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101 Questions about Christianity

Saleem Ahmad
The Review of Religions, April 1993
1. If Jesus's mission was to the lost sheep of Israel, why was it confined to Palestine where
only two of the original tribes had settled? Did that mean that Jesus had failed in his
mission?
2. Why should Jesus specifically forbid, on the one hand, preaching the Gospel to the
Gentiles (Matthew 7:6, 15:24, 26) and yet on the other, tell the disciples to teach all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost? (Matthew
28:19)
3. Why did Jesus prohibit the Gospel from being preached to the Gentiles during his
ministry (Matthew 10:5, 7:6, 15:2426) but after his 'resurrection' tell them to preach the
Gospel to the whole world? (Mark 16:15)
If Jesus really had made the latter statement, why was there such a fierce debate within
the early Church (and particularly between Peter and Paul) as to whether the Gospel
should be preached to the Gentiles? (Acts 15:630)
4. Out of all the signs that Jesus could have given about himself, he chose to give the sign
of Jonah: This generation is an evil generation it seeks a sign but no sign shall be given
to it except the sign of Jonah. (Luke 11:29, Matthew 12:39, Matthew 16) Jonah was
swallowed alive by a whale and remained in its belly alive for three days. For Jesus to
have properly fulfilled the prophecy, he would need to enter the tomb alive and come out
alive. Why should Jesus give this, of all signs, if he was to die and be resurrected?
5. If Jesus's message was for the whole of mankind, why did he forbid his disciples to
preach to the Gentiles? (Matthew 10:56)
6. When Jesus was asked what the only way was to true salvation, he replied: keep the
Commandments (Matthew 19:17). The first of the Commandments was to believe in the
Oneness of God (Exodus 20:3). Why did Jesus answer so if he believed in and was part
of the Trinity? Why did he not refer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?
7. Jesus said that he had not come to change the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17). The Law of
Moses teaches that there is one God (Exodus 20:3). If Jesus was introducing the concept
of Trinity, why did he not say that he was changing the Law of Moses or introducing a
different understanding of it?
8. Jesus prophesied that men of his generation would not pass away without witnessing his
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secondcomingandthefallingofstars(Mark9:1,13:30).Whywasthisprophecy
unfulfilled?WhywasitthatJesusdidnotreturnwithinthelifetimeofhisgeneration?
9. WhydidJesusforbidthedisciplesfromcallingpeoplefoolsyetcalledtheJewishleaders
withnameslikevipersandchildrenofadultery?IsitconceivablethataDivineBeing
wouldbehaveinthisway?
10. AccordingtoLuke,whentheJewstriedJesustheyaskedhimAreyouthesonofGod?
JesusrepliedyousaythatIam(Luke22:70)whichcouldmean:yousaythatIambutI
donot.Ifhisdivinitywassomethinghecametotelltheworld,whydidhenotplainly
sayyesinsteadofcouchinghisanswerinambiguousterms?
11. IntheOldTestament,thetermSonofGodwasappliedtoDavid(Psalms89:27),the
nationofIsrael(Exodus4:22),thechildrenofIsrael(Psalms82:6),andSolomon(1
Chronicles22:10).Jesusalsouseditforthepeacemakers(Matthew5:9).IfJesuswas
referringtohimselfastheSonofGodintheliteralsense,whydidhenotmakeitclear
thathewasdifferentiatingbetweenasymbolicreferenceandaliteralmeaningofthe
term?
12. JesuswastheMessiah,thefulfillmentofOldTestamentprophecies.Hefrequentlymade
referencetohimselfasthesufferingservantforetoldintheBookofIsaiah(Matthew8:17
&Isaiah53:4Luke2:30&Isaiah52:10Luke22:37&Isaiah53:12).TheMessiahof
theOldTestamentwas,however,promisedbyGodthathewouldnotbekilled(Psalms
34:19,Isaiah53:10).Howwasit,therefore,thattheJewshadsucceededinkillingthe
MessiahifJesusdiedonthecross?
13. IfJesusknewthatJudaswasgoingtobetrayhim,whydidhecontinuetopermithimasa
disciple?WhydidhenottelltheotherdisciplessothatJudascouldbeexcludedfromhis
closestcircleoffollowers?
