@ Nr;i r. Al-Arfai,2oo2

K. F. National Library Cataloging-in-

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Al-Arfaj, Naji Ibrahim

God in Christianity...What is His Nature?

40 p. cmrsBN 9960-9345-l-9l- God 2- Compararive study 3- Jesus

I- Title

29l.2ll09 dc lll0/22

Legal DePosit No. lll0l22rsBN 9960-9345-1-9

First Edition

2002

All rights reserved.booklet, you must get

from the Author.

To reprint thisprior permission

Seeking the Truth Series ( z

God in Christianity...

Whot ̂ IsHis f{ature?

By

Dr. f{aji I. Al-Arfaj

Dedication

To those who seek the truth sincerely,honestly, and oPen-mindedlY !

Contents

Pre-reading Questians

Introduction

Is God One or Three?Is Jesus God or Part of God?

Are They Equal?

Is Jesus the Son of God?

So, Who Was Jesus?

Conclusions

References

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What rs IIis Nature?

Pre-reading questions:

1. What is the nature of God in Christianity?2. Is God one or three (TrinitY)?

3. Is Jesus equal with God?4. Is Jesus God or Part of God?5. Is Jesus a son of man or son of God?6. So, who is Jesus really?7. What is your oPinion?

Please read the followingtext corefullY, criticallY, and

witho ut any PreconcePtions !

llhat is His Nature?

Jesus said, "Seek the truth,and the truth will set you.free."

As a seeker of the truth and astudent of life, and after many years ofobservation, research and comparativestudy, it appears to me that people oftenbase their beliefs and judgments onweak, sandy foundations, rather than onthe solid foundation of rock that Jesusrecommended.

Concerning the topic at hand, Ihave noticed some major differencesbetween what is commonly and officiallyunderstood about God in Christianity,and what the Bible itself states!

What is His Nature?

In this booklet, I would like toshare with you -out of love and concern-what I have noticed and learned throughmy continuous journey of research,analysis, and study.

The intent of this work is tohonestly and sincerely present the truththat I found, not to hurt the feelings ofanyone.

Now let us turn to discuss someissues and questions concerning thenature of God in Christianity, namely theTrinity and divinity of Jesus.

llhat is His Nature?

Is God One or Three?

Is Jesus God or Part of God?

*

*

What do you think?

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What is your answer?

Let us get the answer from the Bible:

What is His Nature?

. One csme and ssid unto him,Good Master, what good thingshall I do, thut I moy haveeternal life? And he (Jesus) saidunto him, Why callest thou megood*? There is none good butone, that is, God. Bat if thou wiltenter into ltfe, keep thecommundments,

(Matthew 19:16-17)

* WhJ callest thou me good? Or in modernEnglish, "Why do you call me good?" Wewouldn't find this wording and meaning in someBiblesl This text is found in King James Version.Don't take my word for it! Check your Bible!

What is His Nature?

Several questions can be askedabout the above verses. Some of themore intuitive ones are:

did Jesus question his ownsoodness?

Jesus emphatically stated that

"there is none good but one, thatis, God." Why did he refer to theone God as the "good" one onlY?

Why did he exclude himself frombeing good, if he were God?

Jesus explicitly pointed out that "fthou wilt enter into life, keeP thecommandments." Why didn'tJesus command the questioner to

What is His Nature?

believe in him (Jesus) as God inorder to enter into eternal life?

keeping the commandmentsenough for getting eternal life?

Now, let us re-read the verses ofMatthew (19: 16-17) as stated in KingJames Version and the same verses asreported in the New InternationalVersion of the Holy Bible.

ll/hat is His Nature?

t One came und sqid unto him, GoodMaster, whst good thing shall I do,

that I may have eternal life? And hesaid unto him, WhY callest thou me

€ood? There is none good but one,that is, God.

(In King James Version)

o lr,low a man come up to Jesus andasked, "Teacher, what good thing

must I do to get eternal life?""Why do you ask me about what isgood?",lesus rePlied. "There is onlY

One who is good. If You want toenter ltfe,commandments."

obey the

( ln the Nelv International Version)

llhat is His Nature?

To make it easy to compare, hereare Jesus' two different questions:

According to King James Version (KJV),in simple English, Jesus asked:

o Why do you CALL ME GOOD?

But, according to the New InternationalVersion (NIV), Jesus said:

o Why do you ASK ME ABOUTWHAT IS GOOD?

Please honestly compare betweenJesus' question in the King JamesVersion and his question in the NewInternational Version. Do they have thesame meaning? Can they both becorrect?

ll'hat is His Nature?

