Tag: Genesis 1:1

COMPARING ISLAM WITH CHRISTIANITY – Part 3

Tahwid or Trinity? (Two different Gods)

Introduction

       In part 2 of our study, we compared the Scriptures of Islam (Qur’an) and Christianity (Bible), presenting four different parts. In the first three parts, we discovered that by far the Bible has far more manuscript, documentary, and archaeological evidence than does the Qur’an. In addition, when we looked at the reasons why Muslims and Christians believe their sacred writings are true, we concluded that Christians have far more reasonable and persuasive arguments to support the reliability of their Scripture than do Muslims.

      In this article we are going to compare the god of Islam (Allah) with the God of the Bible (Yahweh). Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God, as Muslims and some Christian leaders in the West claim? They point out that both Christianity (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29) and Islam (Qur’an 2:163; 3:64; 4:48; 5:73; 16:22; 22:34) teach there is no God but one. 

       It is important to understand some of the early history of Islam regarding their doctrine of Tahwid – the absolute oneness of Allah or God (see above timeline). Following Mohammed’s death in 632 A.D., his initial successors (Caliphs) during the Rashidun Period were plagued with high-profile assassinations (632 – 661 A.D.). After this, the Umayyad Caliphates governed the Islamic Empire for a brief ninety years (661-750 A.D.) until the Abbasid Muslims took control and established a dynasty that would last over 750 years (750-1517 A.D.). It was during the reign of the seventh Abbasid Caliphate, Al-Mamun (813 – 833 A.D.), that he would impose the Mihna, or Islamic Inquisition in 833 A.D. [1] Why?

       In 827 A.D., Al-Mamun aligned himself with Shia rationalism which declared that the Qur’an was a created book, not uncreated and eternal as the Qur’an claims (Qur’an 85:22). In those days, heated debates about the Quran erupted over the doctrine of Tawhid which teaches that Allah is absolutely one; and the conclusion naturally arose among some thinkers that since Allah is absolutely one, he cannot have attributes. Attributes would reduce his absolute unity, being things he has as opposed to things he is. [2]

       Former Muslim, Nabeel Qureshi explains: “If God has attributes, he must always have had them, because he is unchanging. That would make those attributes eternal. If those eternal attributes are not a part of his essence, part of who he is, then something other than God existed alongside God from the beginning of time. The existence of eternal entities apart from Allah’s essence was an affront to Muslim theologians committed to tawhid, the absolute unity of God.

       “Where this philosophical debate mattered most was on the issue of the Quran. It was understood that the Quran is the Word of God, his attribute of speech. Is the speech of Allah eternal? If so, something apart from Allah, his speech, would be eternal. It would exist in eternity past alongside Allah. Theologians who defended tawhid, like the Jahmiya and the Mutazili, saw this as blasphemous in light of Allah’s absolute unity. It is clear why: It would mean there are two eternal entities, Allah and the Quran.

       “To establish their case from scripture, the rationalists referred to verses in the Quran that seemed to situate its contents in history. If the Quran refers to events in Muhammad’s life, like the Battle of Badr, how could it be Allah’s eternal speech? More convincingly, they cited 43.2 of the Quran, which says, ‘We have made it an Arabic Quran.’ If the Quran was made, how could it be eternal? Thus, the rationalists argued that the Quran was created, and that it taught the doctrine of its own creation. Anyone who disagreed was an enemy of tawhid.” [3] [emphasis added]

       This is why Al-Mamun declared that the Qur’an is created. He did not want to curb the absolute unity of God. And when he made this proclamation, he announced that those who do not believe the Qur’an is created have no belief in the Tawhid. He went so far as to say that  those who believe in the eternality of the Qur’an are “the worst among Muslims” and are “the tongue of the devil.” [4]

       Thus, the Islamic Inquisition or Mihna was inaugurated by Al-Mamun  in 833 A.D. (see above AI photo).  So, for the next eighteen years and reigns of three Muslim caliphs, Muslim thinkers who embraced the eternality of the Qur’an were interrogated, flogged, and threatened with execution because they were undermining the tawhid – the absolute unity of Allah The tenth Abbasid caliph, Al-Mutawakkil, abolished the Mihna, in 851 A.D. because he had lesspassion about his theology, and simply prohibited debate on the nature of the Quran. [5]

      Even though the Islamic Inquisition came to an end, the debate about the eternality of the Qur’an did not. Eventually, the majority of Muslims embraced the view that the Qur’an was eternal and was thus contrary to the traditional understanding of the Tawhid. This was based on the position of a man named al-Ashari.  

       How can the Qur’an be eternal without challenging the absolute unity of Allah? Al-Ashari’s response became famous: “bila kayf, or ‘without how.’ In other words, there is no rational resolution; it is just true that the Quran is eternal, and this does not contradict tawhid. In this proclamation al-Ashari emphasized revelation and tradition over reason and rationality, and his method has remained dominant among Muslim thinkers ever since.” [6]

       Smith writes, “The first and greatest teaching of Islam is proclaimed by the Shahada: ‘La Ilaha illa-l-lah, Muhammadun rasulu-l-lah.’ (‘There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the apostle of Allah.’) It is this very confession, which, once uttered sincerely, makes one a Muslim. This is the phrase all new converts are asked to say upon conversion. For those who take the pilgrimage, or the Hajj, it is requisite that they repeat this phrase with belief before they enter into the holy city of Mecca.” [7][emphasis added]

The Nature of the God (Allah) of Islam

       THE ABSOLUTE ONENESS OF ALLAH: For a Muslim, Allah is absolutely one (Wahid), and has no partners and no equals. The Qur’an states, “And do not call with Allah on another god. There is no god but him.” (Qur’an 28:88a). [8] To a Muslim, since Allah is one, no one else can share even an atom of His Divine essence, power, and authority. 

       Janosik writes, “Reza Aslan even goes so far as to say that this concept of Tawhid goes beyond monotheism. ‘Tawhid means that God is Oneness. God is unity: wholly indivisible, entirely unique, and utterly indefinable. God resembles nothing in either essence or attributes.’” [9] [emphasis added]

       The Qur’an makes it clear that Allah has no son, no father, no relative, and no associates:  “We serve only Allah nor partner anything with him nor take each other as lords rather than Allah.” (Qur’an 3:64b; [10] cf. 3:151; 4:36, 48, 116; 5:72-73; 6:19, 41, 79-81, 100-102, 162-163; 12:38; 72:20). “O People of the Book, do not exaggerate in your religion and do not speak against Allah, except the truth. Surely the Christ ‘Isā, son of Mary, is only a messenger of Allah and his word, which he cast to Mary, and a spirit from him. So, believe in Allah and his messengers, and do not say, ‘Three.’ [Trinity] Cease; it is better for you. Surely Allah is only one god.” (Qur’an 4:171). [11] “The inventor of the heavens and the earth, how can he have a son when he has no female companion? And he created everything, and he is the knower of all things.” (Qur’an 6:101). [12] “And say, ‘Praise be to Allah who has not taken a son, and it was not for him to have a partner in the kingdom. And it was not for him to have a friend from the humiliated.’ And magnify him [‘Allah Akbar’, i.e. Allah is bigger] magnificently.” (Qur’an 17:111). [13] “He who has the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and he did not take a son. And it was not for him to have a partner in the kingdom, and he created everything, so he determined it, determining.” (Qur’an 25:2). [14]

       The Qur’an teaches that whoever adds partners to Allah is an infidel and is destined to the fire of hell, including Isā (the Jesus of Mohammed). [15] “72 Infidels, indeed, are those who said, ‘Surely Allah is the Christ, son of Mary.’ And the Christ said, ‘O children of Israel, serve Allah, my lord and your lord.’ Surely whoever partners with Allah, so indeed, Allah forbids him the garden. And his abode is the fire, and the unjust will have no helpers. 73 Infidels, indeed, are those who said, ‘Surely Allah is the third of three.’ And there is no god except one god, and if they do not refrain from what they are saying, a painful torment will touch those who became infidels among them.” (Qur’an 5:72-73; [16] cf. 16:49-65; 24:55-57; 39:64-72; 40:42).

       For Muslims, Allah is totally “other” from humanity or creation, and so he cannot be a father, or have a son, or have any associates. [17] Janosik writes, “This is the reason that Muslims have such difficulty with the Christian concept of the Trinity. If Allah is an absolute unity, then how could the one God also be three Gods? For Muslims, this belief in the Trinity adds something ‘other’ than God to God, which is blasphemy. In fact, to claim that Jesus Christ is God’s Son is the greatest of all sins in Islam and is known as ‘shirk,’ or the worship of anyone or anything other than the one God.

