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The Quran says that Jesus is much more than a prophet

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The Quran contains several verses that discuss Jesus (Isa). These verses are not found in the Bible (Old and New Testaments) but they reveal that Jesus (Isa) is superhuman and should give Muslims reason to question why Jesus (Isa) is taught to be less than Mohammed. 1. Spoke as a baby:    - Surah Maryam (19:29-30): When Maryam (Mary) was questioned about her child, Jesus spoke in the cradle to defend her.      - Verse 30: "He [Jesus] said: 'Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.'" 2. Made a clay bird come to life:    - Surah Al-Imran (3:49): Jesus performs miracles, including creating a bird from clay.      - Verse 49: "And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, who will say, 'Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay that which is like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah...

Lux Vita Caritas: Understanding Its True Meaning Through the Lens of John Piper's Teachings

The words and the phrase "Lux Vita Caritas" are devoid of their true and deepest meaning unless they are understood as describing Jesus, the Christ, also known as Yeshua (ישוע) or Isa (عيسى). ### Lux Vita Caritas: Rooted in Jesus Christ Next time you think of the phrase "Lux Vita Caritas," remember Jesus, about whom these words were written. Jesus is the embodiment of Truth and our one and only Savior. In John 14:6-7, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ### The Cornerstone of Salvation Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. Acts 4:11-12 proclaims, “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Piper would emphasize that Jesus's life, sacrificial death, and...

Understanding more with Tim Keller

Pastor Timothy Keller died in May 2023, one of his gifts was an ability to communicate the Christian faith with love and compassion.  Among the many famous quotes, are these:   “[These are] Christianity’s unsurpassed offers—a meaning that suffering cannot remove, a satisfaction not based on circumstances, a freedom that does not hurt but rather enhances love, an identity that does not crush you or exclude others, a moral compass that does not turn you into an oppressor, and a hope that can face anything, even death.”    “Everything in the Hebrew worldview militated against the idea that a human being could be God. Jews would not even pronounce the name ‘Yahweh’ nor spell it. And yet Jesus Christ—by his life, by his claims, and by his resurrection—convinced his closest Jewish followers that he was not just a prophet telling them how to find God, but God himself come to find us.”     “When you come to Christ, you must drop your conditions. You h...

Understanding Christian Judgmentalism Through the Lens of Tim Keller's Teachings

One of the perplexing questions many people grapple with is: If Jesus is indeed God and the embodiment of love, why do some Christians appear so judgmental? To delve into this, we must first understand the essence of Christian faith through a few key biblical passages. John 3:16 (ESV) tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Similarly, 1 John 4:16 (ESV) asserts, "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." Moreover, 1 John 4:8 (ESV) states, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." ### The Motivation Behind Sharing Faith At the heart of Christianity is the profound transformation that believers experience through knowing Jesus. This transformation compels Christians to share the gospel—not out of a desire to judge, but from a place of ...

Understanding Syncretism, Heresy, and Christianity Through the Lens of Tim Keller's Teachings

Syncretism, as defined by Wikipedia, is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. For Christians, the purity of their faith as taught by Jesus is of utmost importance. This is why they have developed Creeds—statements summarizing essential Christian truths. ### The Role of Creeds in Christianity The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are among the most well-known and widely accepted Creeds. These Creeds serve as foundational summaries of Christian beliefs, encapsulating the core tenets of the faith handed down by Jesus and his apostles. Tim Keller often emphasizes that these Creeds are not just historical documents but living testimonies of faith. They provide a concise framework that helps Christians understand and articulate their beliefs, ensuring that the teachings remain consistent with the original gospel message. ### Summarizing Biblical Teaching In addition to Creeds, Christians have created detailed summaries of biblical teaching. One ...

Understanding the Christian Perspective on Homosexuality Through the Lens of John MacArthur's Teachings

We live in the midst of a sexual revolution that asserts homosexuality as normal, yet traditional Christian teachings consider it to be a deviation from God’s design for human sexuality. Pastor John MacArthur is a prominent voice in explaining the biblical stance on this issue. ### The Biblical View of Homosexuality According to Scripture, homosexuality is viewed as perverse, abnormal sexual behaviour. The Bible consistently presents sexual relations as intended to be between one man and one woman within the covenant of marriage. Verses such as Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and Leviticus 18:22 clearly articulate that homosexual behavior is contrary to God's design and commandments. John MacArthur emphasizes that this stance is not based on personal prejudice but on the authority of Scripture. Christians believe that all forms of sexual immorality, including homosexuality, are sins that separate individuals from God. ### The Transforming Power of the Gospel Despite the Bible...

The Way, The Truth, and The Life: Understanding Jesus as our one and only Saviour, Through the Words of Billy Graham

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Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) In Greek and Hebrew it reads: Λέγει αὐτῷ ‹ὁ› Ἰησοῦς “Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή· οὐδεὶς ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα εἰ μὴ δι’ ἐμοῦ.   John 14:6 Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The ONLY way. It follows, then, that salvation and the knowledge of God cannot be found in any other worldview or religion. Not Islam, not Judaism, not Roman Catholicism, not Hinduism, not Buddhism, not Confucianism, etc. ### Jesus as Lux Vita Caritas Why then do we speak of Jesus as Lux Vita Caritas (Light Life Love)? ### Lux (Light) The Lux, or Light, refers to Jesus being the ultimate Truth. He illuminates our understanding and restores us to God. Just as a light in the darkness shows the way, Jesus shows us the way to God and exposes the reality of our condition and need for salvation. ### Vita (Life) The Vita, or Life, refers to the eternal life found in Jesus alone. He...