14. IfJesusknewthatoneofhisdiscipleswouldbetrayhim,whyshouldhesaythatall
twelvediscipleswouldsitupontwelvethrones?(Matthew19:28)
15. IfJesusknewthathewastodieonthecross,whydidhespendallnightprayinginthe
GardenofGethsemaneseekingdeliverance:Fatherifitispossiblemaythiscupbetaken
fromme?(Matthew26:39)
16. Jesushadtaughtthatman'sprayersareanswered(Matthew21:22).WhywasnotJesus's
prayeransweredintheGardenofGethsemane?Whateffectwouldthisincidenthaveon
thefaithofhisdisciplesandfollowerstoseethataprayerhadnotbeenanswered
contrarytowhatJesushadtaught?
17. IfJesusbelievedthathisprayerintheGardenofGethsemanewouldnotbeheard,why
didhetellhisdisciplesearlierthatprayersareanswered?:Wouldanyofyouwhoare
fathersgiveyoursonastonewhenheaskedforbread(Matthew7:910)whichmeans
thatGodhearstheprayersofmanmorethanafatheranswersthewishesofhischildren
andAskanditwillbegiventoyouseekandyouwillfindknockanditwillbeopened
toyou.Andwhateveryouaskinyourprayers,youwillreceive,ifyouhavefaith.
(Matthew21:22John11:41,42)
18. IfJesus'sprayerintheGardenofGethsemanewasnottobeheard,whywasitsomething
thathewantedthedisciplestowitness?Iftheprayerwasnottobeheard,whatuseful
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purposedoesthisstoryserve?
19. WhyshouldMatthew,MarkandLukeallreport(Matthew26:39,Mark14:36,Luke
22:42)thatJesusaskedforthecupofsufferingtobepassedifpossibleyetJohn(John
18:11)reportsthatJesushastenedforthecrucifixionsayingshallInotdrinkthecupthe
Fatherhathgivenme?
20. WhydidPontiusPilatejustsimplyignorehiswife'spleatohavenothingtodowithJesus
onaccountofherbaddream?(Matthew27:19)IftheverymissionofJesuswastosuffer
death,whyshouldGodAlmightyshowadreamtoPilate'swifewhichwouldcauseherto
tryandpersuadeherhusbandtoreleaseJesus?WouldnotthatappeartocounterGod's
ownplan?
21. IfPilatereallywantedJesustodieonthecross,whywouldhefixthecrucifixionona
FridayeveningknowingthattheJewswouldhavetotakehimdownbeforeSabbathand
thatsuchalittletimeonthecrosswasinsufficientforhimtodie?
22. IfJesusknewallalongthathewasdestinedtobecrucifiedtodeath(indeedifthatwas
hispurposeinlife),whydidheexclaimonthecrossEli,EliLamaSabachthanimeaning
myGodmyGodwhyhastthouforsakenme?(Matthew27:46)
23. IfJesuswasabouttodie,howwasheabletosayinaclearloudandaudiblevoicethathe
wasthirsty?(John19:28)
24. WhyareJesus'swordsonthecross:Eli,EliLamaSabachthani(Matthew27:46)reported
intheiroriginalAramaicform?CoulditbethatJesus'shelplesscryleftsuchavivid
impressionofamanseeminglybereftofhopethatanyonewhoheardthemwould
remembertheexactwords?
25. Vinegarisoftenconsideredtohaveastimulatingeffect,rathersimilartosmellingsalts.
Why,inJesus'scase,diditsuddenlyleadtohisdeath?(John19:29,30)
26. Howcouldanonlookertellthedifferencebetweenamanonthecrosswhohaddiedand
amanwhohadfainted(Mark15:39)particularlywhenitisreportedthatitwasdarkat
thattime?(Mark15:33,Matthew27:45,Luke23:44)
27. IfJesuswasdeadwhenhewasremovedfromthecross,whydidhisbodyreleaseblood
andwater,sinceblooddoesnotflowatallfromadeadbody?(John19:34)
28. WhydidJesusdiebeforetheothertwowhowerecrucifiedwithhimeventhoughthe
legsoftheothertwowerebrokentohastendeath?(John19:32)
29. Itisreportedthatdeadsaintscameoutoftheirgravesandmadethemselvesknownto
many(Matthew27:52).WhentheJewssawthis,whydidtheynotimmediatelyprofess
faithinJesus?Wheredidthesesaintsgo?Whodidtheysee?Whyistherenoaccountof
thisstoryelsewhereotherthaninMatthew'sGospel?
