Saturday, February 20, 2016

Ch 11.1: Test of Faith

Continuing her talk Isabella said: Christ has no power to perform miracles as it has been proved from the Bible. Now I say that Jesus Christ was as powerless in everything as any other man. If he were God he could not have been so helpless and he would have been free to do anything like the Almighty God and could not have felt the need of seeking the help of others. (Opening the Bible) Jesus Christ says: “Foras the Father has life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to exercise judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”[ John,5 : 26-27.] That is even the life of Jesus Christ was not his own but given by God and it was He Who gavehim authority to do justice. Without God’s grace he could not do even justice and the argument given was that Jesus was human and a human being could not do anything without the help of God. Christ also says: “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear I judge and my judgment is just.” [Ibid., 5:30] Further he said: “I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.”[Ibid. 6:38] Thus it is provedthat Christ was quite powerless like other men, and who is dependent on others cannot be God, and so Jesus also was not God.Peter (to Michael): Do you see how unbending is this girl ? Muslims have taught her well to become so talkative. Now, can you believe that she will come to the right path? I think it is useless to have any further talk with her as she has lost faith andhas become very disobedient.Michael: I am also convinced that she is wholly under the control of Satan. (To IsabellaAll the arguments produced by you have obvious replies and you have also read them in the lessons on theology.There are also other replies which you cannot understand at all. Now, instead of replying to you, I should like to hear your ideas so that we can come to the decision easily about you. You have clearly stated your views about the Divinity of Christ andAtonement. Now what have you to say further?Isabella: I have neither denied the Bible nor Jesus Christ. But what I say is that, according to the teaching of the Bible, neither Christ is proved to be God, nor any basis of atonement. All this is the invention of Christians.Michael: It means that all Christians are liars and all Christians have united against the Holy Bible. Accursed and hellish girl, if you cannot understand anything, just accept the judgment of your elders. Does your father, who is the head priest and has full authority to pardon sins, also consider these things wrong 7 Are all his popes, monks, Christian divines and savants of Christianity on the wrong path?Isabella: Just as the Bible does not prove the Divinity of Christ and Atonement, in the same wav the Christianity of the so-called Christians of today is not establishedaccording to the Bible and so their opinions cannot be my guide.Michael: Wonderful! That we are unreal and false Christians, and you are a real and true Christian. Unluckygirl, what has become of your senses? You have discarded even your elders. After all what is your proof that we are not true Christians?Isabella: There is no reason for losing temper. The matter is quite obvious. If you could prove from the Bible that modern Christians are true Christians, then I will wholeheartedlyaccept their decision and will not press any argument against them from the Bible. So, you just prove from the Bible that Christians of today are true Christians.Michael: There are Christians all over the world, and you say that they are not Christians according to the Bible. What is its proof? Is it not proofenough that we believe in the Bible, inthe Divinity of Jesus and his crucifixion?Isabella: Do not Muslims believe in the Bible? Can you call them Christians? As to believe in the Divinity of Christ and Atonement, it is not any argument for Christianity. Onthe other hand, it proves that such persons are not at all Christians as there is no trace of such beliefs in the Bible.Peter : O worthless girl, why are you doubting our Christianity? If we are not Christians, then it is for you to give proof of true Christians. Just saywhere in the world do real and true Christians live.Isabella : You may be as much angry as you like, but the truth cannot be concealed. If you want the proof fromme, then I declare candidly that Christians of today are not at all followers of Christ, and who can be a true Christian I am prepared to prove from the Bible itself.Michael: O accursed girl, why talk and talk? Why not come out with your proof?Isabella : Well, then, listen. The signs of the true Christians are mentioned in the Bible as follows: “And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils;they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” [Mark, 16 : 17-18.] At another place the sign of the believing Christian is stated as follows: “Then came the disciples to Jesus and said, Why could we not cast him [evil spirit] out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief, for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say upon this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place ; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” [Matthew. 17 : 19-20.]

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