       “Some Muslims even believe that anyone who commits shirk will not be able to receive forgiveness from Allah. This is supported by Sura 4:48, which states,” [18] “Surely Allah will not forgive partnering [worshiping other gods] with him. But other than this, he will forgive whom he wills. And who partners with Allah, so indeed, he forged a great sin.” (Qur’an 4:48). [19] Hence, according to Islam, Christians are the greatest of all sinners since they worship Jesus Christ as God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity. [20]

        The Qur’an erroneously teaches that Christians believe the Trinity consists of Allah (God), Mary the mother of Christ, and Jesus (see above diagram).“And when Allah said, ‘O ‘Isā, son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as two gods, other than Allah’?“ (Qur’an 5:116a). [21] “Infidels, indeed, are those who said, ‘Surely Allah is the Christ, the son of Mary.’” (Qur’an 5:17a). [22] “The inventor of the heavens and the earth, how can he have a son when he has no female companion? And he created everything, and he is the knower of all things.”(Qur’an 6:101). [23] Smith notes thatthis depiction of Christians as believing that God took Mary as His wife and she and their baby Jesus became two separate gods is as offensive to Christians as it is to Muslims, although there is evidence that heretical sects banished to Arabia were teaching this, or something similar, at the time of Mohammed (known as the Maryamia or Choloridians). [24]       

       The Bible teaches that God the Son has always existed (John 1:1-3, 18; 8:58; I John 5:20; Rev. 1:8; 11; et al.), yet He became a human person (John 1:14) by means of the virgin birth through Mary (Matt. 1:18-25). Though she is highly respected as the means by which God used to come to earth, it is quite wrong to say she is God, which the Qur’an erroneously states Christians have done. Islam mistakenly believes that Christians consider Mary to be “God the Mother,” who produced God the Son, by God the Father. This is completely false, as the Bible NEVER says anything remotely like this. According to the gospels, Mary was not God but was an ordinary sinful human who considered herself to need a Savior (Luke 1:47). She was used by God to bring Jesus Christ into the world as a human. 

       When witnessing to Muslims, I have found that it is important to understand that there are two words for “son” in the Arabic language. Geisler explains: “Muslim moral and spiritual repugnance to the deity of Christ is based largely on a misunderstanding of what it means for Christ to be a ‘Son’ of God. They understand it in a physical sense of resulting from a sexual union between God and Mary (see Surah 10:68), rather than in a spiritual sense. There are two Arabic words for ‘son,’ one meaning son in a physical sense (walad) and one meaning son in a metaphorical or relational sense (ibn). In dialogue with Muslims, Christians should use the latter when referring to Christ to avoid misunderstanding.” [25]

       THE DECEPTION OF ALLAH: In addition, we learn from Islam’s sacred book that Allah is the best deceiver: “And Allah is the best deceiver.” (Qur’an 3:54b). [26] “And when those who became infidels deceive you to detain you or to kill you or to expel you. And they deceive, and Allah deceives. And Allah is the best deceiver.” (Qur’an 8:30). [27] Allah desires to lead people astray: “Will he whose evil deed is adorned to him so he saw it as good? So surely Allah leads astray whom he wills and guides whom he wills. So do not grieve your soul in regret for them, surely Allah knows what they do.” (Qur’an 35:8; [28] cf. 2:26; 4:88; 13:27; 40:74). 

        Does this sound like the God of the Bible? Is the God of the Bible a deceiver? Of course not. The prophet Balaam said to Balak, “God is not a man, that He should lie.” (Num. 23:19). Samuel said to King Saul, “The Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” (I Sam. 15:29). King David referred to Him as, “O Lord God of truth.” (Psa. 31:5). The apostle John says that the Word, Jesus, is “full of… truth” (John 1:14b) and Jesus Himself said, “I am the truth.” (John 14:6). In addition, the apostle Paul says, “God, who cannot lie” (Tit. 1:2). The writer of Hebrews affirms, “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Heb. 6:18). According to James, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” (Jas. 1:13). [29]

       However, the Bible depicts Satan as the best deceiver. We see Satan taking the form of a serpent to deceive Eve and Adam (see above pic) to eat the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:1-6; cf. Rev. 12:9-10; 20:1-3, 7-10). Jesus tells unbelieving Jews, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44). According to Jesus, the source of deception and lying is “the devil.”

       Satan is the best deceiver, especially as it relates to leading people away from the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus. The apostle Paul writes, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3). The apostle Paul was deeply concerned (“I fear”) that the Christians at Corinth might be “deceived” by Satan’s false apostles (2 Cor. 11:13-15) to move away “from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). These false teachers were preaching “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4a; cf. I John 4:1-3) much like Islam which denies that Jesus is God or the Son of God (Qur’an 4:171; 5:17, 72-73, 75, 116; 9:30-31; 17:111; 19:35). They had “a different spirit” that was not the Holy Spirit who always magnifies the Person and work of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 11:4b; cf. I Cor. 12:3; I John 4:1-3). These false apostles depreciated the finished work of Jesus on the cross just as Islam does by teaching the way to paradise (i.e., heaven) is through their good works which outweigh their bad works (Qur’an 5:9-10; 7:8-9; 23:102-103; 39:53). In particular, Islam’s five pillars (i.e., confession of faith, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimage to Mecca) must be obeyed. [30] Islam also teaches that when a Muslim dies fighting infidels (Jihad), he gains a place in paradise (Qur’an 3:195; cf. 2:244; 4:95; 8:12). [31] These false apostles also preached “a different gospel” that denied the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection as sufficient payment for the sins of the world (2 Cor. 11:4c; cf. John 19:30). Islam also denies that Jesus died on the cross and therefore could not have rose from the dead (cf. Qur’an 4:157-159).

       Allah also desires to fill hell with people: “118 And if your lord willed, he would have made the people one nation. And they are still different, 119 except whom your lord has given mercy, and that is why he created them. And the word of your lord has been fulfilled: ‘I will surely fill hell with the jinn [supernatural creatures between people and angels [32]] and the people together.’” (Qur’an 11:118-119). [33] [bracket added] According to these verses, Allah (“your lord”) created some people who would not be Muslim just to fill hell with them. “And if we had willed, we would surely give to every soul its guidance. But the word which has gone forth from me was established: ‘I will surely fill hell with jinn and people together.’” (Qur’an 32:13). [34] It is Allah’s will not to guide all the people, but to fill hell with jinn and people. “Surely, I will fill hell from you [Devil] and from those who followed you from among them together.” (Qur’an 38:85). [35] [bracket added] 

         Does the God of the Bible desire to fill hell with people? Not at all. Hell was intended for Satan and his fallen angels (Matt. 25:41). God loves all people (John 3:16) and desires to fill heaven with them. The Bible says, “3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Tim. 2:3-4). God does not send people to hell, people send themselves to hell by refusing to believe in the name of the only begotten the Son of God, Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18). God does not desire that any human being perish in hell: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9; cf. Matt. 18:14; John 3:15-16).

       ALLAH IS SATAN: 

       When we compare the names and nature of Allah and Satan, we discover they are one in the same (see above chart). Repeatedly, the Qur’an refers to Allah as “the lord of the worlds.” (Qur’an 1:1 [36] cf. 5:28; 6:45, 162; 7:54; 10:10; 27:8, 44; 28:30; 37:182; 39:76; 40:64-66; 59:16; 81:29). Likewise, the Bible refers to Satan as the “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) and the “god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4).    

       Allah does not love sinful people (Qur’an 2:191, 205, 276; 3:32, 57; 4:36-37, 107; 22:38) and desires to fill hell with them (Qur’an 32:13; 38:85; 11:118-119). Allah gives infidels (non-Muslims) a long life so that they will sin more and be punished more: “And do not let those who became infidels think we only increase for them good for themselves, surely, we only increase for them that they may increase in sin. And to them is a disgraceful torment.” (Qur’an 3:178). [37]

       Allah resembles Satan who seeks to deceive people and mislead them away from the gospel of Christ so they will suffer eternally with the Devil in the lake of fire (Luke 8:5, 12; John 8:44; 10:10a; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; 11:3, 13-15; Eph. 2:2-3; I Pet. 5:8; I John 4:1-3; 5:19; Rev. 12:9-10; 13:1-18; 14:9-11; 20:1-3, 7-10, 14-15). 

       The god of Islam hates Jews and Christians (“people of the book… polytheists”) and seeks to destroy them both now [38] and in hell [39] (Qur’an 1:6; 2:24, 26, 39, 96, 126, 161-162, 217, 276; 3:4I, 10-13, 19, 21, 32, 44-46, 55-56, 85, 90-91, 106, 116, 131, 141, 149, 151, 178; 4:18, 44-46, 48, 51-52, 56, 157-161, 171; 5:17-19, 51, 72-73, 86; 6:14, 21-24; 9:5, 12-17, 26, 29-30, 36, 68, 73-74, 80, 113; et al.) as does Satan (Rev. 12:4-17; [40] cf. Matt. 24:9-28; John 10:10a; 15:18-25; 16:1-4, 33; Eph. 2:2-3; I Pet. 5:8; Rev. 2:8-10, 12-16, 18-24; 3:9-10; 13:1-18; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:1-3, 7-10, 14-15).

       Allah resembles Satan more than anyone else in the universe. Clearly, the god of Islam (Allah) is not the same God (Yahweh) that Christians worship and love as we shall now see.