Going back to the criticalquestion, Is Jesus God?, I think that if

Jesus were God or part of God, his

logical response would be to approve ofwhat the questioner called him (i.e.,

"Good Master").

Sound reasoning and plain logic

tell us that God is good. And if Jesuswere God or part of God (Part of the

Trinity) he MUST BE GOOD! Don',t you

agree?

Presumably, some of the possible,

expected responses that Jesus could utter

in response to the young man saYing"Good Master" include:

lVhat is His Nature?

O "Certainly, I am good, for I am God."

O "You are right. I am good."

O Or at least, knowing that he wasobviously good, being God or amanifestation of God, Jesus couldhave answered the young man withouttaking issue with his words by saying:

' "rf thou wilt enter into lW,keep the commandments."

But, astonishingly, Jesusresponded to the young man's words

"Good Master" with somethingunexpected! He denied that he was good,wondering,"Why do you call me good?"

llhat is His Nature?

So, instead of denying hisgoodness, wouldn't it have been morereasonable for Jesus to seize thisoccasion and acknowledge that he wasgood, since he was God or amanifestation of the one God, if suchwere the case? Why would he refer to thetrue God alone, and not reveal his own'good' divinity? Was he hiding the truthabout himself from the questioner?

o IYow this l's life eternal, that theyknow you, the ONLY true God, andJesus Christ, whom you have sent.

(John 17:3)

In this verse, Jesus againdistinguishes himself from the ONLYtrue God! It is this only true God whocreated and sent Jesus. So, who has the

lYhat is His Nature?

full authority to command and send? TheONLY true God or Jesus? Who isgreater, the one who orders and sendsor the one who is ordered and sent?

o There is One God and one mediatorbetween God and men, the mqnChrist Jesus. (l Timothy 2: 5)

This verse points to two identities:(l) one God, and (2) one mediator(Jesus)! Jesus is described as ,,the man.,'The verse did not call him ,,the GodChrist Jesus." In fact, nowhere in theBible is Jesus called God!

To further discuss and answer thequestion, Is Jesus God or part of God?,let us carefully, critically, and objectively

Llthat is His Nature?

read the following parts of versesreported in Matthew 4: 1-10.

. Then Jesus was led by the SPiritinto the desert to be temPted bYthe devil.

. After fasting forty daYs ond forAnights, he was hungry.

. Again, the devil took him to avery high mountsin and shawedhim all the kingdoms of the worldand their splendor,

. He (the devil) said to him (Jesus)'

"All these I will give You, tf Youwill fall down und worshiP me."

Did these verses trigger any questionsor thoughts in your mind?

What is His Nature?

l )

2)

Let me share with you some of thequestions and thoughts that stroke mymind after readine the above verses:

The Bible says, "Jesus was led by theSpiril into the desert... " I wonderwho has more authority and morepower, Jesus or the Spirit? Whydidn't Jesus lead hirnself to the desertif he were God? Does God needsomeone to lead Him?

Based on the testimony of the aboveverses, the devil (Satan) temptedJesus who is considered to be God bysome Christians. The simple andlogical question that could be raisedis: Can God be tempted?

What is His Nature?

The same Bible tells us that Godcan't be tempted! This fact is uttered byJesus in the same story of temptation.Similarly, James, the brother of Jesus,said:

. "God csnnot be tempted by evil, andhe himself tempts no one."

(James l : 13)

The Bible reports that "After fastingforty days and forty nights, he(Jesus) was hungry." Analyzingthis verse, let's reason together:

Does God fast?

To whom was Jesus fasting? Tohimself as God or to someone who isgreater than him?

Does God feel hungry or thirsty?

3)

,>

Whot is His Nature?

4) In the story of 'the temptation ofJesus' (you find this heading in severalBibles), we came to discover that thedevil (Satan) moved and controlledJesus! Did Satan do that with Jesusthe man or Jesus the God? If Satandid that with Jesus the man, what isthe point? And if the devil did thatwith Jesus the God, can God betried, moved, and controlled? Let'sremember James' words, "God

cannot be tempted by evil... "

At the end of the dialogue betweenJesus and Satan and after Satan askedJesus to'Tall down and worship" him,Jesus said to the devil:

' Worship the Lord your God, andserve Him only." (Matthew 4: 10)

What r's I*'s Nature?

I assume, if Jesus were Godincarnate, he might have easilyresponded, "No, Satan. It is you whomust fall down and worship me, yourGod!" But instead he invoked the abovescripture about worshipping the true GodONLY.

On the other hand. we learned fromthe story that:

(Please read the whole story of thetemptation of Jesus, Mattherv 4: l-10).

