allaboutjesuschrist.org say:
Jesus' Resurrection - Essential to the Christian Faith
Jesus' Resurrection from the dead is as essential to the Christian faith as His death upon the cross. Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Paul emphasizes the importance of the Resurrection with his statement "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not" (I Corinthians 15:14-15).
http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/Jesus-Resurrection.htm
Promised Messiah 1835-1908 says:
It was necessary that Jesus should escape death on the cross, for it was stated in the Holy Book that whoever was hanged on the wood was accursed. It is a cruel and an unjust blasphemy to attribute a curse to an eminent person like Jesus, the Messiah, for, according to the agreed view of all who know the language, la'nat, or curse, has reference to the state of one's heart. A man would be said to be accursed when his heart, having been estranged from God, becomes really dark; when, deprived of divine mercy and of divine love, devoid absolutely of His Knowledge, blinded like the devil, he becomes filled with the poison of unbelief; when there remains not a ray of divine love and knowledge in him; when the bond of loyalty is broken, and between him and God there arises hatred and contempt and spite and hostility, so much so that God and he become mutual enemies; and when God becomes weary of him and he becomes weary of God; in short, when he becomes an heir to all the attributes of the Devil -- and that is why the Devil himself is called accursed.
It is clear that the significance of the word Mal'un, viz. accursed, is so foul that it can never apply to any righteous person who entertains love of God in his heart. Alas! Christians did not ponder over the significance of a curse when they invented this belief; else, it were impossible for them to have used such a bad word for a righteous man like Jesus. Can we say that Jesus' heart was ever really estranged from God; that he had denied God, that he hated Him and had become His enemy?
Can we ever think that Jesus had ever felt in his heart that he was estranged from God, that he was an enemy of God, and that he was immersed in the darkness of unbelief and denial? If, then, Jesus had never been in such a state of mind, that his heart was always full of love and the light of Divine Knowledge, is it for you, wise people, to ponder whether we can ever say that, not one, but thousands of curses from God had descended upon the heart of Jesus with all their evil significance? Never. Then, how can we say that he was, God forbid, accursed?
It is a pity that once a man has given utterance to something, when he has taken his stand upon a particular belief, he is not inclined to give up that belief, however much the absurdity thereof be exposed. Desire to attain salvation, if grounded upon true foundations, is a praiseworthy thing, but where is the sense in having a desire for salvation which kills truth and which countenances, regarding a holy prophet arid a perfect man, the belief that he had as it were passed through a state in which he had been estranged from God, and in which, instead of unity of heart and unity of inclination, there had been produced a strangeness and aloofness, enmity and hatred; and, instead of light, darkness had surrounded his heart?
Let it also be noticed that this not only detracts from the prophethood and apostleship of Jesus (on whom be the peace of God) but it is also derogatory to his claim to spiritual eminence, holiness, love, and knowledge of God, to which he has repeatedly given expression in the gospels. Just look through the Bible; therein Jesus clearly claims that he is the Light of the world, that he is the Guide, and that he stands in a relation of great love towards God; that he has been honoured by a clean birth, and that he is the loved Son of God.
How then, in spite of these pure and holy relations, can a curse, with all its significance, be attributed to Jesus? No, never. Therefore, there is no doubt that Jesus was not crucified, i.e., he did not die on the Cross, for his personality did not deserve the underlying consequence of death on the Cross. Not having been crucified, he was spared the impure implications of a curse, and no doubt it also proves that he did not go to heaven, for going to heaven formed part of this whole scheme and was a consequence of the idea of his having been crucified. Therefore, when it is proved that he was neither accursed, nor did he go to hell for three days, nor did he suffer death the other part of the scheme, namely, that he went to heaven, is proved to be wrong. On this point the Bible has more evidence which I proceed to state below. There is the statement of Jesus: 'But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee' (Matthew: chapter 26, verse 32). This verse clearly shows that Jesus, after he had come out of the tomb, went to Galilee and not to heaven.
Jesus' words 'After I am risen' do not mean his rising up alive after he was dead; rather, as in the eyes of the Jews and the common people he had died on the Cross, he used words beforehand consistent with what they were to think of him in the future, and indeed, the man who was placed on the Cross, in whose hands and feet nails had been driven till he had fainted from pain, had become as good as dead; if such a man was saved from such a calamity and if he recovered his senses it would not be an exaggeration on his part to say that he had come to life again. There is no doubt that after so much suffering, Jesus' escape from death was a miracle; it was no ordinary event. But to think that he had died is wrong.
