Christianity vs Baha'i

[Trailblazer]

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.'

According to Jesus, it is God's righteousness that we should be seeking. The righteousness that comes from God is a righteous Spirit.

I could not agree with you more. I got curious as to what Baha'u'llah said about righteousness so I did a quick web search and I found this website with some quotes. The first two are from Baha'u'llah and the several that follow are from His son and the centre of His Covenant, Abdu'l-Baha:

Righteous | Bahá’í Quotes

Clothe thyself with the essence of righteousness, and let thine heart be afraid of none except God.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 323

The purpose underlying the revelation of every heavenly Book, nay, of every divinely-revealed verse, is to endue all men with righteousness and understanding, so that peace and tranquillity may be firmly established amongst them.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 205

 

[InvestigateTruth]

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.'

According to Jesus, it is God's righteousness that we should be seeking. The righteousness that comes from God is a righteous Spirit. God's righteousness was in Jesus Christ, and was promised to those that repent and place their faith in Christ. God's righteousness is not our righteousness.

Romans 10:4.'For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.'

The righteousness that you describe above is the righteousness of the law, not the righteousness of Christ.

You cannot receive the righteousness of Christ until you have been broken.

'And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.' [Matthew 21:44]

Can you elaborate how Matthew 21:44 is related to receiving Righteoisness of Christ?

the Quran claims the Will of same God who was manifested from Jesus, had later sent down another revelation (Quran) for a different time, thereby expressing the Will of God for a different Time.
But in principle Jesus was saying what Matters is the Will of God. Jesus emphasized on following the Will of God, rather than just calling Jesus Lord Lord.

 

[Vinayaka]

But He gives it, a different interpretation, thereby correcting any previous misinterpretation.
Bahaullah did not talk about Hinduism much, but in one of His Tablets He confirms Hindu Prophets.

Misinterpretation? He's right, and all those stupid Hindus got it wrong. Good to know.

 

[Vinayaka]

I am not sure where Baha'is get their information about Hinduism, but it was not from Baha'u'llah. As you noted there are Baha'is such as Momen who have written about Hinduism but I do not know where they got their information. I guess they must have studied it. As I always tell people on this forum, I was never very interested in religion, not even the Baha'i Faith until fairly recently, so I never studied religions. So when CG Didymus presses me for information regarding what Baha'is believe about Hinduism and how it fits into progressive revelation I just tell him I don't know, because I do not want to give him false information and misrepresent the Baha'i Faith or Hinduism.

That's fair.

 

[Redemptionsong]

Can you elaborate how Matthew 21:44 is related to receiving Righteoisness of Christ?

the Quran claims the Will of same God who was manifested from Jesus, had later sent down another revelation (Quran) for a different time, thereby expressing the Will of God for a different Time.
But in principle Jesus was saying what Matters is the Will of God. Jesus emphasized on following the Will of God, rather than just calling Jesus Lord Lord.

To fall on the stone of Christ is to be broken, and to be brought to repentance. For the stone of Christ to fall on a man is to face the judgment of God.

To my understanding, the only way to receive the righteousness of God is for there to be repentance and faith in Christ. We must turn from our own righteousness if we are to receive the righteousness of God.

This is how Paul explained it:
'Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.'

 

[InvestigateTruth]

To fall on the stone of Christ is to be broken, and to be brought to repentance. For the stone of Christ to fall on a man is to face the judgment of God.

To my understanding, the only way to receive the righteousness of God is for there to be repentance and faith in Christ. We must turn from our own righteousness if we are to receive the righteousness of God.

This is how Paul explained it:
'Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.'

I understand "my Righteousness" vs. "Christ Righteousness" as, following the Will of God, rather my own will. Following the way of life as ordained by Christ, rather following my own way of life. So, Righteousness as defined by words and guidelines of Christ rather than my own definition of Righteousness. But Christ claimed He was only expressing the Will of the Father, and so did Muhammad.
The Righteousness of God, was described in the Gospels at the time of Christ, but at the time of Muhammad they needed a reminder according to what Quran claims. And as it was a different Time, and Place, the Quran has some different ordinances. Those Arabs needed more Laws and Orders, so, God gave them that. The Jews at the time of Jesus needed to learn more forgiveness and kindness, so, that is what God gave them then.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Misinterpretation? He's right, and all those stupid Hindus got it wrong. Good to know.

Well, yes, Bahais believe the idea of Return was misunderstood. I don't call them stupid though.

