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Atonement: Muslim vs Christian Understanding
Genesis 22:8, “And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb…'”
John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'”
By Jack Smith

This article will compare the concept of “atonement” in Christianity with that of Islam.
The Bible teaches that sin is universal (Isaiah 53:6); that is, everyone sins, and everyone falls short of God’s standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23). Mankind’s sinfulness acts as a separator between man and God (Isaiah 59:2), a barrier that removes humanity from God, and renders relationship with holy God, impossible. Hence, humanity is ”out-of-relationship” with God, and in need of being reconciled. Atonement is the doctrine whereby God and mankind are made ”at-one-ment,” that is, God and mankind are reconciled, and the nature of this new reconciled relationship is eternal and without end.
Since all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of righteousness, humanity cannot make amends for acts of sinfulness, nor can humanity’s righteous acts “offset” unrighteous acts. Isaiah 64:6 puts it this way: “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy garments.” Man’s best efforts at righteousness are likened to filthy rags. How then can humanity ever make amends for unrighteous acts if our righteous acts are likened to filthy rags? Likewise, how then can “filthy rags” offset unrighteous acts? Quite the opposite occurs. Mankind is dismally separated from God and can do nothing to make things right. It is as if humankind has an incurable illness; an illness that will eventually render him eternally separated from a holy God.
Because of man’s condition, God acts to reconcile mankind to Himself. He does so by providing the means whereby mankind’s unrighteousness is made righteous. God provides a savior who is held accountable for the sins of humankind. The savior cannot be another sinner because a sinner cannot make atonement for even his own sins (sinners fall short of God’s standard, Romans 3:23), much less those of another sinner. The savior must be perfect, without sin, or the savior, himself, will fall short of God’s standard.
The Christmas message reminds us that
Read more…Officials in Iran Frantically Refute Claims That Christianity is Spreading Through ‘Exclusively Islamic’ Cities
“The Iranian media is desperate to refute claims that Christianity is spreading among Iranian youth and through cities considered to be almost exclusively Islamic. The government-supported Jomhouri-e-Eslami daily newspaper is calling the spread of Christianity an unfounded rumour, but there are definite contradictions in fact to this statement. On October 2, the government-supported news website, Javan-Online, acknowledged that the acceptance of Christianity was becoming a trend and reported 200 house churches were discovered in just a few months in the traditionally Islamic city of Mashhad.
Many high ranking government officials and Islamic religious leaders have also made statements expressing concern over the spread of Christianity. Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, a prominent Islamic theologian and writer, publicly spoke about the conversion of 600 people to Christianity in the city of Neishabour, according to a local newspaper in the Southern Khoarasan Province. The Head of the Ministry of Intelligence in Iran, Heydar Moslehi, also warned the heads of education in Iran about the spread of Christianity in schools.
Moslehi also cryptically announced there will be a new effort to Read more…
What Lies Beneath: Team of Israeli and German Scientists Discover System of Deep Fresh Water Springs, New Life Forms on Dead Sea Floor
Ezekiel 47:8, “Then he said to me: ‘This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the [dead] sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed.”
By Dr. Jimmy DeYoung – “It almost seems like a contradiction of terms to read the headline for this story that life, in fact, new life has been discovered in the Dead Sea by a team of Israeli and German scientists and this report comes at a time when the Dead Sea is dangerously low due to evaporation of the salty Dead Sea water.
Deep beneath the sea bed of a body of water long believed incapable of sustaining life, Israeli scientists have found deep fresh water springs and German scientists have discovered microorganisms growing on the sea floor.
While researchers have known for decades that the Dead Sea is a misnomer, the rich variety of life evidenced in the underwater springs and the microorganisms at the bottom of the Dead Sea may lead to new life for this body of water…
Freshwater springs at the bottom of the Dead Sea and newly discovered microorganisms in this body of water set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
For a number of years, I have been reporting on the death of the Dead Sea as this famous body of water has been going down in level almost 3 feet per year. There have been major discoveries that may also be used to save the Dead Sea from death. These underwater springs and even the microorganisms discovered by the marine scientists could well be a lifeline needed for this project.
What is so interesting to a student of Bible prophecy is that two ancient Jewish prophets foretold of freshwater flowing into the Dead Sea and making this body of water, which is ten times saltier than any ocean on earth, a freshwater lake.
