THE GOSPEL FOR MUSLIMS - THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK.

By F. M. Perry, 9/14/01

I. WHAT DOES THE QUR'AN SAY ABOUT THE BOOK?

"Those to whom We have given the Book read it as it ought to be read. These believe in it; and whoever disbelieves in it, these it is that are the losers." (Qur'an 2.121)
"He has revealed to you the Book with truth, verifying that which is before it, and He revealed the Taurat [Torah] and the Injeel [Gospel] aforetime, a guidance for the people, and He sent the Furqan [Criterion]." (Qur'an 3.3)

These passages from the Qur'an affirm that the Book, containing the Torah and the Gospel, was given by Allah.

"She said, My Lord! When shall there be a son (born) to me, and man has not touched me? He said: Even so, Allah creates what He pleases; when He has decreed a matter, He only says to it, Be, and it is. And He will teach him the Book and the wisdom and the Tavrat [Torah] and the Injeel [Gospel]." (Qur'an 3.47 and 3.48)

This passage from the Qur'an affirms that Jesus, Son of Mary, was taught the Book by Allah.

"Surely We revealed the Taurat [Torah] in which was guidance and light; with it the prophets who submitted themselves (to Allah) judged (matters) for those who were Jews and the masters of Divine knowledge and the doctors, because they were required to guard (part) of the Book of Allah, and they were witnesses thereof; therefore fear not the people and fear Me, and do not take a small price for My communications; and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the unbelievers." (Qur'an 5.44)

This passage from the Qur'an affirms that the Torah was given by Allah.

"And We sent after them in their footsteps Isa [Jesus], son of Miriam [Mary], verifying what was before him of the Taurat [Torah] and We gave him the Injeel [Gospel] in which was guidance and light, and verifying what was before it of Taurat [Torah] and a guidance and an admonition for those who guard (against evil)." (Qur'an 5.46)

This passage from the Qur'an affirms that Jesus, Son of Mary, confirmed the Torah to be true and the Gospel to be guidance.

"And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is before it of the Book and a guardian over it. therefore judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to you; for every one of you did We appoint a law and a way, and if Allah had pleased He would have made you (all) a single people. but that He might try you in what He gave you, therefore strive with one another to hasten to virtuous deeds; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will let you know that in which you differed." (Qur'an 5.48)

This passage from the Qur'an affirms Muhammad to be a guardian over the Book, theTorah and the Gospel.

The conclusion is that the Qur'an enjoins all those who desire to submit to the will of Allah to consider the message, the truth, the law and the way, contained in the Book of the Torah and the Gospel.

II. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK TO BE CONSIDERED?

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high." (The Book, Hebrews 1:1-3)

This passage from the Gospel portion of The Book presents a brief summary outline of the message of The Book. Please notice ten points which this passage from The Book reveals:

1. The Torah is a record of God speaking in the "long ago" to mankind through "the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways."

2. The Gospel is a record of God speaking in the "last days" to mankind "in His Son whom He appointed heir of all things."

3. Jesus, the Christ, is God's "Son."

4. Jesus, the Christ, is the one whom God "appointed heir of all things."

5. Jesus, the Christ, is the one through whom God "made the world."

6. Jesus, the Christ, is the "radiance" of God's "glory."

7. Jesus, the Christ, is the "exact representation" of God's "nature."

8. Jesus, the Christ, is the one through whom God "upholds all things by the word of His power."

9. Jesus, the Christ, is the one who "made purification of sins."

10. Jesus, the Christ, is the one who "sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high."

Let us examine these revelations of God through which the message of The Book is outlined.

Points 1 and 2, above, call attention to the fact that the Book has revealed (Hebrews 1:1-3) that there is a God, one God, and that He is speaking through The Book. The Qur'an also affirms that God has "revealed to you the Book with the truth" and that this Book contains the Torah and the Gospel.

The fact that God speaks through the Book, indeed, that God speaks at all, reveals that God is a person, for only a personality can speak. Thus God is revealed to be a personal God who can require faith from His people. If God is not a person, then all religion is a delusion, and faith is bankrupt. If God is not personal, there can be no such thing as revelation, for if there is no speaker, nothing has been spoken. Likewise, if God is not personal there can be no such thing as purification from sins by a Son of God, because only a personality can have a son. Finally, if God is not a person, people have no responsibility to any personality and a human person is his own god. Perhaps it is precisely this delusion which is the source of much human sorrow. If God is not a person who will bring men to judgement, it is intellectually impossible to view man as responsible to anything except himself.

Point 2, above, refers to the fact that God speaks in the "last days" through the Gospel (the New Testament), and no longer speaks as He spoke "long ago"in the Torah (included in the Old Testament) "to the fathers through the prophets." This does not mean that what God said "to the fathers through the prophets" was not true or that it had no meaning for God's people in the "long ago," nor does it mean that it has no lessons for us in these "last days." Indeed, the Gospel of the "last days" proclaims that "whatsoever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4).

