WHO IS JESUS? [pbuh]

In a recent discussion in a Yahoo group that I belong to, the following exchange occurred:

ONE PERSON WROTE:

Well, the Christians in town basically see me as heretic. I believe that Jesus Christ was fully human and not in any means deity. By implication, this means that I am not Trinitarian in persuasion. I do not belong to any particular Christian grouping, but rather see myself simply as a Biblical Christian.

ANOTHER PERSON [a Christadelphian] REPLIED:

That is also what I believe as a Christadelphian.

MY RESPONSE:

The Holy Qur'an is also equally clear about who Jesus [pbuh] is. For instance, it says: "Verily, the likeness of 'Îsa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be!" - and he was" (3:59). To Muslims, the Prophet Jesus [pbuh] is no more than a created human, like each of us is. He is, indeed, the "Word of God" - the coming-into- being when God spoke the word "be!".

What is more, the Holy Qur'an instructs Christians to desist from the blasphemy and tritheistic implication of using the term "trinity:

"O people of the Scripture (Christians) ! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah 'Îsa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, ("Be!" - and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs" (4:171). By using the concept "trinity" in theological application, Christians are exceeding the limits of their religion - in other words, they are innovating in the faith that Jesus [pbuh] proclaimed, and they are changing this faith. Thus, they are teaching falsehood about God. Jesus [pbuh] was no more than a Messenger of God, the Word of God [by creation], and a spirit that was created by God. To Muslims, God is "one" in the numerical sense, and so to imply that God is "God and..." is the greatest sin anybody could commit. Christians are instructed in the Holy Qur'an not to say "trinity". Lastly, in this regard, Christians are also instructed not to suggest that God has a "son" - someone like Him in every way. Having a "son" suggests that God has a companion, a like, a carbon copy of sorts. Of this, the Holy Qur'an says:

"...no son (or offspring) did Allah beget, nor is there any ilah (god) along with Him. (If there had been many gods), then each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have tried to overcome others! Glorified be Allah above all that they attribute to Him!...He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Who has begotten no son (children or offspring) and for Whom there is no partner in the dominion. He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements" (23:91; 25:2).

God alone is the Supreme Creator, and there is none other like Him. It is clear to Muslims that Jesus [pbuh] proclaimed faith in one God, Someone other than himself. Jesus [pbuh] said: "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). A close look at this verse reveals the statement of faith that is well-known to Muslims, a statement that we hear and recite several times a day: Ashadu laa illaha illah Allah, washadu anna Mohammadan abduhu wa rasulluhuh - I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and I bear witness that Mohammad is His Servant and Messenger. Being the Last Prophet, Mohammad [pbuh] is the Messenger of God as Jesus [pbuh] was in his own time. So, when Jesus [pbuh] instructs his followers to profess their faith in "the Only True God", AND in "Jesus Christ, who you have sent", Christians bear witness that Jesus' proclamation of faith was, essentially and unconditionally, monotheistic in the absolute sense of the word.