceasing.

I agree that deeds alone cannot save us. We do require God's mercy according to the following hadith
Abu Huraira reported Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) as saying: None amongst you would attain salvation purely because of his deeds. A person said: Allaah's Messenger, even you also. Thereupon he said: Yes. Not even I, but that Allaah wraps me in Mercy, but you should act with moderation. This badith has been transmitted on the authority of Bukair b. al-Ashajj with a slight variation of wording
The difference is that God according to Islam does not require a sacrifice. He has the power to forgive sins without sacrifices. As for obeying commandments, that is also a mystery to me. Why shouldn't I steal when my sins have been paid for by Jesus? And ultimately, will Christian thieves be punished? Will Christian murderers be punished? Will Hitler and Stalin go to heaven? In Islam, God is very kind but He is also Just. Imagine on the day of judgement, a rapist goes to heaven just because he believed that Jesus was crucified for his sins and the woman who was raped is pleading for justice, which is not provided. Does that sound like the day of Judgement to you?

We believe that putting our faith in Jesus alone and with God's grace we are saved from spiritual death.

Let's see what Jesus said regarding being saved from spiritual death i.e getting eternal life
Mathew 19
16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He did not say that to get to heaven believe that I will be crucified for your sins. He did not say that to get to heaven you should believe that I am God. He simply said, keep the commandments. Considering that, I think Muslims have a good chance of getting into heaven according to the Bible since instead of saying deeds are meaningless, they try to keep the commandments.

We believe it was God's plan from the beginning. Jesus is the word of God who became flesh.

Jesus was the word of God in the sense that he received revelations from God. I agree with that.

Jesus is the light of the world.We believe He is comming back to judge the living and the dead,

Muslims believe that one of his reasons of coming back is to correct the Christians. The Bible also says that
Mathew 7
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

and that there is no other way for man to have a right relationship with God.

I agree that at the time of Jesus, there was no other way for man to have a right relationship with God. Like at the time of Moses, there was no other way. You can only follow Moses and no one else. At the time of Noah, all you had to do was to get into the Ark. Prayers/fasts were meaningless unless you were obeying Noah. Similarly now is the time of Muhammad. There is no other way to have a right relationship with God other than that of prophet Muhammad.
Peace

format_quote Originally Posted by AntiKarateKid

Then how come blood atonement is mentioned nowhere in the Quran, hadiths, or any shred of Islamic history? No Muslim ever believed that you needed to have blood atonement for forgiveness and the Prophet pbuh never mentioned anything about it.

Dear AKK:
The Qur’an teaches that Jesus is the Messiah, and that believers are to believe the revelation sent to the prophets who came before Mohammed. Perhaps the most authenticated book in the Bible is the work of prophet Isaiah. Hear him.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:5-7)

AKK, I realize that the Christian religious traditions of the trinity have resulted in the reaction of Islamic religious tradition to limit Jesus to “just a messenger”. Even though the Qur’an clearly teaches that He is the Messiah, and instructs believers to believe the revelation sent before, including the Gospel, in order to better understand these concepts. Please do not reject or deny the Messiah because of other people’s speculative opinions about the nature of Jesus, for it is He to whom we must all stand before and give an account at the end of the age. May you stand confidently AKK.

Regards,
Grenville

format_quote Originally Posted by Suffiyan007

Trinity that is really doesn't make sense.

Yes Suffiyan007:

But do not let the errors of others keep you from the Messiah.

Regards,
Grenville

No,no :-) The Holy Ghost is a gift from God.It gives God`s grace,His forgiving of our sins,more wisdom in looking for God.

Come on :-) God is one,and The Holy Spirit is special God`s blessing.God has sent The Holy Spirit to Jesus,because without The Holy Spirit Jesus would be unable to do his mission.