The fact that God speaks in these "last days" through the Gospel does mean that there was a time in history when God changed the way that He speaks to mankind and a time when He changed the message from one that made prediction of certain future things, to one that indicated a fulfillment of the former predictions. The change came about with the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions of a coming Savior who would make "purification of sins" of mankind. That fulfillment and change of message came about through Jesus, the Son of God, who was born on earth through the womb of the chosen woman, Mary. Thus, with the coming into the world of Jesus, the Son of God, and with His making the predicted "purification of sins," came the time for God's promulgation of the message termed the "Gospel." The meaning of the word "Gospel" is "good news," chosen for the "good news" of the reality of God's love and promise of salvation from sin, made clear in what God now speaks through His Son Jesus. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

Point 3, above, refers to the fact that God's Gospel proclaims Jesus, Son of Mary, to be God's Son. The Qur'an echoes the question of fleshly man with the words, "She [Mary] said, My Lord! When shall there be a son (born) to me, and man has not touched me?" The Qur'an also echoes an answer from God with the words, "He said: Even so, Allah creates what He pleases; when He has decreed a matter, He only says to it, Be, and it is." (Qur'an 3.3).

This miraculous birth of the "Son of God" as a "Son of man" was foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament of The Book. For instance, Isaiah prophesied, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Emmanuel." (Isaiah 7:14). In the beginning of the Gospel portion of The Book the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy is recorded. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit, And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus for it is He who will save His people from their sins.' Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 'Behold the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us.' And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son, and he called His name Jesus." (Matthew 1:18=25).

In The Book's account of the virgin birth of Jesus are seen, working together, the three personalities of our Almighty God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Among the last words spoken on earth to His disciples Jesus recognized the three fold nature of God: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19). In the Torah's account of the creation of the earth the work of God's Holy Spirit is mentioned: "The Spirit of God was moving upon the surface of the waters." (Genesis 1:2). In the New Testament the Gospel reveals that the person of God, who was later referred to as Son, was also active in the creation of the universe: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. ... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-3, 14). The triune, or three-in-one nature of Almighty God is acknowledged throughout The Book.

Point 4, above, notes that The Book acknowledges Jesus, the Son of God, as one whom God "appointed heir of all things." We have already noted that in His character as the Word He created all things: "All things came into being by Him." It appears that it is in His status as a fleshly man that He is "appointed heir of all things." This completes the authority to establish Him as King of kings, the Christ. As a Son He becomes King by right of inheritance, and most especially so because He is the "only begotten" Son of God.

Point 5, above, notes that Jesus, the Christ, is one through whom God "made the world." This establishes His existence as a part of the triune Godhead even before the creation and makes Him King by right of creation. We belong to Christ, as does the entire universe and all that is in it, by reason of the fact of creation by Christ. This declaration is supported by other scriptures of The Book. In addition to John 1:1-3 quoted in the paragraph above, there is also this concerning God's beloved Son: "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created by Him and for Him." (Colossians 1:16). That Jesus the Christ was always a part of the triune Godhead is implicit in Jesus' own words when He prayed: "And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was." (John 17:5).

Point 6, above, notes that Jesus the Christ was called the "radiance" of God's "glory." This means that the divine perfections of God shone brightly in the Son, even after He was made flesh. It refers to the personal excellence of Christ, making Him entitled to the kingship of the world by the very qualities of His life and character, even as He dwelled in the flesh on earth.

Point 7, above, notes that Jesus the Christ is the "exact representation" of God's "nature." This seems to mean that Jesus the Son is the same essence as the Father, thus entitled to be honored as King by divine right. He is the only fleshly being ever so entitled. He certainly has the divine right to receive men's worship, adoration, and obedience."

Point 8, above, notes that Jesus the Christ is the one through whom God "upholds all things by the word of His power." This credential entitles Christ's Kingship by right of maintenance and support. The Book says, "in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17). It may truly be said, one who is the sole support and source of every power within his creatures and creations has every right to rule over them and to expect true love and submission to his will.

Point 9, above, notes that Jesus the Christ is the one who "made purification of sins." This is the credential which makes Christ King by right of purchase. Christ bought back the humans of His creation when they had fallen into sin and were therefore forfeit to Satan. The Book says, "For you have been bought with a price." (1^st Corinthians 6:20). And what was the price? The Book answers, "In Him [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7). The Book goes on to explain, "The righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiatory sacrifice in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-24). All parts of The Book are based upon the fact that man's sin in the Garden of Eden cut him off from fellowship with his Creator and left him to languish in darkness till he should be redeemed. The interdict could never be lifted until Jesus, God's own Son, paid it all upon the cross. The Gospel is given to us by God so that we can know that salvation from sins is available through faith in Jesus the Son of God.

Point 10, above, notes that Jesus, after He had made purification of sins, "sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high." This makes Christ King by right of having taken charge of the kingdom. He is no mere candidate to become King, nor is He the "heir apparent"; but He has already taken possession of the Kingdom of God and "He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet." (1^st Corinthians 15:25). He through death slew him that had the power of death, even the devil (Hebrews 2:14).

In the words of Commentator Burton Coffman, "Jesus Christ our Lord is the lawful sovereign of all things. Throughout the farthest reaches of the universe, the natural creations, all of them, suns, moons, satellites, and galaxies, do His will; and what an incredibly strange thing it is that, in all the universe, man alone hesitates and refuses to give full obedience, frequently choosing to cast his lot with Satan and the fallen angels, already doomed and sentenced."

This brief outline of some of the major revelations of The Book are presented to encourage people to consider The Book more carefully. Especially do we hope that Muslims [those who submit to the will of Allah] will follow the recommendation of the Qur'an and follow the will of God as presented in The Book.

With love, F. M. Perry.

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