Three Religions...One God?

Carpenter Michael

• Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781647533458
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

Though these three belief systems intertwine throughout history, they are in fact extremely different in both basic structure and ultimately, in deity. Many people have claimed over the years that the God of Judeo-Christianity is in fact the same god of Islam. However, due to key points of differences in their respective religious texts, as well as the nature of God versus Allah in the everyday life of those who practice these religions, it becomes clear that God is in fact a completely separate entity from the Islamic Allah, despite the fact that Allah is the Arabic word for 'God.'

In his provocative and inciting work, Three Religions, One God? Author Michael Carpenter inspects the basic tenets of each religion meticulously and shows through textual and well as situational evidence and critical thinking that not only is the god of Christianity and Judaism different from the god of Islam, but that the god of Judeo-Christianity is in fact the one true god, and the deserver of your love and allegiance. From exploring the lives of Muhammad and Jesus to decoding the predictions for the end of the world, Three Religions, One God? offers insightful and challenging debate that will inspire readers to make their own foray into the realm of comparative religion.

Satan

Satan, many would say that Satan is a myth. Others would say, I believe in Satan, but not God! Some would say that, I believe in God but not Satan. It doesn’t matter what you think or say, the truth is there is a God and there is a devil and Satan is his name. For those that believe in Satan but not God, I ask, “Why follow a looser? God wins in the end!” This is Satan’s world. Satan’s reign is only temporary. Satan has no power over those that believe in Jesus Christ!

2 Cor 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Cor 4:3

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he addresses why some people are able to receive the good news of Jesus and why some cannot. Satan has the ability to influence people here on earth. These influences, while not limited to these, can come in many forms, such as: ones riches, ones poorness, focusing on the daily problems of life, ones own intelligence, obsessive desires of all types, career paths, focusing on ones short comings, over emphasizing ones abilities, self-absorbent tendencies, vanity, alcohol, drugs, and false religions.

Just as Satan tempted Jesus, we are tempted in our daily lives as well. We have a choice everyday, every second, we can give into the various temptations that come our way or we can develop a sense of right and wrong to guide our lives by. Each person controls his or her own destiny. Influences such as circumstance and society do not determine who you will be, only you can determine that. You choose to give into the problems of life or you choose to stand strong and work your way through the problems of life that you are confronted with. There is only one person that can live your life and that person is you. You make the choices in your life. In the end you are the only person that can be blamed for how your life turned out.

There are only two choices that you don’t make in life they are your birth (your parents and genealogy come with birth) and your death. What you do with your life in between being born and dieing is up to you. Satan will come and tempt you because he hates God and you are God’s prized creation, therefore he is after you. Satan will continually tempt you as you give him the ability by giving into the temptations that come your way. You can be strong by relying on Jesus, who has defeated Satan. This is accomplished by accepting Jesus as Lord in your life and through reading the Bible, prayer, and meditation on God’s Word, Jesus.

After fasting forty days and nights, Jesus, while in a weakened condition, is confronted by Satan. Luke 4:3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give you all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 “Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” 9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; 10 for it is written ‘He will give His angels charge concerning You to guard you.’ 11 and, ‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.’” 12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “it is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the Test.’”

13 And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Luke 4:3

Satan came to Jesus while he was in a weakened position of not having eating, so Satan’s first temptation is that of performing a miracle of turning stone to bread for Jesus’ own sustenance. This would prove to Satan that he was after the right person, the Son of God and Son of Man. It was Satan’s plan from the beginning to cause Jesus to sin so that Jesus would not live a sinless life, be crucified for the sins of mankind, and redeem mankind from the grasp of Satan. Had Jesus failed in any of these temptations God’s plan of sending his Son for the salvation of mankind would have failed. I have to ask those that choose to follow Satan, Why? Satan has failed in his attempt to defeat God for eternity. This is why Satan attacks you and me on a daily basis. Satan wants those that God loves! Satan wants to take as many people as will follow him into the pits of hell for eternity.

John 16:27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

John 16:27

Satan is the ruler of this world; therefore he has the riches of this world to give. These riches are only temporary and last but a nano second in the span of eternity, a very foolish gift to pursue. There is nothing wrong with being rich or being powerful. The only downside might be the loss of perspective on who you are in relation to God. Obviously, Jesus being the Son of God is not going to bow down to Satan and worship him. Jesus knew the gravity of this temptation; after all he was on a mission from God to save the world from Satan!

In the third temptation Satan wanted Jesus to test God’s willingness to perform a miracle for him (Satan). Had Jesus done this Satan would have either successfully had Jesus commit suicide or Jesus would have tested God, thus becoming disobedient. We as people sometimes want to see a miracle in order to believe in God or to confirm that God loves us or even cares about our situation and us. God cares, but he has also told us that we would never be tempted beyond our capability to become victorious.

1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Cor 10:13

In each of these temptation Jesus spoke the word of God back to Satan, which is why you might hear people make comments like “I’m standing on the word of God.” Basically what that means is that an individual is confronted with a circumstance in life that they are having a problem with, so they find a verse in the scripture that supports a way out of the situation. It strengthens that person’s faith in God. A more direct approach might be to rebuke the devil as Jesus did on other occasions.

Also it is worth noting that Satan spoke Bible verses to Jesus. Satan lived in the courts of God and knows the scripture very well. Satan will use scripture to tempt you and deceive you, so it is important for you to spend time studying scripture so that you can be firm in your understanding of the Bible. I have been to churches that I’ve walked out of during service because the pastor was a little off in their preaching. It is your responsibility to know the word of God and implement it into your life. Preachers, teachers, and pastors are men like you and I, they are subject to make mistakes as you and I do, therefore you and I have the responsibility of knowing God’s word for our personal use. Don’t rely on someone to be your mentor without you mentoring yourself. Your Father, God, through Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, sent you the Holy Spirit to teach you and guide you, trust in him!

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

John 14:26

The following is Jesus speaking to seventy followers that he had sent to precede him as he was going from town to town. The seventy were casting out demons and healing the sick as they told the people of the good news that “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

Luke 10:18 And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Luke 10

Jesus was seeing Satan fall from heaven, as he knew that his future crucifixion would defeat Satan, therefore Satan could no longer stand in the courts of God and point out the sins of mankind. Unfortunately, some religions use this scripture along with a similar verse in Mark 16:15/18 to support their handling of poisonous snakes. It’s my belief that Jesus was only using serpents and scorpions as descriptive narrative to show how Satan works in poisoning the minds of people with sinful ideas.

Jesus was quick to point out that even though the seventy were casting out demons and healing people they should not be as excited about these feats that common people were doing with the power of God working through them, but they should be more ecstatic about the fact that their names were recorded in the Book of Life. This means that when they die they will be spending eternity in heaven with God the Father of life!

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angel’s waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of the Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 and they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testi...