30. Iftheabovestoryofsaintsrisingfromthedeadisnotbasedonanactualhistoricalevent,
whatotherstatementsarethereintheGospelswhicharenotbasedonactualhistorical
facts?
31. JesussaidthatthekillingofprophetsendedwiththekillingofZacharias(Matthew
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23:3536).Howwasit,therefore,thattheJewshadsucceededinkillinganotherprophet?
32. Crucifixionwasmeanttobeanaccurseddeath(Deuteronomy21:23).IfJesuswas
crucified,didthatmeanhealsosufferedanaccurseddeath?
33. WhywasitthataRomansoldierwassoreadilypreparedtoallowJoseph(asubjected
citizen)totakedownJesus'sbodyfromthecrosswithoutcheckingandwithoutJoseph
havinganyapparentlawfulauthority?
34. WhyisthereisnodirectaccountbyJosephofArimatheaorNicodemusthatJesuswas
deadwhenhewastakendownfromthecross?Surely,thiseyewitnessaccountwould
havesettledthematterbeyonddispute?
35. WhyshouldJosephofArimatheaandNicodemustakesomuchtroubletorecoverthe
bodyofJesuswhenthiswouldhavebeenthedutyofthenearestrelative?
36. WhydidPilateagreetoreleasethe'body'toJosephofArimathea(aknownJewand
followerofJesus)ifhewasnotsympathetictoJesus?
37. Crucifixionwasaslowdeath.Itusuallylastedseveraldays.Deathfollowedfrom
exhaustion,inabilitytorespireproperlyasaresultofbeinginanuprightpositionor
attacksbywildanimals.WhydidJesus,whowasafitandhealthymanusedtowalking
thecountrysideforlongdistances,diesoquicklyinonlyamatterofafewhours?
38. IfJesusreallywasexpectedtodieinsuchashorttime,whydidPilateexpresssurpriseat
Jesus'sdeath?(Mark15:4244)
39. WhywouldtheJewsbribethesoldierstosaythatJesus'sdiscipleshadstolenthecorpse
whilstthey(thesoldiers)wereasleep?Ifthesoldiershadtrulyrelatedthisstory,they
mighthavebeenaskedhowtheyknewthatthediscipleshadstolenthecorpseifthey
wereasleep?
40. WhydidtheJewsnotgoandcheckthetombthemselves?Theyhadputmucheffortinto
gettingJesuscrucified.AfriendofJesushadbeenallowedtotakethebodyaway.Why
didtheynotvisitthetombbeforeMaryMagdaleneandMarythemotherofJesusdid?
41. WhydidJosephofArimatheaandNicodemusnotstaywithJesusinthetombafter
takingdownhisbodyfromthecrosstowitnesstheresurrection?Jesushadapparently
toldhisfollowersthathewoulddieandriseafterthreedays.(Matthew16:21,17:23,
20:1719)ThisreporthadevenreachedtheJews(Matthew27:63).WhydidnotJoseph
andNicodemusremainwithJesustowitnesstheevent?
42. DidtheJewsreallybelievethatJesushaddied?Ifso,whydidtheyasktheRomansfora
guardtobeplacedoutsidethesepulcher?MatthewsaystheJewsexplainedthisby
sayingthatJesus'sdisciplescouldspreadfalserumorsabouthimrisingfromthedead.
However,iftheJewsreallybelievedthistobethereasonfortherequest,whycouldthey
nothaveaskedthedisciplestoproducetherisenChristasproof?Ifthediscipleshadthen
doneso,theJewscouldthenpresumablyrearrestJesus.
43. WhyweretheRomanauthoritiessodisinterestedabouttheapparentremovalofthebody
ifthisiswhattheJewswereclaiming?
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44. Whywasthestonemovedfromthetomb(Matthew28:2)ifitwasasupernaturalrising?
45. WhenMaryMagdaleneandMarytheMotherofJesussawhim,hewaswearing
gardener'sclothing(John20:15).WheredidJesusgettheseclothesfrom?Hisown
clotheshadbeentakenbythesoldierswhohaddividedthemdrawinglots(John19:23).
