How Jesus’ definition of God proves Muhammad was an antichrist

“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ And the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to ask him any question. And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, “The Lord said to MY Lord SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.” David himself CALLS HIM LORD; so how is he his son?’ And the great throng heard him gladly.” Mark 12:28-37

“You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)… And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:36, 42

“For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” Romans 14:9

“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:19

“and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE ALL rule and authority and power and dominion, AND ABOVE EVER NAME that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come; and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:19-23

“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.” 1 Peter 3:21-22

110:1. This psalm begins with a conversation between the first and second members of the Godhead. THE LORD, God the Father, says to my Lord, God the Son, something remarkable. Jesus Christ, David’s Lord, is appointed to sit at God’s right hand, the place of HIGHEST AUTHORITY, PRIVILEGE, AND HONOR. WITH STATURE EQUAL TO GOD’S, the Son will share in the universal reign of the Father. Christ is presently seated until the future time when he returns to the earth as a conquering king. Ancient kings often depicted themselves as placing their feet on defeated enemies, signifying their dominance over them (Josh. 10:24). Christ’s enemies, will become his footstool, subjugated and subdued under him. (Steven J. Lawson, The Holman Old Testament Commentary: Psalms 76-150, Max Anders (general editor) [B & H Publishing Group, Nashville, TN 2006], p. 191; capital and underline emphasis ours)

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is ABOVE EVERY NAME, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; and they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.’ Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard EVERY CREATURE creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, AND ALL THEREIN, saying, ‘To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:8-14

“But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you will see the Son of man SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” Mark 14:61-62

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and GLORY and kingdom, that ALL peoples, nations, and languages should SERVE HIM; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

“There is none like thee among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like thine. All the nations thou hast made shall come and bow down before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great and doest wondrous things, thou alone art God.” Psalm 86:8-10

“By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.’” Isaiah 45:23

“From new moon to new moon, and from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:23

“Let them know that thou ALONE, whose name is the Lord, art the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83:18

"For thou, O LORD, art most high over all the earth; thou art exalted FAR ABOVE all gods." Psalm 97:9

“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name ALONE is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:13

“The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the pride of men shall be humbled; and the Lord ALONE will be exalted in that day… And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the pride of men shall be brought low; and the Lord ALONE will be exalted in that day.” Isaiah 2:11, 17

“Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high,” Psalm 113:5

“And he began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. He had still one other, A BELOVED SON; finally he sent him to them, saying, “They will respect MY SON.” But those tenants said to one another, “THIS IS THE HEIR; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture: “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”?’ And they tried to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away.” Mark 12:1-11

“From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day;” Jeremiah 7:25; 26:5; 29:19; 44:4

“The nations raged, but thy wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, for rewarding thy servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear thy name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”” Revelation 11:18

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” Matthew 28:18

“All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Luke 10:22

“the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.” John 3:35

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,” John 13:3

“All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:15

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him… all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them.’” John 17:1-2, 10

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Hebrews 1:1-3

“Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. (For every house is built by some one, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful IN all God’s house AS A SERVANT, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ was faithful OVER God’s house AS A SON. And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope.” Hebrews 3:3-6

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (theou kai kyriou ‘Iesou Christou), To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greeting.” James 1:1

“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:” Jude 1:1

Lord and God. In this first verse James describes himself as a “servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is an odd construction, found only here in the New Testament. Nor is it as clear as it might first appear. Some commentators have offered the following reading: “Servant of Jesus Christ, who is Lord and God.” This is an interesting hypothesis, one supported by a variety of admittedly tenuous points. Divine titles are linked elsewhere in James (1:27; 3:9). Moreover, this construction in Latin (dominus et deus) was accepted by Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96), a development even the Romans found both extraordinary and unsettling. They were used to granting divine status only upon the death of the emperor.²¹ Domitian was no friend to the Christians, as he allowed fierce persecution of the early church. In Christian tradition he stands with Nero as a type of the anti-Christ, and seems to be so held in the view of the writer of Revelation. Certainly his apparent claim to divine status reminded readers of the “man of lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians 2.

The apotheosis (elevation to divine status) of the state in the person of the emperor disturbed both Jews and Christians, who together believed that only God deserved such unwavering loyalty. Both were labeled “atheists” by the Romans because they believed in only one God, not the many of the Mediterranean paganism. Perhaps James used this formula to designate the one who truly is Lord and God. 