Zechariah wrote of what happens after Jesus Christ returns to the earth, how living waters flow from Jerusalem to the former sea in the text which is the Dead Sea, Zechariah 14:8. Ezekiel, in the 47th chapter of his prophecy, wrote of water flowing from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, actually from the Temple itself, down the Kidron Valley, all the way to the Dead Sea, Ezekiel 47:1-8. Verse 8 reveals that the saltwater in the Dead Sea will be healed and the fishermen will dry their fishing nets at Ngedi.
The Dead Sea will indeed be healed.” Source – Prophecy Today.
Scientists Discover New Life in the Dead Sea – “Deep beneath the sea bed of a body of water long believed incapable of sustaining life, scientists have discovered new micro-organisms. Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev announced Wednesday they have found deep fresh water springs on the floor of the Dead Sea. These secret springs are apparently providing fresh water to the rapidly shrinking lake. Meanwhile, a parallel study being conducted by German scientists has found new life forms in the mineral-laden waters. The micro-organisms were discovered growing around the fissures in the sea floor.” Read more.
Tip of the hat to Willard for the link.
Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hold Official Bible Studies
Is the Second Coming of Messiah the catalyst that brings about their belief in Yeshua, or will their belief in Yeshua be the catalyst that brings about the Second Coming of Messiah? Which ever it is, may the Lord open their eyes to the truth of the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, the Aleph and the Tav …
Isaiah 62:11, “Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy YESHU’AH cometh; behold, HIS reward [is] with HIM, and his work before him.”
Matthew 1:21, “She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name YESHUA, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday announced that he will reestablish a regular Bible study group at his official residence in Jerusalem. The group will be open to Bible researchers, government officials and invited guests.
Netanyahu made the announcement on the 30-day anniversary of the passing of his father-in-law, Shmuel Ben-Artzi, who was a respected Israeli poet and Bible teacher. Ben-Artzi used to attend the regular Bible studies hosted by Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion.
‘Ben-Gurion understood that the Book of Books is our mandate for our country,’ Netanyahu said. ‘He viewed the Bible as the wondrous story of the Jewish people, the unique spiritual, cultural and historic heritage of our people, and also as one of the cornerstones of all of human culture.’
The father of Netanyahu’s Likud Party, Menachem Begin, also used to host regular Bible studies at the prime minister’s residence. Netanyahu said he wanted to reinstate that practice in order to encourage love of the Bible among government officials, and by extension, the nation.” Source – Israel Today.
Radical Muslim: ‘I Saw Jesus In a Dream … Can You Tell Me How to Receive Jesus? I Will Do Anything You Tell Me’
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
“Every day, Muslims listeners of Christian radio and satellite television broadcasts who are curious about Christianity call in to ICC sponsored representatives to talk about Jesus. Here is a story of a fanatic Muslim coming to Christ that was recently shared by an ICC partner.
‘I will find you. Until the last drop of my blood I will fight to rid the earth of you,’ the caller said.
‘I understand your anger and hostility towards me, because I was once like you,’ the ICC partner responded. ‘I could go to any extent to destroy a Christian who spoke about Jesus the way that I do. However, Jesus Christ touched me and changed me. He placed a special love in my heart for you. My Lord tells me to love your enemies. Pray for your enemies. If they are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them water. I will be praying for you.’
Days later, the Muslim man again contacted ICC’s partner. ‘I had a very hard time with your response. I prayed to Allah for many days and I was tormented with your words. What kind of love is this? Maybe you did not understand I wanted to kill you. I was very serious about it. First I thought you did not take me seriously. But now I am ashamed. Please tell me if you still care for me. How did you change your religion?’
The ICC partner wrote back saying that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship and went on to share his testimony.
‘I could not accept what you told me about receiving Jesus into my heart,’ the Muslim man replied. ‘You basically told me to change my religion. I could not do that. But, one night I saw Jesus in a dream. This was the first time I had peace. He smiled at me and said, ‘Listen to him.’’
Then the man asked, ‘Can you tell me how to receive Jesus? I will do anything you tell me.’
The ICC partner led him in the sinner’s prayer and he received Jesus as his Savior.
‘This man’s life changed drastically. Now he says he will die for me,’ ICC’s partner said. ‘I told him, ‘Do not die for anyone, just live for Jesus. He died for you.’'” Source – Persecution.org.