The nature of the God (Yahweh) of the Bible

      I believe it is fair to say that the Trinity, or “polytheism,” as Islam puts it, is what disturbs Muslims the most. They cannot comprehend how God can be both THREE and ONE at the same time? To them it is illogical and impossible! Yet, we must point out to our Muslim friends that God is beyond all human reason. Too often humans have tried to reduce God to a level that they can understand for themselves. They try to make God like themselves. [41]

       Christianity has always taught and believed there is only one God. The difference between our monotheism and other monotheists is not on the number of gods, but on the concept of God’s Personhood. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that the one God exists as three Persons. This is not a self-contradiction as Islam charges because person is not the same as being. Your being is the quality that makes you what you are, but your person is the quality that makes you who you are. For example, we are humans. That is what we are. That is why we are called human beings. But what we are is not the same as who we are. If someone asks, “Who are you?” I would not respond by saying, “A human.” That answers the question of what I am, not who I am. Who I am is Jeff; that is my person. What I am is a human; that is my being. Being and person are separate. [42]

       Unlike a human being, which has only one person, God has three Persons. He is one being, Yahweh, in three Persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. He is more than able to exist like that because He is God. If we say God must have only one Person, like humans, then we are making God in our image. Who are we to limit God? It is up to God to tell us who He is, and He has in the Bible. [43]

       Our human reason alone cannot dictate or even decipher the nature of God. God is far greater than we can possibly conceive and more complex than we could ever hope to grasp. We are in no position to determine the intricacies of God’s nature. If He were to inform us He is one Being in one Person, we are obligated to believe Him. If He tells us, “I am one Being in three Persons,” who are we to say no to God? As believers in revelation, we must turn to divine Scripture to learn about God. [44]       

       Jesus said that His followers are to make disciples of all the nations, “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19b). The Bible teaches that God is one (“the name” = singular) yet eternally exists in three Persons (“Father… Son… Holy Spirit”) Who are equal in every way, yet distinct in their tasks and relations to humanity. God is one substance (Deut. 6:4) yet three in Person (Eph. 2:18; 2 Cor. 13:14). 

       Students of the Bible refer to this truth as the Trinity or “three in one.” The word “Trinity,” as Tri-unity, was coined by an early church leader named Tertullian (145-220 A.D.) over five hundred years before the Qur’an was even written. [45] Although the word “Trinity,” is not found in the Bible, nor is the word “Tahwid” found in the Qur’an either. 

       Each Person of the Godhead is eternal, meaning God the Father did not create God the Son at some point in time like some cults and false religions say He did. 

       Throughout the Old Testament references are made to the Trinity. For example, the first verse of the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”(Gen. 1:1). The Hebrew word translated “God” is the plural noun Elohim which occurs with the singular verb bārā (“created”), suggesting that in some sense God is both plural and singular. This is best explained by the Trinity.

       “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” (Gen. 1:26). The Hebrew phrase translated, “let Us make” (na‘ăśeh) again gives the idea of plurality. The word “Us” cannot refer to angels because angels do not create. Other references to God as “Us” can be seen in Genesis 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8. 

        “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name.” (Isa. 54:5). The word translated, “Maker” (‘ōśayiḵ) is plural in Hebrew. Therefore, we have a second Hebrew word that is plural that is used of God. 

        “16 Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me. 17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.’” (Isa. 48:16-17). In verse sixteen, God the Son is speaking. He identifies the Father [“the Lord God”] and “His Spirit” as having sent Him. In the next verse, the Son is clearly spoken of as “the Lord.” Hence, these verses identify three distinct Persons Who are God without denying the fact there is only one God. 

       “8 For He [the Lord] said, ‘Surely they are My people, children who will not lie.’ So, He became their Savior. 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old. 10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.” (Isa. 63:8-10). These verses make the most sense when we realize that the Lord or Yahweh (Father), the Angel of His presence (the Son), and the Holy Spirit are distinguishable as three Persons of the Trinity. 

       In the Old Testament, God is referred to as Father (Deut. 32:6; Isa. 63:16; Mal. 2:10), Son (Psa. 2:6-7, 12; 45:6-7; Prov. 30:1-4; Isa. 9:6), and Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Psa. 139:7-12; Isa. 11:2-3; 61:1; 63:10; Zech. 4:6). 

       The New Testament also refers to God as Father (Gal. 1:1, 3; Eph. 1:2-3), Son (John 20:28; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8; I John 5:20), and Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). We see each Person of the Trinity mentioned in several New Testament verses: 

–       “16  When He had been baptized, Jesus [Son] came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him [Son], and He [Son] saw the Spirit of God [Holy Spirit] descending like a dove and alighting upon Him [Son]. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My [Father] beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17 [brackets added]

–       “And I [Son] will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper [Holy Spirit], that He may abide with you forever.” John 14:16 [brackets added]

–       “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My [Son] name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I [Son] said to you.” John 14:26 [brackets added]

–       “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [Son], and the love of God [Father], and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 [brackets added]

       One of the reasons Jesus commands Christians to baptize in the name of the Triune God (Matt. 28:19) is because each Person of the Godhead had a part in our eternal salvation (see above pic) from hell (Eph. 1:3-14). God the Father has blessed believers with every spiritual blessing in the spiritual realm (1:3). The Father chose believers before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in Christ before the Father (1:4). God predetermined beforehand (“predestination”) to adopt into His family those who would believe or trust in Christ (1:5). The Father made us accepted in Christ (1:6). Conclusion: God the Father planned our salvation. 

       God the Son blessed us with “redemption” (He purchased us from sin by paying the penalty for all of our sins.) so we can have complete “forgiveness of sins” through faith in Christ (1:7-8; cf. Acts 10:43; Col. 2:13). God has revealed His plan of redemption to us in Christ (1:9-12). Conclusion: God the Son provided our salvation.     

       God the Holy Spirit has “sealed” all who “heard” and ”believed” the gospel, making them secure and safe forever (1:13-14). Conclusion: God the Holy Spirit produced and protected our salvation.

Conclusion

       Janosik writes, “It is important to point out that Christians believe in one God and not three separate gods. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three persons that make up the one God – three persons in one essence. This may be a difficult concept to grasp, but it is not contradictory nor illogical. Moreover, because the Christian God is a unity within the community of the Trinity, this explains why God desires His followers to love Him and worship Him through a relationship. It explains why God could come to the earth as a Man and personally take the place of sinners on the cross. The Trinity also explains why God did not have to create a universe to be love. In contrast, Allah is so transcendent and remote that Muslims cannot know him personally or have a relationship.” [46][emphasis added]

       The God of Islam (Allah) and the God of the Bible (Yahweh) cannot be the same. Why? Janosik  writes, “First of all, their natures are fundamentally different. Allah’s nature is based on absolute oneness (Tawhid), which means that there can be no personal relationship with anything or anyone else. The way in which he displays his attributes then, such as his will and his power, are impersonal and often seem capricious to his followers. Also, since his power is more important than his other attributes, there is an unequal emphasis on power over the other characteristics. In the end, a follower of Allah cannot know him or even be sure of consistency in his attributes.” [47] [emphasis added]

       “In addition, if Allah is a distant, remote being who reveals his will but not himself (Qur’an 67:12), then it is impossible to know him in a personal way. In Allah’s monadic oneness, his attributes stem from his powerful Will, which, because it provides no basis for relationship, often promotes capriciousness. Also, since his power is more important than his other attributes, there is an unequal emphasis on power over his other attributes. Therefore, a follower cannot know Allah or even be sure of the consistency of his attributes. In his absolute oneness there is unity but not the community of the trinity, and because of this lack of relationship, love is not emphasized.” [48] [emphasis added]

       “On the other hand, Yahweh is by nature a triune unity, which means that the three persons of the one Godhead have always been in relationship with one another. Therefore, because of this eternal relationship within the Trinity, love is promoted within the Godhead and is extended to His creation. Also, since His attributes are based on His unchanging nature rather than His powerful will, all of His attributes are equal and promote trustworthiness rather than uncertainty. This means that believers can know God and be sure of consistency in His attributes.

       “Second, Christians understand the nature of God to be triune (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), which is the only way that Jesus Christ, as the second person of the Trinity, could die on the cross to pay for our sins. If Jesus were not God Himself, then His death on the cross would be meaningless. However, Muslims deny that Jesus died on the cross and they reject the belief in His resurrection from the dead. Only a triune God, defined as one essence and three persons, could become incarnate and still remain God of the universe, and yet this is the God that Muslims reject. For them, Jesus cannot be God nor can God be a Father, for He cannot have a son. Therefore, if Muslims reject God as the Father of Jesus, then Allah cannot be the same as the God of the Bible.” [49] [emphasis added]

       Several years ago, I wrote an article about the original conflict between Arabs and Jews, and it alludes to the father wounds of Ishmael being passed down to Mohammed, the founder of Islam. Here is a portion of that article:

      Fourteen years after Ishmael was born, God faithfully fulfilled His promise of an heir through Sarah when Isaac was born (Gen. 21:1-3). After Isaac was weaned, Sarah saw Ishmael scoffing at Isaac so she tells Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away because Hagar would not be the heir with her son, Isaac (Gen. 21:8-10). Abraham was displeased to do this, but God came to him and assured Abraham that Sarah’s desire was within His will, telling him, “For in Isaac your seed shall be called.” (Gen. 21:12). Hagar and Ishmael were not to be heirs with Isaac, but God graciously promised to make Ishmael a great nation because he was a son of Abraham, “Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” (Gen. 21:13). It is from this nation that Islam eventually came.

      Joel Richardson, a teacher of Bible prophecy, says this about Islam (see above pic): “So now we have this story: Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael is a fourteen-year-old boy. He’s kicked out into the desert, but the Lord is faithful. He preserves him. He promises to make him into a great nation. So, we read these things and they’re interesting Bible stories but what I’m asking you to do is to put yourself in the position and recognize the fact that in history, in real time, this was a real boy… with real emotions, with a real life. This happened to a little kid named Ishmael. And so, what we need to understand is you have this little boy and… he had a dad. He had a mother. He had a family. He had a life. He had an inheritance. And in one day he loses all of these things. He loses his dad. He loses his inheritance. He’s out in the desert. He’s on his own. And that brokenness, that woundedness, that rejection that took place in this little child, today, has been passed on into the religion of Islam.