Against this position, many hold that the theology of James is too simple to have written as late as the reign of Domitian.²² In any event it is still possible that James used this construction as a way of countering the claims of the Roman state. In sum, while “Jesus Christ, who is Lord and God” is a grammatical possibility, it is less likely than the traditional reading.   

James’ intent here is most likely the same as in Titus 1:1–to demonstrate that loyalty to Jesus does not undermine loyalty to God; that, in fact, they are one and the same. Balancing the divinity of Jesus Christ with monotheism was no small problem for early Christianity, and the formula James uses constitutes a portion of his answer to this dilemma. (David P. Nystrom, James: The NIV Application Commentary, Terry Muck (general editor) [Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI 1997], pp. 37-38)

22. This idea, that greater theological complexity necessarily goes hand in hand with chronological development, has attained the status of a nearly unquestioned axiom in New Testament studies. It is also a fallacy, as G. B. Caird pointed out (“The Development of the Doctrine of Christ in the New Testament,” Christ For Us Today, ed. N. Pittenger [London: SCM, 1968], 66-80.). The Christology of Mark, for example, is “higher” (or more “divine” and less “human”) than that of Luke, even though nearly all agree that Luke wrote later than Mark. (Ibid., p. 37)

By calling himself a bondservant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, James correctly puts God and the Lord Jesus on the same level as equals. He honors the Son just as he honors the Father (John 5:23). James knew that “no man can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24). Yet he spoke of himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus. There is no contradiction here because God the Father and God the Son are equal. (William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, edited by Art Farstad [Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN 1995], p. 2217)

“My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” James 2:1

First, Jesus is the object of our faith. We have made a trust or commitment to him. We are believers in Jesus.

Second, Jesus is the Lord of Glory. The Greek literally reads, “our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Glory.” James gives the title of “Glory” to Jesus, using a term that represents the full presentation of God’s presence and majesty. Jesus is the glorious God. This is a remarkable confession to come from Jesus’ half brother. (Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews and James, Thomas Lea (author), Max Anders (general editor) [B & H Publishers, Nashville TN 1999], p. 280; underline emphasis ours)

The genitive phrase tes doxes (“our glory/glorious”) poses an interesting problem. The structure is marked by an unwieldy series of genitives. The phrase may be translated “faith in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,” “faith in our Lord of glory, Jesus Christ” (so the KJV and ASV), “faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glory”⁶; the interesting suggestion of Adamson, “faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Glory”⁷; or the simplest solution, “faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” The NIV prudently has chosen this last option. In any event it seems clear that in this rare case of Christology in the book of James, Jesus Christ is identified with the Shekinah, the visible manifestation of the divine. James believed that in Jesus God is revealed.

Furthermore, Jesus is the object of faith. There is clearly more than a message gospel here, for Jesus Christ, the very manifestation of God’s glory, chose to identify with the poor and the outcasts…  

6. This position is championed by Sophia Laws, The Epistle of James, 95-97, who argues, QUITE RIGHTLY, that the intent of James is to show that Jesus is A THEOPHANY, “a manifestation of the presence of God.”

7. Adamson, The Epistle of James, 102-4. Adamson’s argument is impressive, and his solution ought to be considered. (The NIV Application Commentary, pp. 114-115; bold, capital and underline emphasis ours)

It belongs not to any mortal that God should give him the Book, the Judgment, the Prophethood, then he should say to men, 'Be you servants to me apart from God.' Rather, 'Be you masters in that you know the Book, and in that you study.' He would never order you to take the angels and the Prophets as Lords; what, would He order you to disbelieve, after you have surrendered? S. 3:79-80 Arberry

And say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and Who hath no partner in the Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend through dependence. And magnify Him with all magnificence. S. 17:111 Pickthall

He unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, He hath chosen no son nor hath He any partner in the Sovereignty. He hath created everything and hath meted out for it a measure. S. 25:2 Pickthall

The Jews say, 'Ezra is the Son of God'; the Christians say, 'The Messiah is the Son of God.' That is the utterance of their mouths, conforming with the unbelievers before them. God assail them! How they are perverted! S. 9:30 Arberry

“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.” 1 John 2:22-23