Morocco: Former Muslim Convert to Christianity Stabbed and Left for Dead, Granted Asylum in the US
“We are glad to inform you that our client, a former Muslim from Morocco, has been granted asylum in the United States. Our client, Z, whose name has been kept confidential for security reasons, is a young Christian who grew up in a wealthy and strong Muslim family in Morocco. After his conversion to Christianity, he was attacked by radical Muslims and was stabbed multiple times. After losing a lot of blood and remaining unconscious for three days, Z was miraculously saved…
Z left Islam and started secretly living as a Christian. In 2010, when he was attending a secret house church in Morocco and going to an internet cafe to fulfill his need to listen to worship songs and sermons, he was approached by four men as he left his house. The men surrounded him and said they knew that he had left Islam and dishonored his family and Islam by becoming a kafir (infidel). The men stabbed Z multiple times and left him for dead. One of Z’s neighbors saw him lying on the ground, bleeding. He took Z to the hospital where he underwent two surgeries. He gained consciousness after three days and thanked God for saving his life. Z came to the United States and contacted the ACLJ. Our legal team filed for asylum and within just four months, Z was interviewed and granted asylum…
In recent years, Morocco has been very unwelcoming of Christian foreigners and has expelled many from the country. And, just last year, at least 14 Christian converts were arrested in Morocco. In 2005, a Christian convert was sentenced to 15 years in prison.” Read more.
UK: Leading Muslim Authority to Issue a Global Call for Peace to End Terrorism
We need more voices of true moderates to be heard loud and clear within the Islamic community. Let’s hope the radicals in their midst don’t decide to take matters into their own hands like they have elsewhere …

“LONDON — Thousands of Muslims are gathering at a rally in London Saturday to fight extremism and promote a moderate, inclusive version of Islam.
The event’s organizers Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International say some 12,000 Muslims are expected at Wembley Arena. The event will be broadcast live to dozens of countries around the world.
The group’s founder, the Pakistan-born Islamic scholar Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, says killing innocents is forbidden in Islam and Muslims must integrate into the societies in which they’re living.
Some Islamic scholars like Tahir-ul-Qadri have warned that a power vacuum in North Africa and the Middle East could lead to militant and extremist groups gaining ground in upcoming elections caused by the so-called Arab Spring.
‘If these elements come into power, it will be a big disaster,’ Tahir-ul-Qadri told The Associated Press.” Read more.
Due to the ‘Arab Spring’ Militant Islam may be on the rise – “An Iraqi Catholic Archbishop has said that militant Islam could be on the rise as a result of the Arab Spring. Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk said that radical Islam could become more mainstream following the protest movements. In Tunisia, Egypt and Libya popular movements have ousted their governments, but have also left uncertainties over the future of the countries. In Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, continued protests against the governments are calling for their leaders to step down. Sako said Islamic fundamentalism is threatening to ‘unleash’ across the region.” Read more.
Flashback: Indonesia: Imam Attacked Delivering Antiviolence Sermon During Friday Prayers – “An imam preaching against violence in Aceh was attacked and beaten as he delivered his sermon during Friday prayers, a report said. Saiful Bahri was speaking out against election violence allegedly committed by local politicians and former members of the disbanded Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Pidie, AcehKita reported.” Read more.
Flashback: India: Moderate Cleric Speaking Against Radical Islam is Blown to Bits – “An improvised explosive device detonated outside a mosque in Srinagar, the capital of India’s portion of the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir, killing a moderate Muslim cleric and showing how militants are still able to mount attacks despite a massive security crackdown by Indian forces.” Read more.
Flashback: Russia: Prominent Imam Speaking Out Against Violence is Sprayed With Bullets – “A prominent imam who discouraged youth from joining Islamic militants has been shot dead in his home in the strife-torn southern Russian republic of Dagestan, news reports said Saturday… ‘He was widely known for his uncompromising stand against any forms of violence, condemning the murder of innocent people and other atrocities of the Chechen underground,’ Interfax quoted a police statement as saying.” Read more.
Canada: Near Death, Muslim Sees Jesus in Toronto Hospital
Psalm 70:4, “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified!’”
“… In life, I’d been bold, self confident, a risk taker. But facing death, I was terrified. I had no idea what might await me on the other side. I’d been raised as a Moslem in London , England , and I understood Allah was not a god who heals.
My only hope was in medicine.