ItwasnotthroughJosephofArimatheaorNicodemusbecausetheyareonlyreportedof
havingtakeninherbs,aloesandalinenshroud(John19:39,40).Whatwasthe
significanceofJesuswearinggardener'sclothing(asopposedtonormalclothing)?Was
itmeanttobeadisguise?Ifso,forwhatpurpose?
46. WhywerethewomenwhovisitedthetombterrifiedifJesuswasdead(Mark16:8)?
WhatdidtheyhavetobeterrifiedofiftheJewshadsucceededinkillingJesus?
47. IfJesuscouldconquerdeathandrisefromthedead,whydidhefearseeingtheJews
afterthecrucifixion?particularlyasdeathhadnomorepoweroverhim?(Romans6:9)
48. WhydidJesusdisguisehimselfaftertheresurrectionandappearonlytothedisciples?
Surely,thiswasthegreatmanifestationofhispowerandthefulfillmentofthepurposeof
hiscreation.Whatwasthepurposeinkeepingitallasecretnow?
49. IfJesuswastherisenChrist,whydidhemeethisdisciplesbehindcloseddoorsandnot
intheopenasheusedto?(John20:19)
50. HowmanytimesdidJesusascendtoHeaven?Luke(23:43)statesthatJesustoldoneof
thosecrucifiedwithhimthathewouldbeinHeaventhatdaywithhim.Doesthatmean
thatJesuswentuptoHeavenafterhisdeath,camebacktoearthandthenascendedto
Heavenoncemore?AccordingtoJohnthereappearstobeyetanotherAscension.When
MaryMagdaleneaskedtotouchhim,Jesusforbadehersayingthathehadnotyet
ascendedtotheFather(John20:17).LaterJesusappearstothedisciplesandactually
invitesThomastotouchhim,(John20:27)whichmustmeanthatJesushadascendedand
returned.Thus,isitpossiblethattherewerethreeAscensions?
51. IfJesuswasGodandJesuswasdeadforthreedays,doesthatmeanalsothatGod
(heavenforbid)wasalsodeadforthreedays?
52. WhyisitthatthereisnotasingledirectaccountofJesus'slifebyanyofthetwelve
disciplesoranyonewhoknewhimpersonally?Canthewordofthosewhodidnotknow
himorhavetheopportunitytohearhimpersonallyvouchfortheaccuracyofsomeofthe
reportedremarks?
53. HowwasitthattheGospelwriterswereabletoreportaccuratelyJesus'swords,without
committingthemtomemoryorputtingthemonpaper,somethirtytothirtyfiveyears
afterhisdeathbeforethefirstGospelwaswritten?Furthermore,giventhat:
(a)ThosewritingtheGospelsdidnothearthewordsdirectlyfromJesusanditcannot,
therefore,besaidthatthewordsleftalastingimpression.
(b)Theywouldhavebeenpassedonbywordofmouthandthereforeriskedpersonal
commentbeingadded.
(c)ThereisnowrittenrecordofJesus'swordsinAramaic(hisspokenlanguage)thus
necessitatingatranslationatsomestage.Inthelightofthis,whatweightcanbeplaced
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onthereliabilityofsomeofthereportedspeeches?(Notethisquestiondoesnotrelateto
storiesorparablessincethesecanbemoreeasilyremembered.)
54. WhyisitthatMark(thefirstwrittenGospel)istheshortestaccountwhenonewould
expectittobethelongest?Didthememoriesoflaterauthors(e.g.Johnwrittensome
3050yearslater)becameclearerwiththepassageoftime?
55. IftheGospelsarethewordofGodandtheauthorsoftheGospelsweredivinelyinspired,
whyaretheresomanycontradictionsinthem?Forexample,whyshouldGodtellMark
thatitwasthethirdhourwhenJesuswascrucified(Mark19:14)buttellJohnitwasthe
sixthhour?(John19:14).WhyshouldGodtellMatthewandMarkthatthetwowhowere
crucifiedwithJesusreviledhim(Matthew27:44,Mark15:32)buttellLukethatJesus
toldoneofthemthathewouldberewardedbybeinginHeavenwithhimthatday?
