The World, the Word & You! Commentary

Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"Giving the Winds, God's Glorious Word"

A TRILEMMA FOR YOU

“HAVE YOU NOTICED THESE DAYS HOW POPULAR IT HAS BECOME TO EXPRESS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE? WHY EVEN THE FIERCE ANTI-CHRISTIAN RELIGION OF ISLAM PANDERS TO CHRISTIANITY BY SAYING IT HIGHLY RESPECTS AND HONORS JESUS CHRIST”

I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast, and in a moment we’ll talk about pandering and what true faith is acceptable to God…

... Now all of us have listened to the religious rhetoric offered these days in the light of the terrorism America suffered. Yes, this tragedy and death suffered at the hands of Islamic followers, who dedicated themselves and their lives, sacrificially, to be given for the “advancement of Islam” and the destruction of all its enemies. No more needs to be said about the terrible destruction, loss of human life and suffering, as well as the hundreds of billions of dollars of property loss incurred by it. Yet, in the midst of this I’ve constantly heard Islamic clerics and others Muslim supporters pander to Christianity by saying they are much like Christians and love them.

We’ve been told time and again by our naive leaders that Islam is a religion of peace, love, happiness, and joy for those who follow it correctly. And, in the midst the Muslim clerics rattle the tune that they accept Jesus Christ as a holy man from God, a good and godly man, and prophet sent from God. Well that is all very nice and appreciated by the press and public at large, but do you know what? It doesn’t “cut any ice” with the one true God, who by the way, is not “Allah,” Muhammad’s the Moon god worshiped by Muslims, and you need to know why. So after we pause one more time, for our second musical moment, I’ll return to share with you our modern “trilemma” of truth. Stay tuned,

... Somehow the non-religious, secular world would like to lump all religions into one basket. For them it really doesn’t matter what you believe, just as long as you are sincere and keep your religion and convictions concerning it to yourself! Of course, Islam has come into the world’s “limelight” due to faithful followers of the Koran and Islamic faith, who have taken Muhammad at his word on how to advance their faith and culture in the world of the 21^st century. Yet I constantly hear from religionists who come under fire for their faith and practice of it, that they truly are no different from the worldwide religion of Christianity. To do, this many from the various religious Cults, to the eastern religions of the world, say they truly accept Jesus Christ as a good and godly man, perhaps sent from God, and even perhaps inhabited by God for a while to do His work and will on the earth.

Now all that sounds very good, but it doesn’t “cut the ice” as I said before, with the Creator God who sent Jesus Christ to the entire world. What do I mean? Listen…

Of all world religions, only Christianity teaches and recognizes Jesus Christ as, NOT a prophet sent from God, but God Himself come to earth as a man! For the Islamic clerics of the world to offer a mere human title and respect for Jesus Christ is something God does not even allow or accept. You see in the Christian Bible we are told that Jesus Christ Himself gave mankind no alternative, except to see Him as either a bold-faced pathological liar, or worse a raving lunatic that should have been committed to a treatment facility, or that He must be the very Creator God of the Universe! Those are the only three options when considering who Jesus Christ is.

Now, is that true? Is there no room to at least honor him as Judaism, Islam, and other religions of the world attempt to do? The answer is no room!

You see the Bible in effect says to all of us ľ “You must make a choice. Either this man Jesus Christ was, and is, God the Son, or else a madman or something worse.” To give Christ any acclaim of morality, goodness, or divine approval, alone, the Bible absolutely tears such thoughts away from us! Now, let’s examine these positions and learn what God has to say about them.

The first one is the position that, (1) Jesus Christ is a good moral teacher, that He comes from God to help us along life’s way. Of course secular humanists, liberal Christians, Jewish followers, Islamics and a host of other religious cults ľ they all attempt to “honor” Jesus Christ in this patronizing way. But, if Jesus Christ is to be a good moral teacher, a prophet sent from God, and one to be admired, what does the Bible say?

Let’s listen to the personal claims of Jesus Christ. Does he say he is a good man? Does He claim to be a prophet sent from God? Does He claim to be a godly moral teacher? Well one day Jesus asked those following Him,

Mat 16:15 (NNAS) “He said^ to them, “But who do you say that I am?””

From even the age of twelve, Jesus made claims that astounded those around Him. He said,

Luke 2:49 (NNAS) “And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?””

