I received the same article on several occasions from different sources at different times over the last few years. Some believe that the article is a fraud perpetrated by some Christians. The intent was probably to convert Buddhists into believing Jesus Christ - based on the claim that Buddha himself prophesized the coming of Jesus Christ. Many Christians have been circulating the article and gave credibility to the claim. However, the Buddhist scholars have rejected the authenticity of the claim.
In the article, it is claimed that Buddha made this statement, "Keep on making merit and look for another Holy One who will come and help the world and all of you in the future." And many Christians have blindly accepted the claim made by the article, and are in fact rejoicing that even Buddha has prophesied the coming of Jesus Christ.
This trend is very disturbing, and reminds us of the warning of Apostle Paul, the last apostle of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul warned Timothy: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils..." (1Tim 4:1). "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2Tim 3).
The gospel truth is repulsive and foolishness to natural men. And even spiritual men are not inclined to the truth of God. They prefer fables, warned apostle Paul.
Let us suppose that the enlightened Buddha did make the statement. Then Buddha's one statement alone CONTRADICTS Christ and His word on no less than FOUR counts.
But if it is a fraud perpetrated by some Christians, it shows that they are very ignorant and confused themselves. They are not only guilty of bearing false witness by putting words into Buddha's mouth, they are also guilty of misrepresenting the gospel truth. They have zeal without knowledge, attributing such grievous errors as truths prophesied by Buddha!
Let us consider the statement attributed to Buddha:
"Keep on making merit and look for another Holy One who will come and help the world and all of you in the future."
This statement contains no less than four contradiction against biblical truth.
1. Making Merit???
Making merit presupposes works or obedience to the law in order to obtain salvation. The whole concept of making merit is antithetical to the gospel of pure and free grace in Jesus Christ. It is openly and plainly condemned in the Scriptures.ALL man-made religions are about MERIT by men's futile efforts. Christianity is about God's free grace through the MERIT of Jesus Christ ALONE. It is by the righteousness and obedience of ONE... ONE... ONE...
Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Romans 5:18 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
Romans 11:6 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
Ga 3:10 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."
Isa 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
Christ speaks of free grace through His obedience and righteousness. But Buddha exhorted all men to make merit through their own works.
If there is a place for merit making, then why is there ANYMORE need of another holy one as a Redeemer? The so-called 'another holy one' prophesied would then be redundant! The statement is self contradictory!
Either Buddha contradicted himself, or hoaxers themselves were so confused and deluded, and were ignorant of the gospel.
2. Another Holy One???
'Another' means 'one more of the same kind.' It presupposes an initial one - whether existed in the past or presently existing. Did Buddha claim himself as the existing holy one, and Christ as another holy one like himself? A mere man who is deluded enough to claim himself to be the first holy one is really a USURPER!Buddha's 'another holy one' can only be another of Buddha's kind... it can only be another buddha, it can't be anything else. It is FOOLISH to make it to refer to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is of an entirely DIFFERENT category from Buddha - Jesus being the ONLY begotten Son of God. Scriptures alone and its testimony is all sufficient and the only reliable revelation concerning Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
The Only begotten Son of God alone is the Holy One. There is not another. "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Lu 1:35.
3. "Help the World"???
What sayest the Holy Scriptures?Jesus came to save HIS PEOPLE; He came not to help the world. HIS PEOPLE are those whom the Father HAS GIVEN to Him from before the foundation of the world.
Matt 1: 21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save HIS PEOPLE from their sins."
John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 ¶ And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
4. 'All of you..."???
Just who did Buddha have in mind by the term 'all of you'? Did he speak of the elect of God?Jesus came to save HIS PEOPLE, those whom the Father chose and gave to Him, and sent Him to save. Isn't Christ's word's clear enough? Is it because many Christian don't understand those plain words, or is it because they reject the plain words of Jesus?
Jesus came not to do Buddha's or any preacher's will, but His Father's will. Jesus knew full well His Father's will for Him. So many of His followers rejected that will of the Father for Christ. They insist that Jesus came to save all, even those that eventually end up in hell! A Jesus that came to save all but couldn't save all is a pathetic and weak Jesus! That's is another Jesus, not the jesus of the Bible!
John 6:
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
These Scriptures are PLAIN ENOUGH. Let God be true and every man a liar.
"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." Ro 3:4
The Buddhist scholars have rejected the authenticity of the claim. The claim is likely a fraud and a hoax initiated by some deceitful and misguided Christians. It is a terrible shame that some culprit would resort to such subtleties and lies. They betray their ignorance and blind zeal. They make themselves odious to the Buddhists, and all fair minded men.
They bring reproach to Christ.