(Luke23:39,43)WhyshouldGodtellMatthewthatthefirstonestovisitthesepulchre
afterthecrucifixionwereMaryMagdaleneandthe'other'Mary(Matthew28:1)buttell
LukeitwasMaryMagdalene,Joanna,MarytheMotherofJamesandtheotherwomen
(Luke24:10)andtellJohnthatitwasonlyMaryMagdalene?(John20:1)
56. WhyisitthatthereissomuchconfusionanddisagreementbetweentheGospelwriters
overtheaccountofthecrucifixionandresurrection?Isitfairtosaythatnobodywas
entirelysureofwhatactuallyhappened?
57. TheauthorofMarkassertsthatJesuswastakenuptoHeavenandsatontherightofGod
(Mark16:19).ThisremarkcouldonlycomefromJesushimselforaneyewitness
account.SinceitwasnotJesuswhoreportedit,doesthatmeanthattheeyewitness
actuallywenttoHeavenandsawJesussittingattherightsideofGod?Ifso,wasthat
personalsotakentoHeavenandbroughtbacktoreporttheincident?
58. ThedisciplesaresaidtohavewitnessedtheAscension(Mark16:19),Luke24:50).This
musthavebeenthemostincredibleexperienceoftheirlives.Whyisitthatnotoneof
themwroteasinglewordconcerningitafterwards?Whyisitthattheonlyaccounts
relatedarebyotherswhohadnodirectknowledgeoftheincident?
59. InthestoryofJesus'sbirth,itissaidthatastarledtheThreeWiseMentoJesus's
birthplace.IsitnotagainsttheLawsofNatureforastartotravelinthisway?Canthe
phenomenonbereconciledwithourpresentdayknowledgeofastronomy?
60. IfJesus'scentralmessagewasthatofTrinity(aconceptalientotheOldTestament),why
didhenotelaborateonthesubjecttoexplaintheinterrelationshipsclearly?Whydidhe
leaveittoPaultoexplain?
61. IsitcredibletosaythatifalltheactsofJesusinhislifetimeweretranscribedonpaper,
theworldcouldnotholdthebookswhichwouldbewritten?(John21:25).Isitmerelyan
exaggeration?Ifso,whatotherexaggerationsexist?
62. Ifitisaccepted,asitisbymostscholars,thattherehavebeenadditions,alternationsand
amendmentstotheoriginalGospels,whatconfidencecanareaderhavethataparticular
remarkattributedtoJesuswasnotinsertedlaterasanexpressionoftheChristianfaithat
thattime?
63. IfJesuswasGod,whydidherepeatedlyemphasizetheimportanceoftheunityofGod?
Forexample:
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(a)HearOIsraelthefirstcommandmentisthatThyGodisOneandthereisnoneother
thanHe(Mark12:28,32,Matthew22:3440)
(b)Icandonothingonmyauthority,asIhear,Ijudgeandmyjudgmentisjust,because
Iseeknotmyownwillbutthewillofhimwhosentme.(John5:30,31)
64. TheOldTestamentprophesiedthecomingofa'Messiah'.ThisMessiahwasnever
conceivedasadivinefigure.Howdidapropheticfigurebecomeconvertedintoadivine
being?
65. IfJesuswasclaimingdivinity,whydidheplacehimselfonanequalfootingwith
everyoneelse?MyFatherandyourFather,MyGodandyourGod.(John20:27)
66. IfJesuswasGod,whydidheforbidthereferenceofdivinitytohimself:Whycallme
good?OnlyGodisgood.(Matthew19:1617)
67. IfJesuswasclaimingdivinity,whydidhelikenhimselftotheJudgesandProphetsof
theOldTestamentwhohadalsobeencalledgods,butinametaphoricalsense?(John
10:3436,Psalms82:6).IfJesuswasapplyingtheterm'SonofGod'inaliteralsense,
whywouldhegivethisreferencefromtheOldTestamentwhichwasclearlyreferringto
peopleassonsinametaphoricalsense?
