- Jesus said: “People cannot come to me unless the Father who sent me brings them to me. I will raise them back to life on the last day.” John 6:44
- “Yet, there is not one of the People of the Book (Jews & Christians) but will believe in him (Jesus) before his death, and on the Resurrection Day he (Jesus) will bear witness over them”. Qur’an 4:159 & 3:55 & 43:61
Christian Thought:
- Jesus died for our sins as a pure sacrifice once and for all.
- While this "debt" has legally been paid (by Jesus), we still live in a fallen, sinful state and are not made right (sinless) until Judgment Day
Muslim Thought:
- Only God forgives sin, this occurs on Judgment Day and there is no guarantee of paradise.
- Today, a movement within Islam is contributing to the re-discovery of the important role that Jesus was given by God and the significance of this as it relates to Judgment Day.
Is Jesus a "Light" of Forgiveness and "Life"?
- “Then We sent Our messengers to follow in their footsteps and followed up with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. We placed compassion and mercy (Arabic: rahman) in the hearts of those who followed him… Believers, be ever mindful of God and believe in His Messenger; He will give you a double share of His mercy (Arabic: rahman), provide you a light (Arabic: nur) to guide you and forgive you; God is Ever Forgiving and Merciful-to-all. That the People of the Book may know that they have no power whatsoever over God’s blessings, and that all blessings are in God’s Hand; He gives it (blessings or authority) to whomever He wills. God is limitless with his blessings.” Qur’an 57:27-29
- "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light (Aramaic: nur) of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light (Aramaic: nur) of life. (Aramaic: chay) John 8:12
Wipe, Rub Clean & Anoint:
- The title "Messiah" comes from the Semitic root word Masih - which in Hebrew, Aramaic & Arabic means “to wipe (i.e., "clean)” or “to anoint”. (Historically with oil, but as the Bible & Qur'an suggest - also with the Holy Spirit).
- HRH Prince Amb. Turki bin Faisal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia: stated that the role of the Messiah on Judgement Day was, as the Arabic meaning dictates, to “clean the Believers for Paradise”, but qualified his comment that is was with the permission of God and not by blood or a cross.
- Are Muslims and Christians splitting hairs about how and when Jesus is responsible for wiping clean our sins?
COMMON GROUND:
Muslims and Christians can agree that on Judgment/Resurrection Day - Jesus the “life giver," will be present to activate his "anointing" as Messiah to "wipe clean" the believers to make us ready for Paradise.
- God is forgiving, the Mercy-Giver (Arabic: rahman) and the Compassion-Giver (Arabic: raheem).
- As God's Messiah, God's Word and God's Spirit - can Jesus been seen by both Muslims and Christians as having God's authority to be the "life-giver" at Judgement Day?
- According to the Qur'an, Jesus is himself “a mercy (Arabic: rahmatan) from God”.
