The Muslims use Allah, the Jews used Jehovah, the Christians simply use God. Then there is Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. There is Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior, and the Redeemer. In other faith groups that is none of the above. There is the Mormon Jesus. There is the Great Spirit. There is Mother Earth and Father Sky. With all these names and more who Is God? Are they all God speaking about the same person using different names by different cultures?
Some of these names are used by groups that are considered outside the range of Christian theology. Some of these names are tied into a special concept promoted by certain believers and are linked to the identity of the group instead of the god they claim to worship. Some of the names mentioned above are used by the Mormons, the Native American Indians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Wicca.
Christians share the Jewish idea of God in the Old Testament as Jehovah. The only difference is that Christians realize Jehovah sent his son Jesus to become our Redeemer. That is where we have the doctrine of redemption and salvation. Islam objects saying their god is Allah and he is the only one God. Thus, they reject the trinity and the divinity of Jesus. They believe salvation comes from complete obedience to their teachings. This is why Christians say that Muslims do not worship the true God who is the Creator and Savior.
Even though the word trinity is not in the Bible, Christians believe the concept is in both in the Old and New Testaments. They believe there is one God, but three distinct persons. The term Holy Ghost is in the 1611 King James version written by the Shakespearean style preferring to avoid the word spirit when Spirit is the correct translation. There is no exact way to explain the trinity. However, 400 years after Christ, St. Augustine illustrated the trinity as memory, will, and understanding of one single person. It is, to be accepted that Christians worship one God who is three individuals.
Christians have the distinction of having a direct relationship with God through the intercessory work of Jesus on the cross and through his resurrection. It is only through Jesus that we have the promise of eternal life. Other faith groups emphasize ethics and right living. That makes them people who follow the mindset of good works to gain the favor of God. But how many good works must we do until we have gained the favor of God? What type of good works are acceptable and what type is not? Who decides about the quality or quantity of good works that would please God? Where is that identified? When have we completed enough good works to gain the assurance of eternity in heaven? Does morality count as good works?
All of these questions are answered by Scripture saying that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that there is none of us righteous, not one. Scripture goes on to say that if we confess our sin, our sinful nature, and believe that Jesus is the true and only son of God who died and was resurrected, we will be saved. For some people this faith is an instant event, for other people is a gradual realization of their standing before the Almighty God. What is most important is for us to realize that we cannot save ourselves. It took the sinless and perfect Jesus to provide the means by which we can have the promise of eternal life.
Christian Writer 