      “What do I mean? … Muhammad, the founder of Islam… claims to be a direct descendant of Ishmael. And Muslims, today, view themselves as both the physical and the spiritual descendants of Ishmael. And so here you have this story, this incredible event that took place in this child’s life. Two thousand six hundred years after these events took place, a direct descendant of Ishmael named Muhammad birthed forth a new religion into the world. And what does the religion teach? … It teaches God is not a Father. God has no Son. And, thirdly, Ishmael, not Isaac, is the heir with regard to the promises of God to the earth. The very things that those issues of rejection and woundedness and brokenness that took place in Ishmael’s life, were preserved in that line. And two thousand six hundred years later, a man named Muhammad goes into a cave, has an incredibly dark encounter with some sort of spiritual being. It literally chokes the life out of him to where he feels as though he’s going to die. Three times this presence comes over him and it demands of him to recite… On the third time, the words of the Qur’an begin to flow forth from his mouth.” [50] [emphasis added]

      I appreciate the compassion with which Dr. Richardson describes Islam. No wonder Islam denies that God is a Father and teaches that God had no Son. Ishmael’s brokenness regarding his own father has been passed on to Islam. The Church of Jesus Christ is to have compassion toward Muslims whom God desires to be saved (I Tim. 2:3-4). We are to value Muslims as Jesus does.

       “For God so loved the world…” Jesus tells us in John 3:16. This includes Islamists. How did He love them? He gave His Son to die for them. How do we show Christ’s love to them? Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44). When is the last time we blessed Islamists? When was the last time we did something good for them or prayed for them? As we bless them, do good to them, and pray for them, God can work to bring them to Christ. He may use us to share the gospel with them so they can believe in the Lord Jesus for His gift of salvation (Acts 16:31).

      When comparing a loved Son (Jesus) with a wounded son (Mohammed), the contrast is very significant:

      Our broken and chaotic world needs more sons (and daughters) who are loved by the Triune God of the Bible. The God of the Bible has always been relational. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have always existed and loved One Another (cf. Gen. 1:1-2, 26; John 1:1-3, 18; 3:35; 14:31; 17:5, 24; Rom. 5:5; 2 Cor. 13:14; et al.). Our God has never operated alone and nor should we. God has always consisted of three Eternal Persons Who relate to One Another in love and unity, and He calls us to do the same (cf. Eph. 4:1-6; 5:1-2; I John 4:7-21; et al.). 
        Prayer: Father God, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, thank You for revealing Yourself to us. The fact that You are one God in three eternal Persons reminds us that You do not operate alone and nor should we. Islam’s god is transcendent and remote and cannot be known personally. Hence, many Muslims are lonely and lack assurance that they are loved. Please help us to communicate to our Muslim friends that they are loved and valued by You so they can begin to open their hearts to a relationship with You. Thank You for hearing our prayer. In the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

ENDNOTES:

[1] Nabeel Qureshi, No God but One: Allah or Jesus? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016 Kindle Edition), pg. 49.

[2] Ibid., pp. 49-50.

[3] Ibid., pg. 50. 

[4] Ibid., pp. 50-51. 

[5] Ibid., pg. 51. 

[6] Ibid. 

[7] Retrieved on September 6, 2026, from Jay Smith, May 1995 Apologetic Paper entitled, “Tahwid: Belief in One God,” at this Link – https://www.pfandercenter.org/blog/articles/tawhid-belief-in-one-god

[8] Verse taken from Usama K. Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book (Venice, FL: Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC, 2009 Smashwords Edition), pp. 544-545. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[9] Daniel Janosik, THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM: What Every Christian Needs to Know About Islam and the Rise of Radical Islam (Cambridge, OH: Christian Publishing House, 2019 Kindle Edition), pg. 94 cites Reza Aslan, No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam (New York: Random House, 2006), pg. 150.

[10] Verse taken from Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book, 2009 Smashwords Edition, pg. 140. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[11] Ibid., pg. 186. 

[12] Ibid., pg. 240.

[13] Ibid., pp. 448-449.

[14] Ibid., pg. 547. 

[15] Ibid., pg. 699. 

[16] Ibid., pp. 209-210.

[17] Janosik, THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM, 2019 Kindle Edition, pg. 94. 

[18] Ibid., pp. 94-95. 

[19] Verse taken from Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book, 2009 Smashwords Edition, pg. 162. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[20] Janosik, THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM, 2019 Kindle Edition, pg. 95. 

[21] Verse taken from Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book, 2009 Smashwords Edition, pg. 219. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[22] Ibid., pg. 197. 

[23] Ibid., pg. 240. 

[24] Smith, May 1995 Apologetic Paper entitled, “Tahwid: Belief in One God,” at www.pfandercenter.org.

[25] Norman L. Geisler, “Jesus and Muhammad in the Qur’an: A Comparison and Contrast,” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology SBJT 08:1 (Spring 2004), pg. 58, endnote #3.

[26] Verse taken from Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book, 2009 Smashwords Edition, pg. 121. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[27] Ibid., pg. 295.

[28] Ibid., pg. 655.

[29] It must be noted that there are examples of where God allows people to be deceived as a form of judgment on those who have resisted His truth and rebelled against Him (cf. 2 Sam. 24:1; I Kgs. 22:19-23; Ezek. 14:9-10; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; et al.). See Robert B. Chisholm, Jr’s article entitled, “Does God Deceive?”, Bibliotheca Sacra BSAC 155:617 (Jan. 1998).

[30] Janosik, THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM, 2019 Kindle Edition, pg. 141;  Norman L. Geisler and Abdul Saleeb, Answering Islam: The Crescent in Light of the Cross Second Ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1993, 2002), pg. 126. 

[31] Janosik, THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM, 2019 Kindle Edition, pg. 142;  Geisler and Saleeb, Answering Islam (1993, 2002), pp. 178-179.

[32] Verse taken from Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book, 2009 Smashwords Edition, pp. 239-240. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[33] Ibid., pg. 366. 

[34] Ibid., pg. 625. 

[35] Ibid., pg. 688.

[36] Verse taken from Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book, 2009 Smashwords Edition, pg. 38. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[37] Ibid., pg. 141. 

[38] “So when the forbidden months are passed, [pre-Islamic tradition of not fighting during a four-month period] so kill the polytheists [Jews and Christians] wherever you find them…” (Qur’an 9:5). “12 And if they break their oath after their covenant and stab in your religion, so engage in war with the leaders of the infidelity… 14 Engage in war with them. Allah will torment them by your hands and put them to shame and give you victory over them and heal chests of a believing people… 26 Then Allah sent down his tranquility on his messenger and on the believers, and he sent down troops which you did not see. And he tormented those who became infidels. And this is the reward of the infidels… 29 Engage in war with those who do not believe in Allah nor in the last day. Nor forbid what Allah and his messenger forbid, nor believe in the religion of the truth [Islam] among those who have been given the book until they pay the jizya [tribute – non-Arabic word of Aramaic origin] out of hand and they are subdued… 30 And the Jews said, ‘Uzair [Ezra – non-Arabic word of Hebrew origin] is the son of Allah.’ And the Nasara (Christians) said, ‘The Christ is the son of Allah.’ This is their saying with their mouths; they repeat the sayings of those who became infidels before. Allah engages in war with them… 73 O you prophet, perform jihad against the infidels and the hypocrites, and be harsh with them. And their abode will be hell, and evil is the final place. 74 They swear by Allah that they did not say, and indeed, they said the word of the infidelity, and they became infidels after they became Muslims. They planned what they could not attain and only disapproved of it because Allah and his messenger had enriched them from his bounty. So, if they repent, it will be better for them. And if they turn away, Allah will torment them with a painful torment in this world and the hereafter, and they will not have on earth a friend nor helper.” (Qur’an 9:12, 14, 26, 29-30, 73-74).Verses taken from taken from Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book, 2009 Smashwords Edition, pp. 306-308, 310-312, 319-320. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[39] “72 Infidels, indeed, are those who said, ‘Surely Allah is the Christ, son of Mary.’ And the Christ said, ‘O children of Israel, serve Allah, my lord and your lord.’ Surely whoever partners with Allah, so indeed, Allah forbids him the garden. And his abode is the fire, and the unjust will have no helpers. 73 Infidels, indeed, are those who said, ‘SurelyAllah is the third of three.’ And there is no god except one god, and if they do not refrain from what they are saying, a painful torment will touch those who became infidels among them.” (Qur’an 5:72-73). “It was not for polytheists to visit the mosque of Allah; they witness against themselves with infidelity. Those, their works are in vain, and in the fire they will abide forever.” (Qur’an 9:17). Verses taken from taken from Dakdok, THE GENEROUS QUR’AN: An Accurate, Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book, 2009 Smashwords Edition, pp. 209-210; 308. Used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.

[40] When Satan (the dragon) and his fallen angels failed to destroy the Christ Child at His birth (Rev. 12:3-4; cf. Matt. 2:16) and during His earthly ministry (Rev. 12:5), Satan was determined to kill what was most precious to Jesus after Christ ascended to heaven – the Lord’s own people (Jews and Gentiles) during the church age (John 15:18-25; 16:1-3; I Pet. 5:8) and His Jewish people during the Tribulation period (Rev. 12:6-17; cf. Matt. 24:9-22).

