Sin, Salvation and Kingdom of God

© 2016 by Rev. Dr. Rashid Gill.

ISBN:      Softcover         978-1-5144-0288-7

                eBook               978-1-5144-0289-4

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Rev. date: 12/29/2015

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Contents

Part 1     Sin, Salvation, and the Kingdom of God

Introduction

Chapter 1     Definition of Sin   and Its History

Chapter 2     Eastern or Greek Views

Chapter 3     Views of Early Alexandrines

Chapter 4     Clement’s views

Chapter 5     Summary of the Eastern View of Sin

Chapter 6     Views of Western Theologians

Chapter 7     Pre-Fall

Chapter 8     Augustinism

Chapter 9     Types of Death

Chapter 10     Abominations to God

Chapter 11     Origin of Sin

Chapter 12     Sin in Islam

Chapter 13     Sin in Sikhism

Chapter 14     What Is Evil?

Chapter 15     Pelagian Views   on Imputed Sin

Part 2     Forgiveness and Salvation

Chapter 16

Chapter 17     The Meaning of Forgiveness in the View of Different Scholars and the Bible

Chapter 18     What is the Meaning of God’s Wrath in Old Testament?

Chapter 19     The Concept of Atonement

Chapter 20     The Concept of Forgiveness as Perceived by Israel

Chapter 21     Salvation according to Christian faith

Chapter 22     Words Used for Salvation in Hebrew and Greek

Chapter 23     Different Concepts of Salvation according to the New Testament

Chapter 24     Doctrine of Election

Chapter 25     Ahmediya (Muslims) Concept about Sins and Salvation

Chapter 26     Concept of Salvation in Judaism

Chapter 27     Concept of Salvation in Hinduism

Chapter 28     Concept of Salvation in Sikhism

Chapter 29     Divergent Views on Salvation in Christianity and Islam

Part 3     The Kingdom Of God

Chapter 30     God’s Choice for His Representation

Chapter 31     The Concept of the Kingdom of God

Chapter 32     How Kingship other than Yahweh’s Was Accepted

Chapter 33     Kingship of Jesus Proved by Apostle Matthew from the Old Testament

Chapter 34     Israel’s Misconception about Messiah

Chapter 35     The Kind of Kingdom Jesus Wanted to Establish

Chapter 36     The Meaning of Basileia and Malkut

Chapter 37     Is the Kingdom of God Eternal or Temporal?

Chapter 38     Theocratic Aspect of God’s Kingdom

Chapter 39     Kingdom of Israel Was a Role Model

Chapter 40     Kingdom of Jesus

Chapter 41     Summary of God’s Kingdom Mentioned in Scriptures

Chapter 42     Islamic View about the Kingdom of God

Chapter 43     The Concept of the Kingdom of God in Hinduism

Chapter 44     The Concept of Kingdom in Sikhism

Bibliography

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

A very useful feature of this book is that it provides comparative information on other faiths. The author reviews the comments of other theologians as well as the concepts of sin in some of the common faiths in our world today, that is, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. This book is therefore a great resource for those studying other religions and faiths.

For most of the people serving in various ministries, like myself, schedules are very busy and often hectic between meetings, preaching, teaching and evangelism. Usually there is not enough time to research topics. This book is an ideal solution for quick, yet detailed review and reference. The details are provided in a simple format, in one place. This saves a lot of time in researching the various topics. The author has done it for the reader.

This book discusses important biblical topics in great detail from a theological point of view, yet in a simple to read format. This book is a boon for all those involved in theological studies, whether as a teacher, student, or a layperson. You will find this book a useful tool in your biblical studies.

So here is the truth for the Body of Christ, which will, I am sure, result in the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, leading to a better understanding of the Word of God and will glorify our Lord Jesus Christ and edify His people.

This book is bound to be part of your personal collection, as it is mine and will be included in all the reference libraries at various Bible Colleges and Seminaries across the world.

I pray that this book receives a wide circulation, amen.

All glory be to Jesus.