68. WhyshouldJesussayhecoulddonothingofhisownauthority,ifhewasGod?(John
5:30)
69. IfJesuswasGod,whydidhenotknowwhohadtouchedhim?(Mark5:30)
70. IfJesuswasGod,whydidhenotknowwhatwasgoingtohappenontheDayof
Judgment?ButofthatdayorthatHournooneknows,noteventheAngelsinHeaven,
nottheSonbutonlytheFather.(Mark13:32)
71. IfJesuswasGod,whywouldhesaythathewassentbyGod?(John6:29)
72. IfJesuswasGod,whatneeddidhehavetopray?(Mark1:35,Luke5:16)
73. IfJesuswasGod,whywouldhecurseafigtreewhenithadnofruitonitparticularlyas
itwasnottheseasonforitsbearingfruit?(Mark11:1214,Matthew21:1819)
74. WhenZebedeeaskedthathistwosonsmightsitontherightandleftofJesus,whydid
JesussaythatthepowerwasnotwithhimbutonlywithGod?(Matthew20:23)
75. IfJesuswasdivine,whydidheclearlyrefertohimselfasaman(John8:3940)and
separatehimselffromGodindescribingtherelationship'TheonlytrueGodandJesus
Christ'(John17:3)?
76. IfJesuswasGodandthereforeomniscient,whydidheallowhimselftobetrickedby
Judas?
77. IfJesuswasGod,whydidhedieonthecrossinamatterofafewhourswhenordinary
mortalsusuallylastedseveraldays?IfJesuswasweakenedbybearingthesinsofthe
wholeworld,whyshouldhesaythathewasabletoredeemthesinsoftheworld?
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78. Jesusisreportedtohavesaid:Hewhoreceivesyoureceivesme,andhewhoreceivesme
receiveshimwhosentme(Matthew10:40,Luke10:16,John12:44).WhosentJesusif
hehimselfwasGod?
79. AccordingtoChristiantradition,Jesuswasinhellforthreedaysafterhisdeath.How
doesonereconcilethiswithJesus'sremarksonthecrosstooneofthosecrucifiedwith
himthattodayyouwillbewithmeinParadise.(Luke23:43)
80. IfJesusbelievedinandadvocatedtheconceptoforiginalsin(i.e.thatallchildrenare
bornsinful)whydidhesaythatunlessamanreceivedtheKingdomofHeavensasa
childhewouldnotenterit?(Mark10:415).Whyshouldhegotoblesstheminsteadof
purifyingthembybaptismifthatiswhatisrequiredbeforeachildcanbecleansedof
originalsin?
81. ForgivenessisacornerstoneofChristianbelief(Matthew5:3840).Isforgivenessthe
appropriateactioninallinstances?Ifso,woulditmeanthattherecouldbenopenal
systemundertheChristianLawforpunishingoffenders?
82. IfJesus'steachingwasintendedfortheentireworldasacompletecodeforallmankind,
whyshouldJesusconfineittoonesectionofpeopletheJewsonly?(Matthew10:56,
Matthew15:24)
83. IfJesus'steachingendedinPalestine,whyisitthattherearesomanyremarkable
similaritiesbetweenthereportedlifehistoriesofJesusandBuddha?Thesesimilarities
include:
Virginbirth
TemptationbytheDevil
Resistanceofthetemptations
Teachingbyparables
Injunctiontoloveone'senemies
Earlyfollowersconsistingofsmallgroupsofdisciples
Deathaccompaniedbyanearthquake
(Note:BuddhalivedapproximatelyfivehundredyearsbeforeJesus.)
84. IfJesusmeantthathewasliterallythesonofGod,whyshouldheconfusetheissueby
frequentlyreferringtohimselfasTheSonofManatermfromtheOldTestamentwhich
didnotimplydivinitysincetheSonofMan(asunderstoodintheOldTestament)was
neveradivinebeing?
85. IftheTrinityexistedsincethebeginningoftime,weretheJewsmisledbyallthe
prophetsbeforeJesusinbeingtoldtobelieveintheUnityofGod?IftheJewswerenot
spirituallyadvancedtounderstandthecomplexconceptoftheTrinity,doesthatapplyto
theprophetsalso?
86. WhywasitnecessaryforJesustodiephysicallysothatmancouldattainsalvation?
Whatsignificancedoesphysicaldeathhavewithspirituallife?
87. AccordingtotheDoctrineofAtonement,thesinsoftheguiltyareredeemedbythedeath
ofJesus.Jesuswassinless.Howcanthesinsoftheguiltybebornebythedeathofan
innocentman?Isitdivinejusticetopunishaninnocentpersonforthecrimescommitted
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bytheguilty?
