This is addressing one of the most asked questions by Muslims to Christians. According to Muslims, it is impossible for one to bear the sin of another. This question itself comes from a premise of wrong understanding about the person of Jesus Christ. When they consider Jesus as one little prophet, they are not able to grasp the gravity of the work done by Jesus.
Table of Contents
Is Bearing the Sin of another an impossibility?
Most Muslims pluck out and quote certain passages from Deuteronomy and Ezekiel to come to a conclusion that the Death of Jesus cannot pay for the sins of Mankind. Let us check out these verses.
Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.
Deut 24:16
The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be CREDITED to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be CHARGED against them.
Ezekiel 18:20
Is it possible to bear the sin of another?
It is quite interesting to see that Ezekiel is using an accounting term to explain the effects of Sin. He uses the term, CREDITED(to the Righteous) and CHARGED(to the Sinners). It does not require much effort to know that God applies a mechanism of Debit and Credit. A Sinner will be CHARGED and the Righteous will be CREDITED.
Paul also uses a monetary term with sin.
For the WAGES OF SIN is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
for all have sinned and FALL SHORT(NEGATIVE BALANCE) of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23
Accounting Terminologies Explained
Accounting terminologies like the above makes it clear that each of us is bound to abide by our credit or debit as it might be. Needless to say, if there is a charge against your name, you will have to make the payment. If you do not have the wherewithal to make the payment, somebody else will have to make it for you. And that “Somebody Else” should have a Credit surplus and a willingness to make the payment for you.
As a result of the payment, you will be gratefully indebted to that “Somebody Else“. However, if you refuse to take the offer of that “Somebody Else“, you will have to personally make the payment for the charge against you.
Also, it is important to note that another DEBTOR cannot take your Debt as that person himself is in the NEGATIVE BALANCE CATEGORY. If my “SIN-RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCOUNT BOOK” statement shows that I am a SINNER with the Wages as DEATH (NEGATIVE BALANCE), I cannot make a payment for another person who is also NEGATIVE BALANCE like me.
We both need that “Somebody Else“, who has enough credit against his name and is willing to help us. Entire Humanity has FALLEN SHORT and is in the NEGATIVE BALANCE CATEGORY. This is the reason why Moses and Ezekiel say that One negative balance category person (Parent or Child) cannot pay for another negative balance category person (Child or Parent).
We are born into the Debt of Adam
Notice how Paul explains the accounting term.
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man(ADAM), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
Romans 5:12-14
As the entire Human Race was trapped into the after-effects of the Adamic Sin, we all will have to bear the debt of Adam.
The Solution to the Debt of Adam
The Debt of Adam has to be borne by another from the same Adamic Race who is SINLESS. This is where we find Jesus who is capable of bearing the sins of the whole human race. Notice how the bible explains the removal of the debt of Adam
17 For if by one man’s offence(Adam’s) death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:17-21
Only God has infinite Credit and He took the responsibility to RECONCILE THE ACCOUNT BOOKS. Therefore he became one of Adam’s children to push in his infinite credit to the books of humanity.
All this is from God, who RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2 Cor 5:18
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Cor 5:21
Conclusion
I would doubt that any normal Muslim would ever read those verses that I have displayed here. That is because they have already been brainwashed. They have made up their mind that they would not heed to the voice of the Spirit. Nevertheless, any serious person who would like to understand the Christian concept of Reconciliation of the Adamic Debt should make an effort to know it.
Jesus Christ is that “Somebody Else“, who is willing to credit his infinite surplus to you. Jesus Paid it all when he said TETELESTAI meaning “IT IS FINISHED“.
τετέλεσται (Tetelestai) is an accounting term in greek used to denote “ACCOUNTS FULLY RECONCILED”
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:28-30
Everybody can choose to pay their debt by themselves or trust in Jesus to Reconcile them to God. If you choose to pay the debt by yourself, you will be eternally separated by God. Choose Wisely.
End of “Bearing the Sin of another person? – A Simple Explanation“
2 comments
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