Dr. Geoff Saroea

SAROEA MINISTRIES

Mississauga, Ontario

Dr. Rashid Gill

As a poet and writer of peace, I constantly ponder on the origin and end of the drives that have been destroying peace since the time immemorial. In the beginning, people fought with sticks and stones, and now they fight on the ground, under the ground and above the ground with sophisticated engines. There is every possibility for the misuse of the nuclear energy to annihilate human civilization in minutes that has taken centuries to build up.

There are different schools of thought to explain how and why the world is not at peace. One of these schools accepts the Biblical explanation of the original sin for the sickness of jealousy and brutalities in the world. There are several philosophical routes even concerning the Biblical explanation about the origin of sin and its impact. Dr. Rashid Gill takes one of these routes to examine this enigma closely in his book Sin, Salvation and Kingdom of God. It is not only the origin of sin and its impact that he examines, but also the way to get out of this cycle. This way is the way of God, he asserts.

Dr. Rashid Gill has been actively involved with peace and related subjects for years as a columnist for Urdu ethnic newspapers, as editor of Rehnuma, a quarterly publication, as the minister of a church and also as a meaningful poet of Urdu. He has formally studied theology at an institution of higher learning and therefore he is proficient to write on this subject.

Dr. Rashid Gill comes to apt and logical conclusions in Sin, Salvation and Kingdom of God, a lucid and careful study of the pivot and pole of Christianity. The book is a must for libraries and common readers, as well as for scholars. It will be enlightening also for pastors and the students of theology. Those who look for comparative material will find here enough appetizing food.

---Dr. Stephen Gill (www.stephengill.ca)

Sin Salvation and the Kingdom of God

Authour: Rashid Gill

In this book the Authour has made an admiral attempt at bringing together historical and comparative views of Creation, Sin, Salvation and the Kingdom of God.

The Authour compares views from Christianity, Islam. Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism, quoting from many of their writings, ancient and recent.

I believe this book would be useful to challenge personal thought and to be used as a small group discussion text.

A lot of research and thought has gone into the making of this book and congratulate the Authour for his dedication to this project.

Rev. William D. Virgin BA. Bth.

Part 1

Sin, Salvation, and the Kingdom of God

Introduction

T he purpose of writing this book is to discuss in depth the subject of sin and its consequences in the physical and spiritual life of a person. It is the author’s intention to write about this subject in a question-and-answer form for students of Bible colleges, lay ministers, Sunday-school teachers, and for anyone with or without a theological background. It has been the objective of the author to write about this subject using day-to-day (layman’s) language—avoiding theological jargon but giving detailed answers to questions relating to sin or transgression. This is a topic that many clergymen do not like to talk about; some even consider it a sin itself to talk about it. However, sin creates separation between God and man. Sin brings death to all mankind. Therefore, it is important and essential to talk about how God views our offenses. There are several words about sin used in the scriptures. Sin is defined in the light of both the Old and the New Testament. The history of its doctrine is mentioned for those who want to know how the doctrine of sin was formed. In addition, definitions are given, formulated by various Christian scholars. The views of theologians belonging to Eastern and Western schools of thought have been discussed, with the author presenting, as well, his own opinion on the theories presented by different theologians. Troubling questions are addressed, such as the following: "Is God the creator of evil? Was it God’s intention for man to die? Why did He not forgive man’s sin in the beginning? Why did he choose to punish Adam and Eve? Does God take pleasure in troubling people? Why did he give the law, which is very difficult to follow? Why did he send his only begotten son at the fulfillment of time? Could he have sent him earlier, and thus have put an end to sin’s story? Moreover, as everybody is responsible for his or her own sin, why then is man considered to be inheriting sin from his forefathers? What is the doctrine of sin according to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism? How do all religions agree or disagree with each other on the topic of original sin?

In addition to the topic of sin, the reader will find a discussion of related subjects, particularly about forgiveness/salvation and the Kingdom of God. The author’s understanding is that the presence of evil prompted, and prompts, sin to happen. God’s arrangements to forgive our sins through his only begotten son make it possible for us to enter into his kingdom. Therefore, forgiveness/salvation and the Kingdom of God have been defined and discussed in detail, in the light of both Testaments.