Paarsurrey says:
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To be accursed is to be cut off and forsaken by God. Let me explain further by exploring the question:
WHY DID JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS
In my study of Islam I have come across the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah. Allah is known as “The Most Holy,” “The Judge,” “The Most Pure,” “The Most Perfect,” The Utterly Just,” “All Forgiving,” “The Most Merciful.” I found a list of these names on Wikipedia.
Christians also believe that God/Yahweh is Most Holy and Utterly Just. But I think that this similarity actually highlights an important difference. Christianity sees many of God’s laws to be a reflection of God’s holiness and justice. God gives us His law because we are to “Be holy as He is holy.”
Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
1 Peter 1:14-19
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
When we violate God’s law we not only break God’s commandments. We sin against God Himself.
When we keep God’s law, we reflect or “image” God’s holiness, justice, love, etc. In fact, Christians refer to a life of loving obedience to God’s law as “godliness” (god-likeness) – godliness reflects God like the moon reflects the glory of the sun.
My understanding is that law in Islam is ultimately arbitrary. Law is Allah’s will but Allah can change his will as he pleases. But for Christianity, God cannot change His law anymore than He can change His holiness, His justice, His love, etc. Let me try and explain further.
For example, Christianity teaches that it is impossible for God to lie because lying is contrary to God’s holiness and justice.
Is it possible for Allah to lie?
Christianity teaches that God is just and it is impossible for God to show partiality/bias/injustice. The Bible says, “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes” (Deuteronomy 10:17).
Does Allah show partiality? Does Allah grant hold different people to different standards?
To summarize my understanding:
-Christians believe that one of the purposes of God’s law is that it is a reflection of Who God is. God is truth; therefore, He cannot lie. God is holy, therefore we are to be holy; etc.
-Muslims believe that law reflects Allah’s will but that Allah can change his will as he pleases.
Is this a fair summary? If not, can you explain in your own words why law in Islam is not ultimately arbitrary?
These are important issues because they get to the heart of the difference between Christianity and Islam: the death of Jesus on the cross.
The Scriptures are clear on this point: The justice of God is always impartial. This means that God doesn’t grant exceptions. God doesn’t hold different people to different standards. God doesn’t take bribes.
Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
The Scriptures are clear that those who have lived up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness and holiness will be granted eternal life.
Leviticus 18:5
Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.
For those who have not lived up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness there will be everlasting condemnation.
Deuteronomy 27:26
‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’
Here is the problem: God is perfectly holy and perfectly just. You and I have not lived up to the standard of God’s perfect holiness and righteousness in all our thoughts, words and deeds. Not only have we sinned by disobeying God but we have sinned by not loving God with all our heart, mind and strength which Jesus said was the first and greatest commandment.
It would be unjust and unholy for God to allow that which is impure, and unholy into heaven. It would be contradictory for God to forgive someone when they deserved His judgment.
-God is holy. Therefore, He does not favor unholiness.
-God is impartial, which means that in His righteous judgment He shows no partiality.
-For God to overlook the guilt of sin in His righteous judgment would not mean that He is merciful; rather, it would mean He is unholy and unjust.
How can God be merciful to sinners and perfectly holy and just at the same time?
Christians believe that the only answer to this question is the death of Jesus on the cross. This was something God demonstrated to Abraham (Genesis 15) and illustrated in the sacrificial system of Moses.
Jesus was born so that He could keep the Law. Jesus is the only Person who never sinned in any of His thoughts, words or deeds.
Jesus died on the cross for the sins of His people. Jesus took upon Himself the wrath and penalty for the sins of those who trust in Him. Jesus is the Lamb of God.
The death of Jesus on the cross highlights God’s perfect mercy (forgiveness for those who believe in Jesus) without compromising or contradicting His perfect justice and holiness.
Since I am a sinner (and so are you), I cannot keep the law for my eternal life. Even my best works don’t measure up to the perfect standard of God’s righteousness as the prophet Isaiah taught,
Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…
Nor can I hope that God will deny Himself and show partiality by overlooking my many sins because God is perfectly holy and perfectly just.
Therefore, the only way I can be forgiven of my sins and the only way I can be righteous in His sight is through faith in Jesus.
Here is the problem that you face if you do not trust in Jesus for salvation. You need to hope that God is not perfectly holy in all His judgments. You need to hope that God is not perfectly just when He examines your life: thoughts, words and deeds. You need to hope that God will overlook the fact that you have not actively kept all the demands of His law. But God will not overlook sin. God will not declare the guilty to be innocent.
Jesus said, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24).
When you die, you take your sins with you. You will be eternally separated from the eternal God.