[41] Ibid. 

[42] Adapted from Qureshi, No God but One: Allah or Jesus? 2016 Kindle Edition, pp. 55-56. 

[43] Ibid., pg. 56. 

[44] Ibid.

[45] Smith, May 1995 Apologetic Paper entitled, “Tahwid: Belief in One God,” at www.pfandercenter.org.

[46] Janosik, THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM, 2019 Kindle Edition, pp. 105-106. 

[47] Ibid., pg. 263.

[48] Ibid., pg. 95. 

[49] Ibid., pg. 263. 

[50] Joel Richardson, Return Is Near: Strategic Insights Into the Most Important Moment In History, 2011 DVD.  

[51] Nabeel Qureshi, No God but One: Allah or Jesus? 2016 Kindle Edition,pg. 261, Qureshi states, “Muhammad personally oversaw the beheadings of up to nine hundred men on a single day, digging trenches in the marketplaces so that their corpses could fall into mass graves upon being decapitated (cites Muhammad Husayn Hasykal, The Life of Muhammad [USA: North American Trust, 1976], pg. 494); he ordered the assassination of an old man who had composed poetry complaining about Muhammad (cites Ibid., pg. 675); a woman lamented the old man’s death in poetry, so Muhammad ordered her assassination, and her blood splattered on her children as she breastfed (cites Ibid., pp. 675-676).” (Footnotes 3-5)

[52] Ibid., pp. 250-251, Qureshi states, “What is striking, though, is how enthusiastically Muhammad embraced warfare. He said that fighting is literally the best thing in the world (cites Sahih Bukhari 4.52.50). Nothing earns a Muslim more reward than fighting in jihad, and it is better than praying without ceasing and fasting perpetually (cites Sahih Bukhari 4.52.44). Muhammad taught that dying in battle is so great that it is the only thing that would make a man want to leave heaven (cites Sahih Bukhari 4.52.72). As far as his conduct with enemies, at times Muhammad would invoke curses upon them (cites Sahih Bukhari 5.59.297) and encourage his men to compose insults and abusive poetry (cites Sahih Bukhari 5.59.449). On one occasion, he asked Allah to fill peoples’ homes with flames simply because they delayed the Muslims in their daily prayers (cites Sahih Bukhari 4.52.182)… At other times, it also does not appear that Muhammad fought only those who were attacking him. Muhammad said, ‘I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger . . . then they save their lives and property from me.’ (cites Sahih Bukhari 1.2.25). Muhammad clarifies in another hadith, I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.’ (cites Sahih Muslim 1767).” (Footnotes 8-13, 20-21).

[53] Ibid., pp. 250-251, Qureshi states, “Muhammad sent assassins to kill his enemies in their sleep (cites Sahih Bukhari 5.59.370), and even to deceive and abuse trust in order to assassinate (cites Sahih Bukhari 5.59.369). He punished some enemies by cutting off their hands and feet, branding their eyes with a heated iron, and causing them to lick the dust until they died (cites Sahih Bukhari 7.71.589). He led battles against unarmed cities (cites Sahih Bukhari 1.11.584). He allowed even women and children to be killed during nighttime raids (cites Sahih Bukhari 4.52.256). On more than one occasion, Muhammad decimated tribes by killing all their men and teenage boys while distributing their women and children as slaves (cites Sahih Bukhari 5.59.362 with Banu Quraiza; Sahih Bukhari 5.59.512 with the inhabitants of Khaibar.) This is quite contrary to the image of a Muhammad who reluctantly fought only defensive battles.” (Footnotes 14-19).

[54] Ibid., pp. 137, 252, Qureshi states, “When we turn to the example of Muhammad’s life, we find multiple accounts of Muhammad not just allowing sex slavery but also encouraging Muslims who were hesitant to use their newly captured women for sexual intercourse (cites Sahih Muslim 3432, 3371; Sunan Abi Dawud 11.2150; and Sahih Bukhari 3.46.718)… The hadith say that this is the very reason why 4.24 of the Quran was revealed, so that men would not be hesitant to have sex with female captives whose husbands were still alive. These accounts of Muhammad’s life influenced Muslims throughout the classical age of Islam and delineated their rules of war. These are the accounts to which ISIS appeals now…. Regarding his estimation and treatment of women: Muhammad allowed for prostitution through the institution of temporary marriage (cites Sahih Bukhari 6:60.139; Sahih Muslim 3248); when fifty-two years old he consummated his marriage with his nine-year-old bride Aisha, who was still playing with dolls (cites Sahih Muslim 3481; see also Sahih Bukhari 7:62.64); Muhammad allowed his men to have sex with female captives and slaves, unconcerned if they became pregnant or were to be sold (cites the Quran 23:1-6; Sahih Bukhari 5.59.459; Sahih Muslim 3371 and 3384); Muhammad declared women to be mentally deficient compared to men (Sahih Bukhari 3.48.826); and Muhammad said women will be the majority of hell’s inhabitants because they are ungrateful to their husbands (cites Sahih Bukhari 2.18.161).” (Footnotes 26-30).

[55] Ibid., pp. 138, 251-252, 261, Qureshi states, “Muhammad had commanded that, except in night raids, children could not be killed in war. So, when a group of people were taken captive, such as the Qurayza Jews, the boys were separated from men by the growth of pubic hair, and the men were executed. (cites Sunan Abi Dawud 39.4390)… Of course, this allowance of Muhammad also explains why the Seljuq Turks and virtually all other Muslim dynasties had no qualms about capturing boys and making them slave warriors. Muhammad himself enslaved Jewish boys, perhaps a merciful act in light of the fact that their fathers were all beheaded that day… When fifty-two years old he consummated his marriage with his nine-year-old bride Aisha, who was still playing with dolls (cites Sahih Muslim 3481; see also Sahih Bukhari 7:62.64); He allowed even women and children to be killed during nighttime raids (cites Sahih Bukhari 4.52.256). On more than one occasion, Muhammad decimated tribes by killing all their men and teenage boys while distributing their women and children as slaves (cites Sahih Bukhari 5.59.362 with Banu Quraiza; Sahih Bukhari 5.59.512 with the inhabitants of Khaibar.)… when Muhammad was about to execute a man, the man pleaded, ‘Who will look after my children?’ to which Muhammad responded, ‘Hell!’ (cites Hasykal, The Life of Muhammad, pg. 308).” (Footnotes 7, 8, 18, 19, 27)

[56] Hasykal, The Life of Muhammad, pg. 74. 

[57] Qureshi, No God but One, 2016 Kindle Edition, pg. 252 states, “There is a passing reference to the satanic verse in Shahih Bukhari 2.19.177, in which Muhammad recites Sura Najm, causing jinn and pagans to prostrate with him. This is part of a much larger account, found in thirty-seven early Islamic records. Shahab Ahmed, a Muslim scholar who graduated from Princeton University and taught at Harvard University, submitted his 1999 doctoral dissertation on this topic, arguing that Muhammad actually did proclaim the satanic verses.” (Footnote 25).

John 1 – Part 1: “Who is Jesus Christ?”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

From the opening section of the gospel, John addresses this question, “Who is Jesus Christ?” John focuses upon the central fact of our Christian faith: Christianity is not about philosophy; it is about a Person.

While other world religions focus upon rules and regulations, Christianity focuses on a personal relationship with Christ. That is why Jesus Christ is the most widely acclaimed individual in human history. More books have been written, music composed, pictures painted, and dramas performed about Jesus than any other person. Why?

Why did other great figures come and go? Why do others fade into the annals of history but Jesus Christ looms as large in modern society as He did two thousand years ago? Why is He the most powerful Personality to ever appear on this planet? That is the question John answers in these first few verses: Who is Jesus Christ?

We are going to examine the first five verses of John’s gospel in this chapter, and in so doing, we will answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” in these verses and as we uncover who Jesus is, we will be challenged as to why we should believe in Him. Let’s examine three reasons why we should believe in Jesus for eternal life; why we should trust in Him alone to get us to heaven.

BELIEVE ON JESUS BECAUSE HE IS GOD (1:1-2). John begins his gospel in an unusual way. Unlike the writers of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, who begin their accounts of Jesus in an historical context, John opens his gospel in eternity. Unlike Matthew who begins his gospel with the genealogy of Abraham and Mark who begins with the story of John the Baptist, or Luke who starts with a description of John and Jesus’ birth. John moves beyond human history. 1:1a: Do the words, “In the beginning” sound familiar to you? They take us back to Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” John starts with God. In the Bible, you cannot go any further back than God, and that is where John begins, in eternity past with God’s eternal purpose.

And what does he tell us? 1:1ab: “In the beginning was the Word.” The term “Word” [1] is used by John to refer to the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 17). A Word expresses a message. Jesus was God’s message to the world.  He was and is the perfect expression of God.

What does the Bible tell us about the Word? 1:1ab: HE IS ETERNAL. In the beginning of time and space, the Word already “was.” [2]  The Word really had no beginning. There has never been a time when “the Word” was not, because He is eternal. The Word has existed from all eternity. At creation, the Word was already present. He is not a created being as some false religions teach. He has no beginning because He is eternal.