Mat 7:21-23 (NNAS) “”Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”

Mat 10:32-33 (NNAS) “”Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

Indeed, over 42 times in 41 verses, Jesus referred to God in Heaven as “His Father,” not “our father!” He further taught His disciples to pray only “our father,” because God was alone the Father of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, way back in the Old Testament we read what God the Creator prophesied about His only begotten Son,

2 Sam 7:14 (NNAS) “”I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me..”

Psa 89:26 (NNAS) “”He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’”

Psa 2:7 (NNAS) “”I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”

It is clear that Jesus Christ, Himself, took the position and claim that He was not a mere man, but He was the very essence of God come in human form. Why He even made that statement Himself, which infuriated the Jews of His day by claiming He was God. At another time Jesus was confronted by a woman drawing water at a well, Jesus again spoke who He was. He said these things directly,

John 4:25-26 (NNAS) “The woman said^ to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26 Jesus said^ to her, “I who speak to you am He.””

Mark 14:61-64 (NNAS) “But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” 63 Tearing his clothes, the high priest said^, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 “You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.”

Well from the words of Jesus Himself, there is no room in anyone’s heart, mind or thoughts to consider that Jesus Christ was just a good man. Why even Jesus, stopped short such a statement of honor given to Him one day. Listen,

Mark 10:17-18 (NNAS) “As He [Jesus] was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”

So you see, Jesus would not accept the accolade or title of just being a good man, a moral teacher, a prophet sent from God, or even one who was indwelt for a time by the Spirit of God. We are told in no uncertain terms in Scripture,

Col 1:19-20 (NNAS) “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

For Islam, Jesus Christ is recognized as just one of more than 100 prophets sent from God with Muhammad as the greatest. For Islam, Jesus Christ is recognized on par with all of their holy clerics. But Jesus gives no such right, nor concept ever to be afforded to Him. In fact, He made it clear when He said,

John 8:24 (NNAS) “’Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.””

Rev 2:23 (NNAS) “’And… all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”

Without a doubt, the Bible from cover to cover reveals that one day the Creator’s promise, to send us a Messiah, a Savior to save us from our sins and penalty coming in eternity, would be fulfilled. This happened when Jesus Christ, born of a Virgin, was conceived in her womb not by the procreative means of a human male, but by the miraculous procreative means of God’s Spirit! Jesus proved to be whom He claimed to be. He alone performed miracles no human being could ever consider. He alone raised the dead, not clinically dead, but decaying dead. He alone was able to live a perfect sinless life so that He was able to offer up Himself as a perfect substitute sacrifice for the sins of all humanity.

So to give Jesus Christ, the mere acclaim of being a good moral man, a prophet, or even one who was indwelt by God for a time – cannot be done! Rather God gives you three options alone to think and say about Him.

1. JESUS IS THE BOLDEST LIAR WHO EVER LIVED! – Yes, Jesus claimed to be God come in the flesh! If He wasn’t, then there is no alternative except to say He lied ľ and, in lying He was and is the greatest deceiver ever to have lived. If He lied, there can be no man more evil, rotten, and even diabolic than to claim to be God, calling others to follow and hold Him up as God and then to perish in eternity for the mistake.

If Jesus is not God, then millions upon millions of Christians who worshipped Him as God, have perished being led astray by His false teachings! Jesus, if this be true, then is to be one to be despised, hated and rejected for all eternity. That is the only position we can take, if Jesus “knowingly” deceived people to think He was the Creator God. Now there is another possibility we can accept. Suppose Jesus did claim to be God but He was deranged, or mentally ill in so doing this? There are many insane people who think they are Napoleon, George Washington, or other famous people. We place them in insane asylums. So another conclusion we can rightly draw about Jesus Christ is ľ if He is not God come in the flesh then,

2. JESUS IS THE MOST INSANE PERSON WHO EVER LIVED! - Think about it! If Jesus truly thought He was God and was not, there is only one conclusion to draw. It’s one thing to think you are Napoleon, but to think you are the Creator God? That has to be the most insane of all insanities. Such a man then is terribly deluded, and self-deceived, or worse a demon inspired madman!