But because Jesus kept the demands of the law for eternal life and because He died for the sins of those who believed Him He promised, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).
So there is a difference between your death and mine. You die in your sins. I die forgiven of my sins. You die uncertain of whether or not you will go to heaven. I have a certainty that I am going to heaven. You must believe that God will contradict his holiness and justice by allowing you, a sinner, into heaven. I believe that God’s perfect justice and holiness and mercy were all demonstrated in the historical fact of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
I invite you to love Jesus by believing what He taught and believing in His death and resurrection for sinners.
WHY DID/DOES JESUS LIVE?
God’s justice also needs to be explained in terms of Jesus’ life.
Sin affects our relationship with God, our own lives, our relationships and even the creation. One of the purposes of Jesus’ miracles was to demonstrate that His forgives sin and has authority to remove the consequences of sin. Jesus brought about restoration and wholeness for those who believed in Him. Where Jesus went there was no more death, mourning, crying or pain. What we find in the teaching, example and miracles of Jesus is the shalom (peace) of the New Heavens and the New Earth – The New Jerusalem. JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
-The prophet Isaiah spoke of Jesus being born of a virgin and called Him the “PRINCE OF PEACE” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
-When Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary the angels of heaven sang, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth PEACE among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14)
-Jesus pronounced a blessing upon PEACEMAKERS and taught that His followers should, love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).
-Jesus exemplified peacemaking throughout His ministry even praying for His enemies from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
-Jesus gave His disciples peace after He rose from the dead, “PEACE be with you” (John 20:19,21,26; cf .John 14:27).
-Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE because He brings relational reconciliation with God for those who believe in Him (see Romans 5:6-10).
-Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE because He forgives sins and heals infirmities which are a result of sin (see Matthew 9:2-7).
-Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE because He has crushed the head of Satan. Many of Jesus’ miracles established His authority over Satan and demons. The demons trembled before Jesus and Jesus explained that many of His miracles were evidence that He had bound Satan and was freeing those he had taken captive (see Matthew 12:22-29).
-Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE because He is the Lord of creation as evidenced by His changing water into wine (John 2:1-11); His multiplying fish and bread (John 6); His walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33) and calming the wind and waves (Mark 4:35-41).
-Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE because He has conquered our great enemy death as evidenced by His resurrection and the raising of others (John 11; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Revelation 21:4; cf. Isaiah 25:8). (If you would like, I can give you other examples of Jesus’ miracles as recorded in the Gospels)
Jesus is bringing peace to the entire creation which was spoken about the prophet Isaiah,
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. (Isaiah 11)
The justice of God in accepting Christ’s life and death on behalf of sinners is because Jesus is “fixing” what we (the human race collectively) made wrong.
Suppose for a moment I stole $100 from you and was caught and brought before a judge. According to God’s law, a just penalty would involve my giving back the $100 and paying back an additional amount of money to help compensate for the hurt caused by my theft (see Exodus 22:1-4). The judge says I have to pay you a total of $400.00. What if I didn’t have the $400 but my wealthy brother was willing to give me the money? Is there any injustice in this? No. There is nothing unjust if my wealthy brother makes restitution for the wrong I committed.
Jesus does something similar on behalf of sinners. He is “very wealthy”; in fact, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him. Jesus has authority over Satan and demons. Jesus has authority over all creation. Jesus has authority over sickness, disease and even death. Jesus has authority to forgive sins.
Jesus paid the penalty for sins and He makes restitution. But He does even more. Jesus also gives those who trust in Him a new nature that enables them to overcome the desire to sin. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said that a person must be born again. A person who has been born again will have a greater desire to share with those in need instead of stealing from others.
The Good News of Christianity is that no matter how great a sinner you might be, Jesus’ authority to forgive and make things right is even greater. If you trust in Him, He will make right what you have made wrong. Remember what I wrote previously about sin. Sin affects our relationship with God, our own lives, our relationships and even the creation. As I pointed out previously, one of the purposes of Jesus’ miracles was to demonstrate that He has authority to forgive sin and He has authority to remove the consequences of sin. Where Jesus went there was no more death, mourning, crying or pain. Jesus brings about restoration and wholeness for those who believe in Him. Even if a person commits murder, Jesus can bring about restoration because He can raise the dead and He gives everlasting life.
Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE which is why I am writing to you and urging you to repent of your sins by turning to Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. Be warned that when Jesus returns it will be to make war with those who have not submitted to His terms of peace. Now is the time of salvation.
I invite you to love Jesus by believing what He taught and believing in His death and resurrection for sinners.
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