Deren said:
Luke is not talking about God's mercy, though. He's talking about Jesus Christ, who shed his blood, as God, for the redemption of humanity (i.e., the church). Yet, because is merciful that he acted to atone for humanity's sin, and that was done through what action?
Actually, that(in post #126) was to address for this question of yours
:
And since the Muslim rejects such a concept, what does Islam offer as a viable substitute for the shedding of blood to atone for sins?
Thus my answer: Allah's merciness. It's not a substitute tho.
Then from what you're saying, everything that God has revealed, starting way back in the OT with the Levitical law to the coming and fulfillment of the law in the person of Jesus was a ruse? Did God change his mind somewhere along the way? If so, where and when?
There's so much views on the prophesy of Jesus coming to this world to redeem all humankind with his blood. I think there's already a thread for this. What I can say here is; Jews, Christians and Muslims are differ on this matter.
And once again, if God knows our intention and work, do you not think he knows all about our feeble attempts at attaining righteousness?
Of course. He knows our limit. But don't despair. He's the Most-Merciful too.
If so, then don't you think that God just might intervene on humanity's behalf in a much more merciful and loving way that to leave humans to their own devices to try and work out their atonement, forgiveness, and salvation by a means that is much more secure than their tainted works?
I think, here is where we're differ.
If I've a son who sincerely loves to draw and I'm a good artist, I'll teach him how to draw. But I'll not gonna draw for him just to make sure his drawing is good as mine. Because I know what is his limit(because of his young age maybe), I'll be glad even though he draw a picture of me which does not looks like me.
God knows best what's our limit and had sent us His guidance.
Yet, humans are not perfect, and if they are going to receive God's forgiveness, then there is going to have to be sacrificial atonement for them before that forgiveness takes place. It is a requirement that is specifically stated in Scripture.
I believe that's what you meant with Levitical law earlier in your post, right?
Since now I will have to deal with the Bible, I hope Christians here will not quickly call me a liar that trying to teach them about their own Bible. It's not my intention.
In Hebrew 9:22, it wrote:
22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
But in the OT, blood shedding is not the only way to archieve God's forgiveness. Even the fine flour can be used as sin offering(Leviticus 5:11). Or incense(Numbers 16:46-47), or through charity(Exodus 30:15-16 & Numbers 31:50). In fact, the sin offering is for the unintentionall sins only.
Even so, God is not looking for sacrifices to forgive us. Repentance, sincerity, obedient, etc is more important.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Proverb 16:6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Daniel didn't advice King Nebuchadnezzar to do any sacrificial atonement, but to repent and be good.
Daniel 4:27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.
No, he did not create us imperfect. After Adam and Eve were created everything was declared "Very Good," not "Marginally Okay, with a taint of sin here and there." Instead, what took place is that Adam and Eve rebelled and then passed on their sin nature to everyone else subsequent to them, which is why if anyone now wishes to come into God's presence, there must be an atoning sacrifice performed in their behalf. And anything that is less than perfect will not appease the righteousness of God.
When Adam repented, God accepted his repentance and forgave him without asking him any sacrificial atonemnt(Muslims believe God heard his sincere repentance and forgave him).
Again, our "best" is tainted with sin, meaning that it falls far short of God's standards of holiness and righteousness.
Why would God wants us to be the same standard as He is? He will always be holiest.
Therefore, unless something much more substantial than "our best" represents us before God, to not only atone for our sins, but to offer forgiveness and redemption from them, then we will die our sins and receive the wages for them, which is death.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yes. We have a different view on this.
Salaam.