1:1c, 2: HE IS RELATIONAL. The phrase “and the Word was with God” refers to the Word being “with” God the Father in a “face-to-face” relationship. 1:2: “He was in the beginning with God.” Jesus Christ has always enjoyed a personal relationship with His Father. They had perfect fellowship with one another. The word “with” [3] also distinguishes the Word from God the Father. Jesus is separate and distinct from His Father. He has a separate identity. Jesus is a Person, not a principle or Star War’s force. Because Christ is eternal and relational, we can conclude that He desires eternal relationships with those He created.

1:1d: “and the Word was God.” [4] The Word was not “a god” as some false religions mistranslate. The Greek grammar does not allow this. [5] The Word is GOD. These last five words are some of the most important words in all the Bible concerning who Jesus is. He was and is God. Whatever God the Father was, the Word was. Everything that makes God-God, the Word possesses. Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. When you look at Jesus Christ, you are looking at God in human flesh. Only God can give us life that never ends.

 “In other words, the Father and Son are not two distinct gods. Rather, the Son shares the divine nature. Theologically speaking, the Father, Son, and Spirit are co-equal members of the Trinity. Our one God (see Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:6) exists in three co-equal Persons (see Matt. 28:19).”[6]

Christianity has always taught and believed there is only one God. The difference between our monotheism and other monotheists is not on the number of gods, but on the concept of God’s Personhood. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that the one God exists as three Persons. This is not a self-contradiction as some charge because person is not the same as being. Your being is the quality that makes you what you are, but your person is the quality that makes you who you are. For example, we are humans. That is what we are. That is why we are called human beings. But what we are is not the same as who we are. If someone asks, “Who are you?” I would not respond by saying, “A human.” That answers the question of what I am, not who I am. Who I am is Jeff; that is my person. What I am is a human; that is my being. Being and person are separate. [7]

Unlike a human being, which has only one person, God has three Persons. He is one being, Yahweh, in three Persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. He is more than able to exist like that because He is God. If we say God must have only one Person, like humans, then we are making God in our image. Who are we to limit God? It is up to God to tell us who He is, and He has in the Bible. [8]

Our human reason alone cannot dictate or even decipher the nature of God. God is far greater than we can possibly conceive and more complex than we could ever hope to grasp. We are in no position to determine the intricacies of God’s nature. If He were to inform us He is one Being in one Person, we are obligated to believe Him. If He tells us, “I am one Being in three Persons,” who are we to say no to God? As believers in revelation, we must turn to divine Scripture to learn about God. [9]      

Both the Old Testament (Gen. 1:2, 26; Deut. 32:6; Psalm 2:6-7, 12; 45:6-7; 139:7-12; Isaiah 9:6; 11:2-3; 63:10, 16; Zech. 4:6; Mal. 2:10) and the New Testament (Matt. 3:16-17; John 14:16-17, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14) teach about the distinction between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Trinity is equal in every way having the same divine nature, yet distinct in their tasks and relations to humanity.

We see in the chart above that the Father is God, but He is not the Son nor the Holy Spirit. Likewise, the Son is God, but He is neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Father nor the Son. All three Persons of the Trinity have the same divine nature. They are one being, yet they exist eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Constable writes, “There is probably no fully adequate illustration of the Trinity in the natural world. An egg consists of three parts: shell, yolk, and white. Each part is fully egg, yet each has its own identity that distinguishes it from the other parts. The human family is another illustration. Father, mother, and child are all separate entities—yet each one is fully a member of his or her own family. Each may have a different first name, but all bear the same family name. Light, when passed through a prism, is seen to be composed of three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Similarly, the person of God, when revealed in Scripture, is seen to consist of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hydrogen dioxide can be water, ice, and steam and still be H2O.” [10]

Another example of the Trinity is seen in every human being. First Thessalonians 5:23 tells us that every human is comprised of three parts: “spirit, soul, and body.” While each part is fully human, each part is separate and distinct from the others.

The Word is “with” God (separate from Him), yet at the same time, He is fully God. So, John informs us that the Word is God. If we cannot or do not believe this basic truth, we will not have enough faith to trust our eternal destiny to Him. Who is Jesus? He is God. Believe in Him. He wants you to spend eternity with Him in His heaven (cf. John 14:1-3).

BELIEVE ON JESUS BECAUSE HE IS THE CREATOR (1:3). Not only was the Word present at creation, He was also the agent of creation. 1:3: “All things were made through Him.”  Does John say that all things were made through evolution? (Pause). No! All things were made through Christ (cf. Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2)! Everything that exists owes its existence to the Word. He is the Creator. Apart from Him, there is no existence. Jesus Christ created this universe. I believe in the Big Bang alright. God spoke (BOOM) and the universe came into being (Gen. 1-2).

Through Jesus all things “were made,” [11] but He always “was.” [12] Any being “not made or created” or not brought into being because He already existed is God. Three times John uses the word “made” (1:3). Anything that is made has a beginning. At some point in time it did not exist, and then it began to exist. John wants to establish that the Word already existed when He made all things. The Word never had a beginning because He is God. [13]

This is very important to understand because in John’s day to the present, there have been many false religions and teachers who insist that Jesus Christ is not God because He had a beginning. They teach that Christ was the first created being by God who then created everything else. For example, Arius, a third century false teacher, was fond of saying, “There was a time when He [Jesus] was not.” [14]

Swindoll notes that “this teaching continues today as official doctrine for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and both organizations have translated John’s prologue to suit their theologies.” [15]

John refutes these false teachings at the beginning of his gospel. But the apostle also wants to emphasize that the Creator knows our inner workings better than anyone; He knows our needs and what it will take to reach us.

A doctor had hired a new secretary. She was pretty and thin. Part of her responsibilities was mailing out the bills to all the doctor’s patients. The doctor began to notice that it was taking more time than should be necessary for her to fulfill this task, and so he observed her one day. He discovered that rather than using the wet sponge to seal the envelopes, she was licking each one. This took a long time. The doctor asked her to use the sponge instead of licking each one, but the new secretary said that she would rather do it the other way. The doctor tried all kinds of motivations to try and convince her to do things his way. He tried telling her how much quicker it would be, he told her that her mouth wouldn’t get so dry. He even tried switching the type of envelopes that he used to one of those kind that had nasty-tasting glue. Nothing worked.

One day, a patient came to her window to pay her bill and noticed that the secretary was licking the envelopes. She said to her, “Did you know that each envelope has about 1 ½ calories?” The secretary immediately stopped and began using a wet sponge. Sometimes it takes a woman to communicate in a woman’s language. Likewise, it takes the Creator to communicate in His creation’s language. Christ spoke to us with love when He took our place and punishment on the cross for our sins (cf. Rom. 5:8; I John 4:9-10).

BELIEVE ON JESUS BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE (1:4-5). John moves now from creation in general to the most significant element of creation – people. 1:4: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Christ created you and me so that we could enjoy a personal relationship with Him. The word “life” [16] in the gospel of John can refer to physical life (1:3) and spiritual life (1:12). Most often it refers to eternal life in John (3:15-16,36; 4:14, 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54, 58, 68; 10:28; 12:25, 50; 17:2-3). Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and His Son, Jesus Christ personally in a forever relationship (17:3). Jesus was God’s way of meeting us where we were to take us where we could never go.

Before we come to know Jesus Christ, we are merely existing. We get up, eat breakfast, go to work, come home from work, eat supper, watch TV, and go to bed. Then we repeat the same cycle the next day. That is merely existing. We don’t start living until we enter a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by believing or trusting in Him alone for His gift of eternal life.

When the Bible says, “the life was the light of men” (1:4), it is referring to the hope (“light”) that Christ’s message of eternal (“life”) brings to people in darkness. Also, when we enter a relationship with God (“life”), we become aware of God’s holiness and righteousness (“light”). Life is the foundation for growth in the light (cf. I John 1:5-10).

1:5: John contrasts “the light” of God with “the darkness” of sinful humanity. The word “comprehend,” [17] can also mean “overtake.”[18] The darkness of this world cannot overcome or extinguish the light of Jesus Christ. This contrast between light and darkness represents spiritual conflict. The light of Christ has and will overcome the darkness of sinful people.

“John did not view the world as a stage on which two equal and opposing forces engage in battle; he was not a philosophical dualist. He viewed Jesus as superior to the forces of darkness that sought to overcome Him but could not. This gives humankind hope. The forces of Light are stronger than the forces of Darkness. John was here anticipating the outcome of the story that he would tell, specifically, Calvary. Though darkness continues to prevail, the Light will overcome it.” [19]

“Because of the temptation of Satan, humankind has fallen into the darkness of sin (see Gen. 3). He has blinded the minds of people to keep them from seeing the glory of Christ (see 2 Cor. 4:4). But Jesus has come to bring illumination so that people can see things as they truly are. John’s Gospel shows us how Jesus was continually rejected; nevertheless, the darkness did not overcome His light (1:5). Though His enemies crucified Him, He was actually glorified in His death on the cross (see 13:31-32) and victorious in His resurrection, resulting in the provision of salvation for all people (see John 3:16; Rom. 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 John 2:2).” [20]

Remember, John is writing this gospel after the resurrection. He knows that Jesus Christ could not be overcome by the spiritual darkness of this world. He is the winner. The light shines (continually) in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. A single light penetrates fifty miles of darkness. Darkness cannot overcome light.