I eventually slipped so close to death that the doctors didn’t know I could hear them when they examined me. ‘His immune system has simply shut down,’ one of them said.
‘He’s dying … In a few hours he’ll be dead,’ they said. ‘If by some miracle he lives, he’ll probably be blind in his right eye, deaf in his right ear, paralyzed on his right side and he may be severely brain damaged from the high fever.’
Then they left.
They left me here to die! I felt like a drowning man going down for the third time. Gathering my strength I whispered a prayer. ‘God, if you’re real, don’t let me die!’
During the darkest hour of the night, I woke and saw a man at the foot of my bed. Rays of light emanated from him, allowing me to see his outline. I couldn’t see his face, it was too bright. No one had to tell me, I knew it was Jesus.
The Koran mentions Jesus; Moslems believe He existed, not as the son of God, but as a good man and a prophet. I knew this wasn’t Mohammed. I knew it wasn’t Allah. Jesus was in my room. There was no fear, only peace.
‘Why would You come to a Moslem when everyone else has left me to die?’ I wondered.
Without words, he spoke to me. ‘I Am the God of the Christians. I Am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’
That’s all He said. He didn’t mention my illness. He didn’t mention my impending death. As suddenly as He appeared, He was gone.
The next morning, the same two doctors arrived to examine me.” Read more.
Accounts Multiply Of Muslims Who Have Encountered Jesus Christ In Unsual Dreams – “For at least ten years reports have proliferated of Muslims converted to Christianity through dreams. A California magazine recently published the results of a survey of over 600 ex-Muslims who now follow Jesus. ‘Although dreams appear to play a minor role in the conversions of Westerners, over a quarter of those interviewed [as former Muslims] emphatically confirmed that dreams and visions played a vital role in their conversion, and helped them in difficult times,’ the survey said. Others have found the percentage higher. Karel Sanders, a missionary in South Africa, reported that among African Muslims, ’42 percent of the new believers come to Christ through visions, dreams, angelic appearances and hearing God’s voice.’ According to Dawn’s Friday Fax, a website that focuses on missionary reports, Arabic-speaking moderators explain supernatural experiences such as dreams, visions and healings through prayer to Jesus.” Read more.
Islamic Radicals Come to Christ

Luke 15:10b, “… there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
John 3:16, 6:40, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life… And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
“Many of ICC-supported missionaries work in areas targeted by radical Islamists. We recently received a very encouraging report from one of these missionaries! He told us that four members of an Islamic radical group came to Christ. The Islamic radical group is known for killing of Christians in the country. Our missionary told us, “[The Muslim converts] are genuine children of God who have fully repented of their past sins.” Source.
Former Member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard: Why I Renounce Islam and Choose Christ
By Reza Kahlili – “The radical mullahs who rule Iran want me dead, first for betraying my country as a member of the Revolutionary Guards who spied for the CIA, and now for renouncing the religion that allows them to cling to their tyranny.
Modern-day Iran has been dominated by Islam since the Muslim conquest of Persia in the seventh century. When I was born, during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, there was freedom of religion, but, like the vast majority of people, I was raised a Muslim. Though many Iranians did not practice the religion, they were respectful of its belief, and it was through my grandmother that I learned about Islam and how I could find my way to God in becoming a pure human being.
Islam has been passed from one generation to another, each believing that it represented a God who loved and promoted respect, justice and enlightenment. I grew up believing in a loving God, always relying on Him to help me choose the right path in life. When the Islamic Revolution took place in 1979, sending the shah into exile, I returned home from the United States, where I had just finished my education. I wanted to help my country progress, hopeful that there would be full democracy. I believed that Ayatollah Khomeini would be true to his promise of freedom for all.
A childhood friend talked me into joining the Revolutionary Guards because of the knowledge and expertise in computers I had learned in the United States. But only months later I was shocked to witness the most heinous crimes taking place under the banner of Islam.
The mullahs forced Iranians to adhere to a strict Islamic dress code and subjected them to amputation as the punishment for stealing, lashing for drinking, stoning for adultery. Boys and girls seeking the freedoms promised to them were rounded up and taken to Evin prison. Many were raped, tortured and executed, among them my best friend and his siblings. Teenage girls were raped prior to execution because in Islam a virgin can go to heaven, and the ‘men of God’ wanted to deny them that reward. Others were slowly lowered in tanks of acid so they would die painfully.” Read more.
