Fundamentals of the Christian Faith in the Light of the Gospels
by Maulana Sadr-ud-Din
Jesus, a Human Being and an Apostle of God: False Prophets
Jesus had warned his people that there would appear false prophets and false Christs and that they should not be deceived by them. His own words read:
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew, 24:5).
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall skew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew, 24:24).
The Gospel of Mark, too, has the same prediction on record (13:22):
“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall skew signs and wonders, to seduce, it were possible, even the elect.”
One gathers from these verses that the words “Prophet” and “Christ” (Messiah) are but the titles of God’s Messengers and the very same titles were shared by Christ himself because he was also one of God’s Messengers, and as such he was a human being. Jesus accordingly has called himself Prophet and Christ. Moreover, in the verses quoted above, mention has been made of the fact at the time of false prophets and false Christs, good and righteous people will also be present. It is, therefore, proved
- that Jesus was but a prophet and
- that the entire world is not full of sinners only, but there have been righteous persons in every nation, chosen by the Most High God. The words of Jesus that every age witnessed the presence of righteous people exonerate mankind from the charge of being sinful by nature. This strikes also at the very root of the dogma of Atonement.