Christian author Max Lucado tells the story about a tribe of people who lived in a dark, cold cave: “The cave dwellers would huddle together and cry against the chill. Loud and long, they wailed. It was all they did. It was all they knew to do. The sounds in the cave were mournful, but the people didn’t know it, for they had never known life.

But then, one day, they heard a different voice. “I have heard your cries,” it announced. “I have felt your chill and seen your darkness. I have come to help.”

The cave people grew quiet. They had never heard this voice. Hope sounded strange to their ears. “How can we know you have come to help?”

“Trust me,” he answered. “I have what you need.”

The cave people peered through the darkness at the figure of the stranger. He was stacking something, then stooping and stacking more.

“What are you doing?” one cried, nervous.

 The stranger didn’t answer.

 “What are you making?” one shouted even louder.

 Still no response.

“Tell us!” demanded a third.

The visitor stood and spoke in the direction of the voices. “I have what you need.” With that he turned to the pile at his feet and lit it. Wood ignited, flames erupted, and light filled the cavern.

The cave people turned away in fear. “Put it out!” they cried. “It hurts to see it.”

“Light always hurts before it helps,” he answered. “Step closer. The pain will soon pass.”

“Not I,” declared a voice.

 “Nor I,” agreed a second.

“Only a fool would risk exposing his eyes to such light.”

The stranger stood next to the fire. “Would you prefer the darkness? Would you prefer the cold? Don’t consult your fears. Take a step of faith.”

For a long time, no one spoke. The people hovered in groups covering their eyes. The fire builder stood next to the fire. “It’s warm here,” he invited.

“He’s right,” one from behind him announced. “It’s warmer.” The stranger turned and saw a figure slowly stepping toward the fire. “I can open my eyes now,” she proclaimed. “I can see.”

“Come closer,” invited the fire builder.

 She did. She stepped into the ring of light. “It’s so warm!” She extended her hands and sighed as her chill began to pass. “Come, everyone! Feel the warmth,” she invited.

“Silence, woman!” cried one of the cave dwellers. “Dare you lead us into your folly? Leave us and take your light with you.”

She turned to the stranger. “Why won’t they come?”

“They choose the chill, for though it’s cold, it’s what they know. They’d rather be cold than change.”

“And live in the dark?”

“And live in the dark.”

 The now-warm woman stood silent. Looking first at the dark, then at the man.

“Will you leave the fire?” he asked.

She paused, then answered, “I cannot. I cannot bear the cold.” Then she spoke again. “But nor can I bear the thought of my people in darkness.”

“You don’t have to,” he responded, reaching into the fire and removing a stick. “Carry this to your people. Tell them the light is here, and the light is warm. Tell them the light is for all who desire it.”

And so, she took the small flame and stepped into the shadows.”[21]

Why should I believe on Jesus? Because He is the only source of eternal life. He gives forgiveness instead of fear… grace instead of guilt… cleansing instead of condemnation… mercy instead of misery… life instead of death… hope instead of despair.

One thing we will be constantly reminded of in John’s gospel is that the message of Jesus demands a response: a response of belief or unbelief. Ninety-nine times in the Greek Majority Text John uses the word “believe.” [22] The biblical meaning of the word “believe” conveys absolute certainty. When studying the gospel of John, we discover that saving faith consists of three components: [23]

1. KNOWING THE GIFT OF GOD AND THE GIVER OF THAT GIFT. I cannot receive a gift until I know about that gift and the giver of that gift. This is why Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10). Before she could ask for the gift of God from the Giver of that gift, she needed to know what the gift was and the identity of the Giver. What is it that the apostle John wants a lost person to know about the gift of God?

a. The gift of God is eternal life (4:14a).

b. Eternal life is knowing God personally forever through Jesus Christ (17:3).

c. Eternal life cannot be lost because the believer can never thirst again for it (4:14b). How is this possible? When a person believes in Jesus, He digs a well in the human heart that continuously meets the needs of the one who drinks from it. But Jacob’s well was in the earth and the drinker of it must return again and again (4:12). Men dig wells in the earth, only Jesus Christ can dig a well in the human heart so that it gushes up into everlasting life. Jesus’ well never runs dry.

What is it that the apostle John wants a lost person to know about the Giver of the gift of God?

a.  He is Jesus Christ (4:16-26).

b.  He is fully God (John 1:1, 34, 49; 5:16-47; 6:69; 8:57-59; 11:27; 20:28)

c.  He is fully man (John 1:14; 4:6; 11:35; 12:27; 19:28)

d.  His death and resurrection (John 2:19, 22; 3:14-15; 12:23-24, 27-33; 10:11, 17). Jesus’ death and resurrection are called the gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-8. His death and resurrection make it possible for Him to offer eternal life as a free gift.

2. A CONVICTION ABOUT CHRIST’S PERSON AND WORK. The information received about Jesus must be accepted as true. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world’” (John 11:25-27). Martha believed – she was convinced Jesus was speaking the truth. The most basic meaning of the Greek word translated “believe” [24] is “to consider or be persuaded something is true and therefore worthy of one’s trust” [25]  and the word translated “faith” [26] is the “state of believing on the basis of the reliability of the one trusted, trust, confidence, faith.” [27]

Charles Pittman, a trial lawyer for over 40 years writes:

“I dealt with evidence all the time; I know something about evidence. I have examined the evidence: Jesus died – He was killed by professional executioners; He was buried in a tomb which was sealed, guarded and made secure as possible on Pilate’s orders; the tomb was empty which is undisputed; no dead body was ever produced; Jesus was seen alive by many people at different times and places over the next 40 days. The evidence convinces my mind that Jesus is God, He died taking the punishment for my sins, and God raised Him from the dead. Based on that truth, I chose or exercised my will to believe in Jesus and to trust Jesus and Jesus alone to forgive my sins and grant me eternal life in heaven.” [28]

Unlike Pittman, however, many people have heard of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but they are not convinced that they really happened.

3. TRUSTING IN JESUS ALONE FOR EVERLASTING LIFE. The two Greek words translated “believe” [29] and “faith” [30] include the idea of “trust.” [31] The gospel of John emphasizes this often by placing a preposition after the word “believe.” [32]  For example:

“Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life.” John 3:36

“Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life.” John 6:40

“He who believes in Me has everlasting life.” John 6:47

“Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” John 11:26 

When an unsaved person understands that Christ died for his sins and rose from the dead and even accepts it as being true, yet still trusts in his good works to get him to heaven, his faith is not saving. Saving faith understands that Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead, is convinced that this is true, and personally chooses to believe or trust in Christ alone for the free gift of eternal life.

For example, I remember a woman, named, Michelle, in our church plant in Des Moines, Iowa, having her car break down during the summer on her way to work. It looked like she would be late for work. But then along came a lady from Missouri who offered her a ride. What did Michelle do? She was convinced this woman could get her to work, so she trusted that woman, a person, to get her to work. When Michelle offered to pay her, she refused to take her money. Michelle’s trip to work was free.

Likewise, God is asking us to believe or trust a Person – His Son, Jesus Christ, to give us a free ride to heaven. It is free to you and me, but it cost God the life of His Son. That is what believe means. When you believe in Jesus to get you to His heaven, you are telling God you are depending on His Son alone to get you to His heaven.

John’s gospel demands a response to Jesus Christ. Will I believe in Christ alone to get me to heaven, or will I reject Him and spend eternity separated from God? To reject Christ is to turn from God Himself, the Creator of the world. To deny Christ is to continue in spiritual darkness and death. Only Jesus Christ offers everlasting life freely. Do you have a personal relationship with the Creator God… the only One who guarantees eternal life to those who believe in Him? If not, why not begin a never-ending relationship with Him today? Simply take Christ at His Word when He says in John 5:24: “Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me, has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” What does Jesus say you must do to obtain eternal life? “Hears … and believes.” Hear His promise of eternal life and believe Him to give it to you. You will never regret doing this.  

If you believed or trusted in Jesus alone to give you everlasting life, you can tell God this through prayer. But remember, praying a prayer is not what gets you to heaven. Only believing in Jesus gets us to heaven. This prayer is a way of telling God you are now believing or trusting in His Son alone. You can say this to God:

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I come to you now as a sinner. I cannot save myself. Nothing I am or do makes me deserving of heaven. I believe You died for me on the cross and rose from the dead. I believe You alone can guarantee me everlasting life, a judgment free future, and passage from death into life. I am now trusting in You alone Jesus (not my good life, my prayers, or my religion), to save me from hell forever and give me everlasting life. Thank You for the eternal life I now have and future home I will have in Your heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When you believed in Jesus, the Bible says you can “know” that you have eternal life. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13). The Bible does not say you may “think” or “hope” that you have eternal life. It says you can “know” with absolute certainty that eternal life is yours.

Prayer of thanksgiving: Precious Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing that You are the eternal God, the Creator God, and the only Source of life that never ends. Therefore, we can trust You not only to get us to heaven, but to meet our needs here on earth. Because You are our Creator God, You have the power to take care of all of our needs. You have the ability to change us from the inside out as we learn to trust and obey You. Thank You for walking with us on this journey called life. You are an amazing Friend! Always full of grace and truth. Always faithful and trustworthy. There is no one like You in the whole universe! We bow our hearts before You and worship You, our Lord and our God! We love You, Jesus. Thank You for loving us more than we ever thought possible! In Your name we pray, Lord Jesus. Amen.