Real Leadership: Netanyahu Will NOT Apologize to Turkey Over Flotilla Incident, Palmer Report To Be Released August 22
“Israel will stick to its refusal to apologize to Turkey for killing nine of its citizens aboard a Gaza-bound ship, an official said on Wednesday, dampening any prospects for reconciliation between the former allies.
The decision, which the official said Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu conveyed to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a telephone call, was made days before the publication of the findings of a UN inquiry into the seizure of the Mavi Marmara last year.
The so-called Palmer report was repeatedly delayed to allow for Israeli-Turkish rapprochement talks amid concern in Washington at the rift between two countries that had been strategic partners in an increasingly stormy Middle East.
Officials, citing advance copies of the report, have said it would vindicate Israel’s blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Turkey, which like Israel had a delegate on the UN panel headed by former New Zealand prime minister Geoffrey Palmer, has said it would not accept such a finding.
The Mavi Marmara was part of an activist flotilla bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza when it was boarded by Israeli marines on the Mediterranean high seas on May 31, 2010. The marines shot dead nine Turks, including a dual US citizen, during fierce deck brawls.
Netanyahu voiced regret over the killings. But Turkey insisted on a formal apology and compensation for those bereaved and injured, which Israel initially rejected as tantamount to admitting culpability for an action it deems self-defense.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday it would be impossible for Turkish-Israeli ties to improve unless Jerusalem apologized and paid compensation for the killing of nine Turks.” Read more.
Flashback: Turkish Prime Minister: No Normalization With Israel Without Apology, End of Gaza Blockade – “Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that his country will not normalize its relations with Israel as long as Israel does not apologize for the killing of nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists during the takeover of the Mavi Marmara ship last year. Erdogan, who spoke at the ‘Palestinian Ambassadors’ Conference’ in Istanbul, added Israel should compensate the families of those killed and end the blockade of the Gaza Strip.” Read more.
CAIR Demands That Rep. Allen West Stop Associating with Non-Pro-Islamic Groups, West Responds With a Four-Letter Word …
… and the Muslim Brotherhood-linked CAIR just can’t seem to figure out why Rep. Allen West refuses to submit to these Islamists and instead simply replies to their demands with the word ‘NUTS’. I guess it’ll have to be spelled out for CAIR: ‘NUTS’ [nuhts] Slang (interjection) – 1. Also, nerts, nertz. Used to express disgust, defiance, disapproval, despair; 2. (Adjective) insane; crazy.
Well said, Mr. West …
“FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – A South Florida Muslim group sent Congressman Allen West a letter asking him to disassociate himself from activists the group considers anti-Islamic.
Congressman West did respond and the letter he sent back is raising some eyebrows.
If it looks like the shortest letter you’ve ever seen from a member of congress, it probably is. How short? Try one word, in capital letters: ‘NUTS!’
‘I was shocked at first. I didn’t expect this from a congressman,’ said Nezar Hamze, the executive director of CAIR Florida — the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
‘We stand up for the civil rights of the Muslim community. That’s what we do,’ said Hamze.
Hamze says he wrote to the Republican Congressman earlier this month with his concerns about the Congressman’s relationships with groups and people Hamze considers to be anti-Islamic.
‘When I first saw that, I wasn’t sure if he was calling me nuts, or he was calling my concerns nuts,’ said Hamze.
Constituents in West’s district 22 are just now reading the letter.
‘It doesn’t look too professional to me. It doesn’t look thought out,’ said one constituent named Chuck.
Simone Oliver, another district 22 constituent thinks it’s fine, but says it needs a little more.
‘Maybe another sentence, explaining,’ she said.
West has not fully explained his position, but in other letters to CAIR Florida, he has said he is neither anti-Islamic nor anti-Muslim.
Then CBS4 News discovered that during World War II, General Anthony McAuliffe famously wrote a one-word letter to the Germans in response to a surrender ultimatum. The word used: ‘Nuts!'” Read more.
CAIR promises to fight against legislation that bans implementation of ‘foreign laws’ – “Muslim leaders are saying a piece of legislation proposed by Rep. Dave Agema (R-Grandville) is actually an attack on Islam. In June, Agema proposed legislation that would ban the implementation of foreign laws. While the language of the proposal does not say it directly, it would ban Sharia or Islamic law. Agema told the Detroit News that the law is intended to preserve American laws.” Read more.




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