Chapter 1

Definition of Sin

and Its History

I n simple words, sin can be defined as the violation of the divine law. Sometimes it is also defined as rebellion against God’s commandments. Mostly, disobedience and unfaithfulness are considered the root causes of sin.

It is interesting to note that in the land of Canaan, people would worship different gods. At the time when God called Abraham from Ur, his father used to worship the moon god, according to the customs of that day. It is widely understood that Abraham also worshipped according to his family traditions. For new readers, it will be interesting to know that the children of Israel had their own God, and they named him differently than other nations or pagans.

In the book of Exodus, we find the following reference:

And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And He said, Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘The LORD GOD of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ (Exod. 3:14 KJNV)

God introduced himself to Moses by this name, but we find that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not know him as Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name, Lord, I was not known to them. Exo 6:3 God’s other name in Hebrew is Yahweh (YHWH).

This most holy name for God in the OT (Old Testament) is usually translated as Lord or Jehovah. Sometimes, Yahweh is also known as the covenant God of Israel, or YHWH, as in the original Hebrew. Because of reverence, according to Jewish custom, the divine name was not spoken; instead, the Hebrew words for Lord and God were substituted.

The God of Israel had a name. He was mightier than all other gods. He was a living and jealous God. He made a special covenant with the nation of Israel. He appeared to Moses in the burning bush and spoke to him. According to the Bible, God’s name is also called the GREAT I AM. That is, God is always present, and he is not within the bounds of time and space. In other words, it can be said that he is the creator of the universe and of everything therein. He can deliver his people in all circumstances, and he keeps his promises at all times. Besides, he is a jealous God, and he does not want that his honor should be given to somebody else. His covenant to the nation of Israel was based on the condition that they would not worship any god other than Yahweh. Having delivered Israel from the captivity of Egypt, God gave them the Ten Commandments to follow. Let us read the following passage:

You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me. (Exod. 20:1–5 NKJV)

Therefore, it can be said that violating the divine law is sin, especially when we choose to equate somebody or something with God. The Apostle Paul says,

Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful; but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. (Rom. 21, 28 KJV)

The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, My people does not consider. (Isa. 1:3 NKJV)

Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. (Psa. 52:7 NKJV)

He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him. (Prov. 14:2 NKJV)

Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin (v 1–2). This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord . . . because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon. Therefore, this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall. (Isa. 30:1–2, 9, 12–13 NKJV)

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19–21 NKJV)

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to him: A proud look, a lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil. A false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brethren. (Prov. 6:16–19 NKJV)

Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers. (Rom. 1:29 NKJV)

It is sufficient to say that all things mentioned in the above references are an abomination to God, and they fall into the category of sin.

Different Views on Sin

Now, let us examine various definitions of sin as per different renowned scholars.

Sin is the name given to moral evil when considered from the religious point of view. In ancient Greek thought sin was looked upon as in essence a failure on the part of man to achieve his true self-expression and to preserve his due relation to the rest of the universe; It was attributed mainly to ignorance. Christianity, while not denying this aspect, sees sin as a deliberate violation of the will of God attributable to man’s pride, self-centredness, and disobedience." (Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. 20, 556)

According to Judaism, the concept of sin can be summarized as follows:

Israel’s God set the ideal, the standard for human behaviour, and the most frequent biblical word for sin (Heb. ‘hata’; Gk ‘hamartema’) meant originally to miss the mark, fail in duty (Rom 3:23 KJV). As a Lawgiver, God sets limits to man’s freedom; another frequent term (Heb. ‘abar’; Gk. ‘parabasis’) describes sin as transgression, overstepping those set limits. Similar terms are ‘pesa’ (Heb.) rebellion, transgression, and ‘asam’ (Heb., trespassing upon God’s kingly prerogative, incurring guilt); ‘PARAPTOMA’ (Gk.) a false step out of the appointed way, trespass on forbidden ground). Iniquity often translates ‘aon’ (Heb., perverseness, wrongness), for which the nearest NT equivalent is ‘anomia’, (GK., lawlessness), ‘paramonia’ (Gk., lawbreaking), rejecting divine rule; ‘rasa’ (Heb., also means lawlessness, unruly). (Encyclopedia of the Bible, 1967)

From the foregoing, one can grasp the meaning of sin as understood in Jewish and Greek culture. In essence, we can say that sin is a violation of the divine law or will. God, being a moral authority or lawgiver, has set standards and limits for human beings to follow. Overstepping the limits set by the Almighty God is a deliberate rebellion or trespass. Breaking law intentionally, or unintentionally, is sin although the degree of punishment may vary according to the nature of the sin committed.

