Salvation by Christ Alone (not Moses nor Muhammad)

Salvation by Christ Alone (not Moses nor Muhammad)

By Stephen Yulish PhD http://a9.com/Stephen%20yulish

The leader of Iran calls for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people in the name of Allah. While it is easy for us as followers of Jesus Christ to empathize with the fate of Gods first born chosen people (even though God says He will bless them that bless them and curse them that curse them, Genesis 12:3), it is also important for us all to remember that both the Muslims as well as the Jews need Jesus Christ or they will continue to fight each other forever eternally separated from the one and only true God..
We all have to remember that only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will be able to bring peace to that region. Both Judaism as well as Islam are works oriented religions that believe that a persons good deeds must outweigh their bad deeds, but ironically in both cases, only God or Allah ultimately decides who enters heaven or goes to hell. There is no blessed assurance of salvation as there is to all who believe in Jesus Christ like there is in Christianity.
According to the Talmud (B'rakhot 28b), even Rabbi Yochanan Ben-Zakkai, one of the greatest rabbis in Jewish history, who after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, convened the Yavneh Council to determine the future of Judaism, did not know where he was going when he died. He prayed, was kosher, and was pious more than anyone else and still he did not know.

"Now I am being led before the supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He who lives and endures forever. If He is angry with me, He is angry forever. If He imprisons me, He imprisons me forever. If He puts me to death, he puts me to death forever. I can't persuade Him with words or bribe Him with money. Moreover, there are two ways ahead of me-one leads to Gan-Eden (Paradise-Heaven) and one leads to Gay-Hinnom (Hell) and I do not know which one will take me. How can I do anything but weep?"

Thus, while Jews are mandated to do good works, even the most righteous of rabbis did not know on his deathbed if he would go to heaven or to hell. It was all up to God. This is very similar to Islam which is not surprising because Muhammad was very influenced by the Jews Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud, the Midrash and even some apocryphal works.

The Quran states:
Allah forgives whom he pleases and punishes whom he pleases for Allah has power over all things surah 2:284 Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy, they will be successful. But those whose balance is light will be those who have lost their souls; in hell they will abide surah 23:102-103

Muhammad departed from Judaism in many ways which led the Jews to reject his teachings. In particular, he departed from Judaism in calling for a violent propagation of Islam. In fact he called for the death of the unbelieving Jews.

Fight against them until there is no dissension and the religion is for Allah. surah 2:193

One sure way for a Muslim to get into heaven was to die a martyr. In Christianity, Jesus came to be our sin bearer and to die for us (Ephesians 1:7). He shed His blood so we do not have to. In Islam, Muhammad commanded his followers to shed their blood and the blood of others to get into heaven. Muhammad spoke of your blood while Jesus spoke of His blood.

And if you are slain or die in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass. surah 3:157

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. 1John 1:7


When a Christian lies on his deathbed, he does not have to weep not knowing if Jesus will take him to heaven or send him to hell. He does not have to kill others or die a martyr to have assurance of heaven. All he has to have done is call upon the name of Jesus to save him from his rightful destiny in hell and bear his sins and make him righteous in Him.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13

We are saved by Gods grace not our works.

For by grace you are saved through faith and that is not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. Ephesians
2:8-9

Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest... Matthew 11:28-30

And we know that this peace and this salvation only comes through the name of Jesus Christ-not Moses nor Muhammad nor Mary.

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Acts
4:12

Therefore, salvation (i.e. going to heaven) is not based on what we do (Ephesians 2:8-9) but on Who we know (Luke 23:42-43, John 3:16-17, Acts 4:12).

Damnation (i.e. going to hell) is not based on what we do but on what we dont do (2Thessalonians 1:8-9).

That is why there are thieves, murderers, adulterers, homosexuals, serial killers, rapists, ,Satanists, Muslims and Jews in heaven and philanthropists, charitable persons, physicians and caregivers, as well as many self proclaimed christians in hell.

Our eternal destiny, no matter what that may ultimately be, thus depends entirely upon our relationship with Jesus Christ not on our deeds (works) no matter how good or how bad they may have been. For Christs death on the cross and his resurrection on the third day provides for repentance for forgiveness of all our sins (Luke 24:46-47) and thus all who call upon the Lord will be saved no matter how bad they may have been (1Timothy 1:15). Likewise, all who do not call upon Jesus, no matter how good
they may have been, will perish (2Thessalonians 2:12).

Its all about what He did not what we did (Romans 3:23-24).

Thank God for His amazing grace and mercy to all of us unworthy sinners.

We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have that blessed assurance of eternal life with Him (John 5:24, 1John 5:13). We dont have to earn it or kill for it. All we have to do is to believe. It is so easy yet it is foolishness for those who are perishing (1Corinthians 1:18).

The Rabbis say Whoever mocks the words of Sages [becomes a Christian] is punished [in hell] with boiling hot excrement Talmud, B.Gittin 57a

Muhammad said Whoever changes his Islamic religion-kill him Hadith
9:57

We all need to pray that both the Muslims as well as the Jews have their eyes opened to the truth of Jesus Christ, for this is the only way that they will ever be at peace with one another or with God. This is especially hard for Jews and Muslims because both have severe repercussions for their people who become Christians. May God give them strength and boldness in their decision to call upon the name of the Lord.

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