3. God's Only Provision

Isa al-Maseeh alone enables us to overcome the problem of sin and enables us to enjoy true islam.

Isa al-Maseeh (Jesus Christ) came into the world to die for our sins. Because God, in his perfect holiness and righteousness, hates evil, he decreed the death penalty for sin (Genesis [the first book of Moses in the Taurat] 2:17, Romans [the Injil] 6:23). But because he is also most loving, compassionate and gracious, he himself provided Isa al-Maseeh to pay that penalty for us. In this way, he provided forgiveness for sinful men and women without compromising the requirements of justice. The blood sacrifice of lambs, common to all Middle Eastern cultures, serves as a kind of prototype which points to this Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. As the scripture says in the Injil, "without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin" (Hebrews [in the Injil] 9:22).

The forgiveness of God is a gift, which comes only through faith in Isa (John [in the Injil] 14:6, Acts [in the Injil] 4:12). No gift is possessed until it is received. This gift is received through simple faith. The Bible says our father Abraham "believed the Lord and it was credited to him as righteousness" (Genesis [the first book of Moses] 15:6). This means he was saved by faith in God not by faith in his own efforts. Receive this gift of forgiveness now by placing your trust in Isa al-Maseeh alone for your salvation. He promises not only to forgive our sins, but also to free us from our old sinful nature. And he gives us a new nature. The new nature naturally submits to God just as the old nature naturally rebels against him. As Jesus said, "A corrupt tree bears corrupt fruit, and a good tree bears good fruit" ( Matthew [Injil] 7:17). Unless we receive God's salvation from sin through Isa al-Maseeh, even our religious acts will be corrupt in the sight of a holy God.

The choice is ours: either the authentic islam which comes only from God, or that poor substitute which comes from our own imperfect efforts. We know we cannot submit to God by our own effort since we have a fallen nature which is inherently rebellious against Him. This way can only result in self-deception and ultimately bitter, eternal disappointment. But all praise be to God, most merciful and compassionate (bismullahal rahmani al rahim), we can accept his gracious gift of a right relationship with true, joyful and loving submission through Isa al-Maseeh, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Soli Deo Gloria —to God alone be glory.