ENDNOTES:

[1] Logos

[2] ēn

[3] pros

[4] kai Theós ēn ho Lógos

[5] The translation of John 1:1c, “And the Word was God” (kai Theós ēn ho Lógos), is based on the Greek rule of grammar (Colwell’s rule) which states that the definite predicate nominative, “God” (Theós), in front of the verb “was” (ēn), will not have the article. See E. C. Colwell, “A Definite Rule for the Use of the Article in the Greek New Testament,” Journal of Biblical Literature 52 (1933), pp. 12-21. In Koine Greek, word endings determine the subject. But since both “Word” (Logos) and “God” (Theos) have the same ending, John added the article (ho) to Logos to identify it as the subject of the sentence.

[6] Tony Evans, CSB Bibles by Holman. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (B&H Publishing Group, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 1746.

[7] Adapted from Nabeel Qureshi, No God but One: Allah or Jesus? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016 Kindle Edition), pp. 55-56.

[8] Ibid., pg. 56.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, 2023 Edition, pp. 23-24.

[11] egeneto

[12] ēn

[13] Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on John, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary Book 4 (Tyndale House Publishers, 2014 Kindle Edition), pp. 20-22.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid., pg. 21.

[16] zōē

[17] katalambanō

[18] Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature: Third Edition revised and edited by Frederick William Danker (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000 Kindle Edition), pp. 519-520; cf. Robert Wilkin; J. Bond; Gary Derickson; Brad Doskocil; Zane Hodges; Dwight Hunt; Shawn Leach. The Grace New Testament Commentary: Revised Edition (Grace Evangelical Society, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 179.

[19] Constable, Dr. Constable’s Notes on John, pg. 27 cites David J. MacLeod, “The Creation of the Universe by the Word: John 1:3-5,” Bibliotheca Sacra 160:638 (April-June 2003):187-201.

[20] Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary, pg. 1747.

[21] Taken from https://maxlucado.com/woodcutters-wisdom-and-other-favorite-stories/.

[22] pisteuō – John 1:7, 12, 50; 2:11, 22, 23; 3:12(2), 15, 16, 18(3), 36; 4:21, 39, 41, 42, 48, 50, 53; 5:24, 38, 44, 46(2), 47(2); 6:29, 30, 35, 36, 40, 47,  64(2), 69; 7:5, 31, 38, 39, 48; 8:24, 30, 31, 45, 46; 9:18, 35, 36, 38; 10:25, 26, 37, 38(3), 42; 11:15, 25, 26(2), 27, 40, 42, 45, 48; 12:11, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 44(2), 46, 47; 13:19; 14:1(2), 10, 11(2), 12, 29; 16:9, 27, 30, 31; 17:8, 20, 21; 19:35; 20:8, 25, 29(2), 31(2).

[23] R. Larry Moyer, You Can Tell It! Seminar On Personal Evangelism Instructor Manual, EvanTell, Inc., 2003, pp. 13-17.

[24] pisteuō

[25] Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, pp. 816-817.

[26] pistis

[27] Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, pp. 818-819.

[28] Used with permission from an email from Charles Pittman on November 6, 2012.

[29] pisteuō

[30] pistis

[31] Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, pp. 816-19.

[32] Ibid. Bing states that “after noting every use of pisteuō in the gospel of John (pisteuō eis with accusative –  John 1:12; 2:11, 23; 3:15,16, 18a, 18c, 36; 4:39; 6:29, 35, 40, 47; 7:5, 31, 38, 39, 48; 8:30; 9:35, 36; 10:42; 11:25, 26a, 45,48; 12:11, 36, 37, 42,44 [twice], 46; 14:12; 16:9; 17:20), pisteuō with dative – John 2:22; 4:21, 50; 5:24, 38, 46 [twice], 47 [twice]; 6:30; 8:31, 45, 46; 10:37, 38 [twice]; 12:38; 14:11a),  pisteuō hoti – John 4:21; 6:69; 8:24; 11:27, 42; 13:19; 14:10; 11a; 16:27, 30; 17:8, 21; 20:31a, pisteuō absolutely – John 1:7, 50; 3:12 [twice], 15, 18b 4:41, 42, 48, 53; 5:44; 6:36,47, 64 [twice]; 9:38; 10:25, 26; 11:15, 40; 12:39; 14:11b, 29; 16:31; 19:35; 20:8, 25, 29 [twice], 31b), pisteuō with neuter accusative (John 11:26b),  Schnackenburg concludes, ‘In many texts, pisteuō eis is on the same footing as a hoti-clause…’ and ‘Often the absolute pisteuein means the Johannine faith in the fullest sense…’ Thus one should not so easily delete the soteriological significance of pisteuō plus hoti – in John. This is the construction found in clear salvation verses like John 8:24, ‘believe that I am He,’ and 20:31, ‘believe that Jesus is the Christ’. Likewise, pisteuō plus the dative without a preposition is used in a clear salvation verse, John 5:24, “believes him who sent me” (NIV).’” (Dr. Charlie Bing, “Lordship Salvation: A Biblical Evaluation and Response. GraceLife Edition, 1992, pp. 18-19). The Biblical evidence shows that to “believe in” and to “believe that” are used interchangeably by John for saving faith.

How do I know the Bible is True? Part 7

7. The evidence of SCIENCE supports that the Bible is true. 

A literal understanding of Genesis 1-11 is supported by science. For example:

a. ANTHROPOLOGY. The Bible teaches that God made the first man from dust, and that all people are descendants of one man—thus there is only one human race (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7-25). The Bible tells us that the population that descended from Noah had one language and disobeyed God’s command to “fill the earth” (Gen. 9:1; 11:4). As a result, God confused their language, causing the population  to break up into smaller groups, which scattered over the earth (Gen. 11:8-9). Modern genetics show how, following such a break-up of a population, variations in physical appearance, such as skin color, can develop in only a few generations. Linguistic and biological evidence support the genetic closeness of all human ethnic groups, consistent with a recent origin from a small population source like that described in Genesis 1-11.  Evidence that all peoples on earth have come from Noah are found in the flood stories from many cultures around the world (see The Revised & Expanded Answers Book, 1990, pp. 28, 219-236). All of these findings are consistent with biblical creation.

b. ASTRONOMY. According to a literal understanding of Genesis 1 and the genealogies of the Bible (assuming there are no gaps), the week of creation took place over 6,000 years ago. Therefore, the earth, sun, moon and stars are just a few thousand years old. The media and evolutionists contest this age by pointing to the billions of years derived from rocks by radioisotope dating which is based upon questionable assumptions. What they do not tell the general public is that there are many other dating methods which indicate that the earth is much too young for evolution to occur (e.g. earth’s magnetic field, lack of helium in atmosphere, lack of salt or sediment in the ocean, lack of erosion of the continents; too much carbon 14 in deep geologic strata; high oil deposit pressure; tree rings; galaxies wind themselves up too fast;  the small number of super nova remnants; magnetic fields on “cold” planets; young short-period comets; the sun is too big; the moon is too close; recent civilizations; and population statistics all point to a young earth and universe (see Dr. Russell Humphrey’s “The Earth’s Magnetic Field Is Young”, 1994; John Morris’ The Young Earth, 1994, pp. 93-117 & The Revised & Expanded Answers Book, 1990, pp. 27, 86-88).  

c. BIOLOGY. The Bible teaches that God created distinct kinds of animals and plants to reproduce after their own kind (Gen. 1).  There are two laws of biology that support this. They state: like can only come from like, and life always gives rise to life (biogenesis). The first is obviously true – fruit flies always give rise to fruit flies and dogs always give birth to dogs and humans always have babies that are human. The Bible tells us that life always comes from pre-existing life …God is alive and from Him life was created. Each living thing reproduces after its kind, so we see that biology supports what the Bible teaches. (see The Revised & Expanded Answers Book, 1990, pp. 20, 25-26; see Dr. Jason Lisle’s “Don’t Creationists Deny the Laws of Nature?”, Aug. 2007 ).

d. GEOLOGY. The Bible informs us that death entered the world after sin (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12). This has a bearing on geology and paleontology, as the Earth is covered with rocks full of fossils—dead things. Thus, the fossil-containing rocks could not have formed before sin. The Bible records the event of a global Flood (Gen. 6-8) —this has a great bearing on correctly interpreting the surface of the Earth and the massive quantity of sedimentary rocks, as well as explaining the formation of most fossils. Evidence for rapid deposition of geological strata as in the biblical global flood includes the lack of erosion between rock layers “supposedly” separated in layers by many millions of years; lack of disturbance of rock strata by biological activity (worms, roots, fish, plants, etc.); lack of soil layers; preservation of surface features (i.e. ripple marks, rain drop impressions, animal tracks); polystrate fossils (which traverse several rock layers vertically – these could not have stood vertically for thousands of years while they slowly got buried); soft sediment deformation whereby thick layers of “rock” are bent and folded into hairpin shapes without fracturing, indicating that the rock was all soft when bent. Evidence from Mount St. Helens tells us that canyons can be formed in a short period of time by catastrophic events (see John Morris’ The Young Earth, 1994, pp. 93-117). 

e. PALEONTOLOGY. The order and distribution of fossils in the geological record is best explained by the global flood of Noah’s day (Gen. 7-8; see The Revised & Expanded Answers Book, 1990, pg. 196; John Morris’ The Young Earth, 1994, Transparency Master).