[[[[ I would appreciate a list of the most essential books & parts-of-books to read in order to understand Christianity IN GENERAL and (Christian Perspective) the Judaism it came from.
I'm just a regular non-Christian person: I do not have time for the full Bible. Later this year I won't have time to give studies the attention I'd like, unlike now.
I'm aware that if I read one full Gospel, it should be Matthew.]]]]
I would recommend the Gospel of John rather than Matthew, and others recommend Mark. Indeed a single tract of Mark translated into a South American tribes tongue brought the whole village to the Lord.
I did a little bolding in this KJV Gospel of John for Muslims:
http://www.islamandthetruth.com/first_epistle_john.htm[[[[I'm also aware:
Law of Moses: DEUT. 5: 6-21
Sermon on the Mount MATT. 5-7]]]]
Also the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) is a very widely cited and important (and perhaps contentious because of doctrine) passage. I had to exegete it on my own in efforts to understand it in the traditional continuous-historic context.
http://www.beholdthebeast.com/matthew_24_olivet_discourse.htm[[[[[Ezekiel 11:19-21 (The New Israel 40-48)
Paul 1 Corinthians 15 (Resurrection)]]]]
I excerpted the heart of this event in this forum thread. You only need to read the first post.
http://www.islamchristianforum.com/index.php?topic=1175.0[[[[[...and so on and so on.
I need a completion of that list from one who knows.
If the answer to this question will help potential Muslim converts, .......]]]]
I think it is important for them to understand they are isolated from God's people because they follow the false prophet Muhammad. And with Muhammad changing their "holy" day from Saturday (the Sabbath) to Friday it's ridiculous for them to believe Muhammad's cult has anything to do with the old covenant law - which is what they like to claim. Where does the old covenant tell folks to prostrate to a black stone idol in Mecca 5 times a day? The whole notion is not only ridiculous, but is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what is revealed in the old and new Testaments which condemn all forms idolatry. (including Roman Catholic statues and Orthodox icons)
[[[[....... I'll lift and re-word my question for the Forum, put it in the part that you deem best, then you can answer there.]]]]
Best place to do so and then more folks can address your questions.
[[[[You are so deep into your Christianity you do not realize what a post-graduate, Abraham-ignorant audience Muslim or not might really want or need to read.]]]]
I think that the sheer volume (hundreds) of verses that proclaim Jesus the Son of God and God His Father should be (but it isn't) enough to isolate them. They are all bible ignorant so I think these facts must come as complete surprises. I removed the hundreds of verses from context and listed the germane verses in video and forum and websites.
http://www.islamchristianforum.com/index.php?topic=611.0http://www.islamchristianforum.com/index.php?topic=610.0[[[[I tried answering this question 10 years ago in University but I could never uphold the Christian Classes and had to keep dropping them. At least I kept a couple books!
The next thing I want to do after this is look at Islam.]]]]
A single verse from the Quran should help anyone understand that Satan's prophet Muhammad proclaimed the exact opposite of the whole subject of the Gospel and the new covenant - the crucifixion, death and resurrection of the Messiah who saves all from sin who have faith in His shed blood.
Surah 4:157 That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-
Islam is an ANTI-RELIGION. Muhammad filled his followers with complete resolve as to what to DISbelieve, to DENY and to REJECT. How many religions do that? This is how it's easy to see (besides prostrating to a pagan black stone idol in Mecca 5 times a day!) that Islam is nothing more than an antichrist cult that follows a false prophet that spoke for Satan.
So not surprisingly, the most egregious, and ONLY UNPARDONABLE SIN according to Muhammad, is committed if a Muslim confesses that Jesus is the Son of God.
1John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Sura 19:88 They say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten a son!" 89 INDEED YE HAVE PUT FORTH A THING MOST MONSTROUS!
Perhaps the most important and widely quoted verse from the Gospel of the Messiah, Yeshua (whose Hebrew name means YHWH saves)
John 3:16 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.
Surah 9.29 FIGHT THOSE who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (EVEN if they are) of THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. 30 THE JEWS CALL 'UZAIR A SON OF ALLAH, AND THE CHRISTIANS CALL CHRIST THE SON OF ALLAH. That is a saying from their mouth; (In this) they but imitate what the Unbelievers of old used to say. ALLAH'S CURSE BE ON THEM: how they are deluded away from the Truth!
1John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? HE IS ANTICHRIST, THAT DENIETH the Father and THE SON. 23 WHOSOEVER DENIETH THE SON, THE SAME HATH NOT THE FATHER: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also].
1John 5:10 He that BELIEVETH ON THE SON OF GOD hath the witness in himself: HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT GOD HATH MADE HIM A LIAR; because HE BELIEVED NOT THE RECORD that God gave OF HIS SON.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.
[[[[[I can't read the Koran right now every time I try I get tired. I need to understand Christianity first.
My next Christian Query after this is understanding and memorizing those fulfilled prophecies you mentioned and taking them to an Atheist Forum I joined to see if they can adequately (important qualifier) explain it away.]]]]
You will always find arguments against the scriptures. Even those that try to argue against the archaeological evidence. Even from those unsaved (academic liberals) that believe themselves to be in the "church" but view scripture as nothing more than a collection of stories and fables. Like the story of King David's palace has always been considered fiction by such unregenerate types yet it was very recently discovered.
http://www.islamchristianforum.com/index.php?topic=2964.0Archaeology continually reinforces the scriptures as a reliable record of ancient history.
[[[[ I don't worship present Science but they do.]]]]
Indeed they do.
[[[[ If you know a good site for this (I've had such little success) I'd welcome going there instead of bothering you.
Thank you very much!
Peace,
Artemidorus
PS: Muslim teenagers in the West tucked infront of their laptops could take your "Bible Guide" and use it to read free online Bibles, so I don't think the answer would be out-of-place on your forum.]]]]]
We can copy and paste this whole chat into the forum, and develop it in there. Then the hours spent will perhaps be of benefit to others. Would that be OK?
[[[[Nonetheless you know your Forum, I don't so please don't take that the wrong way. :-)]]]]
There are no topics related to Christianity and Judaism that are out of place. We just don't like folks copy and pasting a bunch of other people's words, that they are unable to defend, themselves.
Agnostics and atheists - besides all the evidence - have to ask themselves what the odds are of it being AN ACCIDENT, that 1/4 of mankind associate themselves with Christianity, while another imperialistic, murderous, 1/4 of mankind, associate themselves with the antichrist cult of THE false prophet Muhammad. (but even liberals in the "church" can't see this and even invite imams into their institutions to "build bridges" (to hell!)). HOW CAN THERE BE RECONCILING OF EXACT OPPOSITES?
Sent with "Quran proclaims the EXACT OPPOSITE of Gospel"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCE_sti-uZc