Remember, Jesus claimed to be God; there is no doubt about it. This is why He was crucified! Under Jewish law anyone who claimed to be God would be put to death. The Romans honored Jewish law to be carried out among their own people. The Jewish Scribes brought Jesus to the Roman authorities for them to carry out the death sentence. Before the Roman law court, Jesus Himself again verified He was God and brought the evidence needed for execution. We read,

Mark 15:2 (NNAS) “Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered^ him, “It is as you say.””

If such a man were not God, and thought He was, and was crucified, died and was buried. What a travesty for an entire world of spiritual followers to go to their deaths following such a mad-man! You see if you think this through, there is no other option for those who do not bow the knee and recognize Christ as God Himself come in the flesh, except to say He was the greatest lunatic in the world, to ever have lived. So, one would rightly despise Him for Jesus gave no room for anyone, or any other faith to afford Him the claim of being a good moral man, a prophet or teacher come from God. God doesn’t send lunatics!

Now there is only one other option open. If Jesus was not a liar, nor a lunatic, we must all, regardless of our religious persuasions, acknowledge Him for who and what He was and is. This brings us to the only other conclusion we can draw concerning who Jesus Christ is,

3. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE TRUE GOD COME IN HUMAN FORM TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS! - I personally must conclude, Jesus Christ is not a liar, nor a lunatic, therefore He must be the promised Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God and God the Son Himself! There is no other choice! This is why Jesus confronted the rich young ruler who called Him a “good teacher, one day.” Only God is good, perfect and upright without sin. So, don’t call Jesus a good man, a moral upright man, a religious leader or prophet. He will not accept such honor, human logic and truth manufacture.

Whom we decide Jesus Christ is, will determine our ultimate destiny. Jesus warned,

John 8:24 (NNAS) “’Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.””

God says you cannot put His Son Jesus Christ on a nice shelf in your closet of acclaim. Nor can you rightly say, He was a “liar or a lunatic,” without denying history, reality and truth. You see, one day John the Baptist while sitting in jail pondered the idea himself. Was Jesus a liar? Was He a lunatic I’ve been following, or is He really, my God? Jesus Himself told John the Baptist,

Mat 11:2-6 (NNAS) “Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 6 “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.””

Jesus said to Him, John if you need to know who I really am, just look at the power and performance I give to the whole world. Only God can rise the dead, and Jesus further promised the whole world they could know He was their Creator God come to save them. How? He promised He would rise from the dead after three days. Of course Jesus fulfilled this as history and the law of evidences more than confirms. But each generation and individuals need to think about this and make their own decision.

Don’t call Jesus Christ a good moral teacher or prophet. You cannot by any sane reasoning do that. You must either call Him a wicked evil liar, or a demented deceived lunatic, or as Thomas said when He saw the living and resurrected Christ,

John 20:27-29 (NNAS) “Then He said^ to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said^ to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””

So friend I ask you have you believed? If not, don’t go about as many religionist and moralist today saying all faiths are good and their teacher’s were wonderful leaders in our world past. Only Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He alone is worthy to be followed. Only Jesus Christ lived a perfect sinless and moral life because He was God! Muhammad, Confucius, The Dalai Lama, Buddha, and all Messianic Cult leaders, who have since died, their bodies rot in the grave, but Jesus Christ is alive and coming again for all who love and follow Him.

Friend the evidence is clearly on the side of Christianity. All other faiths need to hear the words of the apostle Peter and Paul, who declared,

Acts 4:12 (NNAS) “”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 16:31 (NNAS) “They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””

May God open your heart to receive Jesus Christ, and to turn away from the false ideology promoted these days to accommodate religious tolerance. There can be none when it comes to God. He will accept no equals, or usurpers to His throne. Satan tried it and a host of angels followed and were cast down into Hell. So will all other religious persuasions and followers who will not accept and follow Jesus Christ.

Now it must be said. Unlike Islam and other militant faiths, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is forbidden to be spread by the Sword. Christianity is forbidden to make its culture enslave the multitudes against their will. It is a religion of true peace, love, care, concern and of all things love for our fellow man that God created in His likeness.

That is true Christianity and true Christianity is the only faith one can follow to be saved from sin and its awful penalty coming, a Christless eternity in Hell. Make the Lord Jesus Christ your Savior and God today and enter into His love, forgiveness, and blessing.

· Radio talk #4401

· Broadcast date: November 04, 2001

· Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

· Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

· Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

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