What is His Nature?

But, the Bible emPhaticallYindicates that GOD CANNOT BE SEENOR HEARD.

. No one has everone can see him,

seen him. And

(1 Timothy 6:

no

16)

nor. You huve never heurd His voiceseen His shape.

(John 5 :37)

. Now to the King eternal, immortal,

invisible, the onlY God, be honorand glory forever and ever, Amen.

( l Timothy 1: 17)

Additionally,, before I conclude this

section, let me ask: During Jesus' l ife on

lilhat is His Nqture?

earth didn't his familY, PeoPle, and

followers see and hear him?

Therefore, according to thedescription of God in the above verses'Jesus cannot be God. Isn't thisreasonable and logical? So, what is thetruth? Think about it!

Now let us turn to discussother crit ical questions!

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lYhat is His Nature?

{. Are God the Father, God the Son,and God the Holy Spirit EQUAL?

* Is God the Son (Jesus) EQUALwith God the Father?

* Is God the Son (Jesus) EQUALwith God the Holy Spirit?

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Let us see what Jesus himself says:

W/hat is His Nature?

. My Father is greater than 1(Jesus).(John 14:28)

o My Father, who gsve them to me,is greoter thun all. (John lo:29)

. Whut I tesch l's not my ownteaching, but it comes from God,who sent me. (John 7: 16)

. I cun of my own self do nothing."ss I hear, I judge: and myjuclgment is just; becsuse I seeknot my own will, but the will ofthe Father who has sent me.

(John 5: 30)

What is His Nature?

o No one knows, however, whenthut day or hour will come-neither the angels in heaven,nor the Son; only the Fatherknows.

(Mark 13:32)

. Anyone who says somethingagainst the Son of man can be

forgiven, but whoever soyssomething against the HolYSpirit will not be forgiven- nowor ever (Matthew 12:32)

After reading these clear-cutstatements as well as many others spokenbv Jesus hirnself" what can we conclude?

ll4tat is His Nature?

Based o n J esus' honest and franktestimony that the only true God (theFather) is greater than him and greaterthan the Holy Spirit, that what he teachesis not his, that he and the Holy Spiritknow nothing about the last day, and thathe can do nothing of himself, a s incereseeker of the truth should accept whatJesus says about himself and not makehim God or the equal of God!Let me discuss another significantquestion.

ll/hat r's //rb Nature?

* Is Jesus the only son of God?

Let us get the answer from the Bible:

t Adum is the son of God.(Luke 3: 38)

o Isrsel is My first-born son.(Exodus 4:22)

. The Lord hus said unto me, thouart my Son; this day hove Ibegotten thee. " (Psalms 2:7,KJY).

So, according to the Bible, andannounced by the Father himself,David is another begotten Son {with acap i ta l 'S ' | !

What is His Nature?

. Blessed qre the peqcemskers, farthey will be culled sons of God.

(Matthew 5:9)

Tracing this title "son of God" inthe Bible, w€ can find many "sons ofGod" and that Jesus is not the onlv son.

It can be concluded that the Bibleuses this title "son of God" figurativelyto mean righteous, pious, selected, orGod-conscious.

THIS LEADSQUESTTONASK!

US TO THE CRUCIALWHICH WE MUST

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lVhat is His Nature?

{. So, who was Jesus?

After discussing evidence from theBible that God is One, NOT THREE,that Jesus is not God or part of God,that he is not equal with God, and thathe is not the son of God in the literalsense, we must ask: So, who was Jesus?

D Jesus the man

The times that Jesus is referred toas 'man' or'son of man' in the Bible aremany. Below are just some verses:

o Ye men of Israel, heur these words;Jesus of Nazareth, wss a MANapproved of God smong you bymirocles, wonders, and signs.

(Acts 2:22).

llrhat is His Nature?

These words were uttered byPeter, a very dear friend and follower ofJesus, and he witnessed things closely.

o The Son of MAN come eating anddrinking. (Matthew ll: 19)

o This MAN is really the Prophet.(John 7:40)

o Now ye seek to kill me, o MAN thathath told you the truth, which I haveheard of God. (John 8: 40, King JamesVersion, some Bibles do not reveal thistruth! Check your Bible!).

At this crit ical moment of his l i fe,Jesus testif ied himself that he is "a man."Why didn't he clearly and openly say:

lVhat is His Nature?

"Now you seek to kill me, God incarnate,who has told you the truth." Is it possiblethat he was hidine the truth?

tr Jesus the Prophet

. This is Jesus the prophet ofNuzareth. (Matthew 2l: I l)

. Jesus said, "A prophet is neveraccepted in his home town."