88. IfJesusbelievedintheDoctrineofAtonement,whywouldhetellhisdisciplesthatif
theyforgaveothers,Godwouldforgivethem(Matthew6:14,15)?IfAtonementforgives
allsins,whatfurtherneedistheretoseektheforgivenessofothers?
89. If,asaccordingtoPaul,mancandonothingbyhimselftoattainsalvation(Romans3:24,
3:28,9:11,9:16,Galations2:16),whatisthepointofobeyingthecommandments?
(Mark10:1719,Luke10:25,Matthew19:1620)
90. IfAtonementforgivesallsins,whydidJesussaythatblasphemyagainsttheHolySpirit
wouldnotbeforgiven?(Matthew12:31)Isthereadistinctionbetweenforgivableand
unforgivablesins?Ifso,howdoesonedistinguishbetweenthetwo?
91. IfitisJesus'sdeathwhichforgivesins,andnotanypersonaleffortonthepartofthe
sinner(suchascarryingoutgoodworks,restrainingfromevilhabits,etc.),whatmotive
isthereforapersontoavoidsinandevilconduct?
92. IfJesusredeemedthesinsoftheworldbyhiscrucifixion,thatcouldonlyatoneforthe
sinsoftheworlduptothatpoint.Whataboutsinsafterthecrucifixion?Ifitalsocovers
latersins,howdoesonereconcilethatwithPaul'sremarkthatJesus'ssacrificeisfor
earliersinsandhecannotbecrucifiedasecondtime(Hebrews10:26,66)
93. Ifbeliefintheresurrectionandatonementisessential,howwasitthatJesusforgavethe
sinsofanadulteresseventhoughshedidnotbelieveinhimnorinhisredemption?
(Matthew8:111)
94. Jesustaughthisdisciplestoprayduringhislifetime.Hetaughtthemalsotoprayafterhis
death(Matthew6:915).WhatfurtherneedistheretoprayifAtonementforgivesall
sins?
95. PaulwastofeatureasamajorteacherandexpounderofJesus'smessage.Whyisthereno
reference,directlyorindirectly,byJesustohiswork?Jesusreferstotrueandfalse
prophetscomingafterhimaswellastheSpiritofTruthbutwhynoreferencetoPaul?
96. IfPaul'steachingwasbasedonJesus'swords,whyisnotonewordbasedonJesus's
parables,similitudesortheteachingsoftheSermonontheMount?
97. JesuswasraisedasaJew.Accordingly,hewascircumcised,fasted,abstainedfromthe
fleshofswineandprayed.Itwasalsorepeatedlysaidthathehadnotcometochangethe
LawofMoses(Matthew5:17).Bywhatauthority,therefore,didPaulabolishallthese
practices?WhatindicationdidJesusgivethatafterhisdeaththesepracticeswouldno
longerbenecessary?
98. IfsalvationcanonlybeattainedbybeliefinJesus'sdeathandresurrection,whyisthere
noreferencetoitwhatsoeverinthetwogreatestsummariesofJesus'steachings:The
SermonontheMountandtheLord'sPrayer?
99. Allprophetslivetheirlivesasexamplesforothers.Ifsalvationisonlythroughbeliefin
theDoctrineofAtonementandthatmattersmorethananythingelsewhywasit
necessaryforJesustodemonstrateallthenumerousactsofkindness,compassion,
forgiveness,healing,mercy,loveofhisenemies,thecondemnationofemptyritual,etc.?
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IfalltheseactionswerenotthecentralmessageofJesus,isitnottruethatthemajorityof
hisworkswhichcomprisethemainpartsoftheGospelsarerenderedutterlyirrelevant?
100. IfthereturnoftheProphetElijahwastobefulfilledbyanotherman(JohntheBaptist),
whycannotthereturnoftheMessiah(Jesus)similarlybefulfilledthroughanother
person?Isthereanyhistoricalorreligiousrecordofthesameprophetreturningtothis
world?
101. Jesusprophesiedthattherewouldbetrueandfalseprophetsinthefuture(Matthew7:15
20).Weknowthattherehavebeenfalseprophetsbut,why,accordingtoChristian
tradition,havetherenotbeenanytrueprophets?Weretheyallfalse?Ifnotrueprophet
wastoappear,whydidJesusmakethisprophecy?
Note:AllquotationsarefromtheRevisedStandardVersion.
Copyright1993.

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