Moreover, there are other words that have been used to describe sin in different situations, i.e., ma al, a Hebrew word that means bad faith or falseness. In the Old Testament, in the book of Hosea, we find that Israel does not love God anymore. She has fallen in love with pagans. She has shown unfaithfulness to God. In the book of Hosea, there is a beautiful illustration of divine and human feelings. God had Hosea marry a prostitute to show God’s relationship with sinful Israel. God wanted Hosea to feel the harshness and hurt when one is cheated and to communicate this to the people of Israel.

In addition to the above, different scholars have defined sin as follows:

Sin is a God’s defying disposition. (the late Dr. Paul S. Rees.)

Sin is deviation from the holiness of God. (Dr. William B. Coker, Professor at Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky.)

Sin is the will of the creature pitted against the will of the creator. (H. L. Roush, Belpre, Ohio)

Sin is going your own way, planning your own life according to your own will, without seeking the will of God. (The Little Foxes by Bertist Rouse, 96)

Was man created sinless? What did it mean that man was created in God’s own image and likeness?

First of all, we shall discuss the purpose of God in the creation of man. God created man to have fellowship with him. God created man from dust and instilled his own breath into his nostrils. Literally, this means that God made man according to his own body and shape.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27 NKJV)

Note, however, that God does not have a physical body.

The Apostle John says, God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24 NKJV).

The writer of the book of Genesis uses the word image to denote the moral qualities of God. God has wisdom, and so does man. God has passions; man also has passions.

God is the creator of heaven and earth. He made man the steward of all that he created in the world. He made man superior to all other creatures. Man can make a distinction between good and evil while animals cannot. Moreover, God gave man the right to use his free will. By instilling his breath, God shared his nature with man. But interestingly enough, there are many references in the Bible that suggest God has a physical body.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save. (Isa. 59:1 NKJV)

For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist, says the Lord. (Isa. 66:2 NKJV).

In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land (Ps. 95:4–5 NKJV).

Has My hand not made all these things? (Acts 7:50 NKJV)

The above-mentioned references may seem to give us an understanding that God has a physical body like man; but in reality, John advises us that God is Spirit. As one renowned Christian scholar explains, what does it mean to be in the image of God? Man is said to be made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26, 27 NKJV). Only with a view of special creation by God could this be possible.

1. We reflect God in personality. We reason (intellect), feel (emotion), and choose (will).

2. We reflect God in function. Genesis 1:26(NKJV) connects the ideas of sharing God’s image with respect to sharing his rule, or sovereignty, over creation.

3. There is perhaps some sense in which we reflect God in form. Although God is spirit and not body (John 4:24), our physical form was designed by God as an appropriate means of reflecting him. Even in our eternal state, we will fellowship with God in our transformed spiritual, yet physical, body (1Cor. 15:44 NKJV).

4. Conclusion: The fact that man can communicate and fellowship with God and even reflect God’s moral character when regenerated (2 Peter 1:4) indicates perhaps the real depth of man sharing God’s image (Survey of Bible Doctrine: Man and Sin online by Sid Litke, Th.M.).

Besides, there is the term anthropomorphism, which means the attributing of human form or qualities to gods, animals, or inanimate things. Even though this Greek word may give an impression that, like man, God has a physical body, this is totally wrong. He is Spirit; and we, as human beings, share his moral character. In essence, it can be said that being in God’s image means to share his qualities and character.

Now, it is appropriate to discuss whether or not man was created sinless. God is holy, and he created man holy and perfect in his own likeness and image.

Then God saw everything that He had made,