(Luke 4' .24)

. I tell you the truth, no servsntis greoter thun his msster, noris a messenger greater than theone who sent him.

(John l3 : l6)

What r's.EIis Nature?

. Surely this is the prophet who isto come into the world.

(John 6: 14)

Jesus, who was a prophet,..(Luke 24: 19)

These are just some of the manyBiblical verses which point out thatJesus was a prophet and a messengerof the one true God! Again, nowherein the Bible he is called God.

A finsl criticsl and sisnificantpiece of information sbout Jesus!

Whst is His Nature?

"In his life on earth Jesus made his prayersand requests with loud cries and tears toGod. who could save him from death. Becausehe was humble and devoted, God heord him."

(Hebrews 5:7)

and conclusionsderive from theBiblical texts?

that we canabove-cited

ll/hat is His Nature?

Conclusions:

The above statements from theBible form a coherent message that thereis only one God. " ... I am the only God.Besides me there is no other god; therenever was and never will be. I alone amthe LORD, the only one who can saveyou" (Isaiah 43: l0-11). "f am the Lordyour God und I talerste no partners."(Exodus 20: 5)

Hundreds of similar statementsoccur in the Bible, as compared to just afew which contradict them*.

*Please see the notesfollowing these conclusions,

What is His Nature?

The recurrent theme is that Jesus isthe prophet of the only true God, whocreated Jesus, created us, and created allthings.

Approaching the end of thisjourney of seeking the truth, I would liketo leave with you some questions tothink about!

O Isn't it time to put things in theirright places?

O Isn't it time to place Jesus in his rightand respected position as only a manand a prophet of the one true God?

O Isn't it time to turn to our only trueGod, the Creator, and worshipHim alone before it is too late(before death!)?

ll/hat is His Nature?

Notes:

rr It is believed by a growing numberof Biblical scholars that it was Paul(born in 5 A. D.!) who reshaped themajor beliefs in Christianity, includingthe Trinity, divinity of Jesus, original sin,crucifixion, salvation through the bloodofJesus, etc.

Furthermore, it is widely acceptedby these scholars that Paul wrote hisletters before the four gospels, whichwere later colored and influenced byPaul's beliefs and teachings. Thedifference between Paul's teachings andJesus' original message contributed tothe considerable confusion we find todayabout the nature of God. For moreinformation about this, please refer to mJ)upcoming booklet, What llent Wrong?

What is His Nature?

Afinal thought...

After reading this booklet carefully,critically, and oPen-mindedlY;a sincere, honest, and seriousseeker of the truth might raisequestions like:

. ,So. What is the truth?

. lVho is the true God?

. lVhut is His true message?

. Whst went wrong?

These questions and others will bediscussed in uPcoming writings,

God will ine

lVhat is His Nature?

References

I - The Holy Bible. King James Version.2- G ood news Bible. Today's English Version.3- H oly Bible. New International Version.4- H oly Bible. Revised Standard Version.5- The Bible Library. 29 works on one

CD-ROM disc. It includes 9 Biblesand20 Biblical references. 1995 EllisEnterprises, Inc. Oklahoma, USA.

6- The Multi-Bible CD-ROM. InnotechMultimedia, Inc. Ontario, Canada.

7- S everal web sites from the Internet.8- I nformation and feedback from my

public lectures' audience and myWeekly TV program's viewers.

Useful web sites:

g www. sultan.orgg www.al-sunnah.com

ll/hat is IIis Nature?

Any feedback or corrections sre

For further information, questions,suggestions, or reactions,please feel free to contact:

Dr. Naji Ibrahim Al-ArfajWebsite: www.abctruth.com

E-mail: abctruth@hotmail.comP. O. Box 418

Hofuf. Al-Ahsa 31982 KSA

After reading this booklet critically,I would love to hear from vou!

Writings and Works bY the Author

I. A step by step series of see.king the truth(Foltowing a scholarly tnd comparative approach):

1. Who is He? A2. What is His Nature? &3. Just One Message! |4. What is the Truth? g

5. What Went Wrong? (6. The Beauty of Islam! U7. The ABCs of Islam. $

II. Upcoming writings:

) Keys to Ultimate Success and Happiness!) A Letter to Janet!) Why 'We '?) Why are YOU here?

III. Other works:

o A weekly TV program. (using creativePowerPoint and Internet materials)'

o TV episodes on video & audio tapes'

r Public lectures and talks'

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E-mail: abctruth@hotmail.com319g2 rr,.-rrjt - .rloar 418 .9.oc

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