Islam and Forgiveness of Sins

I have known for some time that Islam’s god is capricious and cannot really be known like (the Christian) God can be known. Our God makes promises and covenants and keeps them. With a capricious god like Allah, you can never know where you stand with him. Your eternal destiny is in his hands (no problem with that) but the choice for that destiny is based on nothing more than Allah’s capriciousness. Unless of course you are a martyr who kills infidels (us), then I think there is some sort of guarantee.

James R White was talking about about the situation in Mecca recently in which 345 pilgrims were killed in a stampede to be able to cast stones at a rock representing the devil which would purge themselves of sin. He writes in his post:

Pelting rocks with stones purges you of sin? And this from the religion that has spawned the modern generation of apologists who mock the cross? The article likewise notes that similar stampedes took place in 1990 (1,426 people dead) and 2004 (244 dead). Thousands dying in a mad rush to throw stones at the devil? The contrast again is tremendous: in Islam you throw stones at the devil; in Christianity the very Creator enters into His own creation and gives Himself as the sacrifice that brings forgiveness to all those who are vitally united to Him.

I think the one thing all religions do is to recognize our imperfections. As Christians we call it sin and it goes very deep such that even “our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in his sight.” [Isa. 64:6] and “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” [Jer 17:9] and “there is none righteous, no not one” [Rom 3:10].

Jesus, God become man, is the unique thing about Christianity which allowed for the great exchange:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This way, Jesus took upon himself God’s wrath against sin and did it freely on our behalf. In exchange we are accounted as righteous so that when God looks at us, he sees us as blameless. Anybody can have this by simply repentance (agreeing with God) and faith (total belief and trust in Christ). It is amazing to me how many refuse to accept this offer. How could you not love a God who is completely holy, pure, trustworthy, merciful and gracious.