Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 146
? 139 claim that "three are one and one is three. " They could very well say that God stands for a composite of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. The above-quoted reference from St. John has repudiated this stand, for, the Messiah is mentioned in it as distinct from the Only True God. The words are: “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the, only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ” Here the “only true God" is an expression used distinct from Messiah; he is not included in it. It is evident, therefore, that "the only true God” is distinct from Messiah and not in conjunction with him. Tauhid, i. e. , Unity of God, means in truth His exclusiveness that none be associated with Him, neither the Son, nor the Holy Ghost, nor aught else. In short, this quotation makes it clear that the word 'Son' is a metaphoric expression used by the Messiah; it did not carry the sense that he was a partner with God. It was, on the contrary, an expression the like of which people are wont to use in respect of their sons, as, for instance, they would call them the apples of their eyes. As men have a right to use terms of endearment, so has God the right to use terms of endearment, in respect of His servants. It happens very often that one is tempted to call a friend's child son. It never happens that later on he files claim of inheritance citing witnesses that he had been accepted as son in their presence. It is recognized on all