Christianity/The Holy Trinity

[The_Old_Man]

Re: Christianity/The Holy Trinity

@Lajawab

This contract thing which you mention, is the forst time I am hearing something like this…Because obviously, if the contract requires you to accept Christ as god for everlasting salvation, then where does the repentance play a role? I mean, what good is accepting Christ if you still have to repent or you can become a non-Christian by doing a small sin…Because if the contract is nullified by a sin, it obviously means you are not a Christian anymore…

My question is, if repentance is still needed to remain a Christian, then what is the need to believe in Christ for everlasting salvation? And if Jesus did die on the cross for our sins, then why the need to repent?

Salaam Lajawab

I will try and explain from a Christian’s perspective.

A covenant is a contract before God. Testament is Greek for the same. The Old Testament relates to the contract between God and his chosen people the Jews. It existed on keeping the Law of God which is impossible for sinful human beings to keep. The New Testament relates to a new covenant/contract set up by the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus died after living a sinless live and fulfilled all the contract/covenant requirements on our behalf. In order for us to also be part of this contract (become partners), we need to accept Jesus as saviour (he is the guarantor). Those that do not accept Jesus as saviour doesn’t fall under this contract/covenant of grace (grace because we can’t do anything to warrant our participation).

In the Old Testament/Covenant of Law, people needed to live, sin, repent, sin, repent and never knew if they haven’t done some unknown sin which they forgot to ask forgiveness for. They therefore never knew if they are saved or not. Islam is a religion also based on laws/rules/regulations similar to Judaism.

From the Bible we have the following scenario:

There exist a set of books before God. In various books all our deeds are clearly described. In one small book all the names are written of those whose sins are forgiven. During the final judgment, only the small book will be opened. Those whose names are not written in the small book will be sent to hell.

What most Christians don’t know is that the names are only written in pencil in the small book. It can be erased again. Once your name is written, you have to do some serious sin in order for it to be erased again. You therefore can have the surety of salvation here and now once your name is written in the small book. In order to keep your name in the book though, you need daily to ask forgiveness for any known or unknown sins committed with a true remorseful heart.

I believe this is what the Christian tried to explain. The difference (according to him) between Islam and Christianity is therefore that a Christian can know today that they are saved and in Islam not.