Page 242 - Christians Must Heed Jesus

Christians Must Heed
Jesus

[You] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of
the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you
greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to
suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven
genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes
even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor…
Though you have not seen him [the Messiah], you love him [for the sake of
God]; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him [as a
prophet of God] and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for
you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter, 1:5-9)
That is why those who love God are strong enough to do any-
thing for Him at any moment. Love of God involves determination,
persistence, perseverance and moral virtue. It requires self-sacrifice.
Therefore, paradise can only be attained through striving for it. It is
only possible by pleasing God, living for Him, persevering in the test

and, when necessary, turning one's back on all worldly things, espe-
cially life and possessions, for His sake.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me [obeying me to please
God]. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven
[hereafter], for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were be-
fore you." (Matthew, 5:11-12)

Those who will not be disappointed in the hereafter, be they Chris-
tian, Jew or Muslims, are those who believe in God the One and On-
ly and who do good works. This is revealed as follows in the Koran:

Those who believe, those who are Jews, and the Christians and
Sabaeans, all who believe in God and the Last Day and act right-
ly, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear
and will know no sorrow. (Koran, 2:62)
Those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabaeans and

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