“There is no god except God alone.”
This is the one phrase Christians, Jews and Muslims all would agree to. Unfortunately, we all mean very different things when we say it. There is a profound disconnect with the mere semantics and the meaning behind the words. One must come to the conclusion that either God is all-encompassing and fits the man-made perceptions of Him or that God is something else entirely. Each religion would conclude that God reveals Himself through prophets, and through them the written word. God could not be God if He submitted to our ideology of Him.
Divine Revelation.
So we have come at last to divine revelation. How does God reveal Himself?
Jews would say God reveals Himself through His Law, the Torah, and through His Prophets. When the prophets told of a Messiah, they would state they are still waiting for Christ. The way to Heaven is to observe the law and commands. Basically, “be good”. (note: must wonder why Jubilee was never celebrated or how sins are forgiven without the shedding of blood today). Much of the levitical law is no longer practiced or adhered to. Instead new laws have been added to the already long list.
Islam doesn’t seem to recognize anyone but Muhammed because in Muhammed, the final revelation was apparently given. Though they recognize Jesus as a prophet, albeit a minor one, they do not accept His claims about Himself. If this is true and God only reveals Himself through revelation then to the Muslim God is a silent unconcerned person yet they still pray to this silent deity though nothing will come of it. The best they can offer is undulated service to Allah and hope for Heaven.
Christians or “Little Christs” believe that Jesus was the culmination of the prophetic texts given to the Jews (or Israelites/ Hebrews) therefore the Christ. In Christ, the law was fulfilled, grace was administrated. In this, the revelation through the prophets has been proven infallible. In becoming a man, God gave us the ultimate revelation of Himself. He transcended His own creation and stepped down into it incarnate. Fully God and fully human He demonstrated His power over creation through the elements, through miracles, and His ultimate love for His creation. He continues to reveal Himself today through the work of the Holy Spirit. In the death of Christ, He is the sacrifice for all sin so that all who believe upon Him may enter into eternal glory with Him.
A God Who Loves.
Jews have half the picture but do not believe even in their own prophets. Muslims believe in a god who stopped revealing himself with Muhammed. Christians believe that God is alive and present today, active in His creation, communing with us through His Spirit and ultimately will return for His church (those who believe in Him as the Christ).