 

[Vinayaka]

Well, yes, Bahais believe the idea of Return was misunderstood. I don't call them stupid though.

If someone misunderstands something, what else would you call them? You're claiming that Hindus don't understand their own belief, and claiming that a non-Hindu understands it better than they do. That would be like me saying that Baha'is don't understand their own belief, that I understand it better than you do, despite me not having read any Baha'i scripture, or going into any depth at all about your faith. Momen (and others probably) read some encyclopedia short article about Hinduism, and then interpreted it their way, based on what Baha'i believe. In doing that, I would say it's far more likely that any 'misunderstanding' is on the other side of the fence.

 

[Redemptionsong]

I understand "my Righteousness" vs. "Christ Righteousness" as, following the Will of God, rather my own will. Following the way of life as ordained by Christ, rather following my own way of life. So, Righteousness as defined by words and guidelines of Christ rather than my own definition of Righteousness. But Christ claimed He was only expressing the Will of the Father, and so did Muhammad.
The Righteousness of God, was described in the Gospels at the time of Christ, but at the time of Muhammad they needed a reminder according to what Quran claims. And as it was a different Time, and Place, the Quran has some different ordinances. Those Arabs needed more Laws and Orders, so, God gave them that. The Jews at the time of Jesus needed to learn more forgiveness and kindness, so, that is what God gave them then.

Jesus Christ taught people what to expect when the Holy Spirit came. The righteousness of Christ was not available until the Spirit descended at Pentecost.

As Peter said on the day of Pentecost.
'Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.' [Acts 2:33]

 

[Trailblazer]

If someone misunderstands something, what else would you call them? You're claiming that Hindus don't understand their own belief, and claiming that a non-Hindu understands it better than they do. That would be like me saying that Baha'is don't understand their own belief, that I understand it better than you do, despite me not having read any Baha'i scripture, or going into any depth at all about your faith. Momen (and others probably) read some encyclopedia short article about Hinduism, and then interpreted it their way, based on what Baha'i believe. In doing that, I would say it's far more likely that any 'misunderstanding' is on the other side of the fence.

I am very tangential, so what you said just reminded me of something I typed up from a book (unfortunately, it is not online) a while back about how to properly research religions. It was written by a German Baha'i who was an attorney:

The following is from “The Light Shineth in Darkness” by Udo Schaefer. What is cited here is from the introduction, pp. 2 and 3. Some facts of what is cited have changed since changes have occurred since the writing of Schaefer's book in 1977. However, principles pointed out continue to be relevant.

“Whoever wants to be properly informed about a religion would first do well to get hold of literature which is both self-descriptive and self interpretive which shows what the religion in question is and what its claims are according to its own teachings and history. This is a matter of course. He who really wants to know whether a retailer’s merchandise is good and worth the money will buy from him before he criticizes; he will not be satisfied merely with information given him by competitors. He who would like to know what Catholicism is, and how it sees itself, should not seek information from its declared enemies before he is familiar with its followers. Otherwise his research is unscientific; he bars himself from the way to a personal evaluation and a proper understanding.

He who wants information about Islam should start by reading works written by believers before he concentrates his attention on the premises of Western scholars of Islam, and can look at the religion only from their point of view. Obviously this is easier said than done, for the choice of literature is not very wide although the best material available is written in English (Syed Ameer Ali, The Spirit of Islam, London, 1965; Seyyed Hosein Nasr Ideals and Realities of Islam, London, 1972). The works of non-religious Europeans writers offer an abundance of interesting and useful facts and details. But as soon as these scholars start to evaluate the material—the calamity begins: the results are determined by the scholar’s attitude to his subject and the premises on which his research has been based. The image projected is not concordant with the reality; as in a concave mirror, it is strangely distorted. The believing Christian, on the other hand, exploring a religious world foreign to him, has more understanding of the original religious element than the atheist scholar for whom the world of religion is nothing more than a reflection of the human mind’s imaginative power and of specific social and economic conditions.

The same is true of the Baha’i Faith. Whoever wants to inform himself in an objective manner, and believes he can find this objectivity in the scientific works available to the general public—which, incidentally, are not very numerous—will find it difficult to reach and unbiased conclusion and a fair-minded evaluation. Most of the descriptions in the encyclopedias are based on early European publications and are hopelessly obsolete. As a rule the Baha’i Faith is dealt with under the heading of ‘Islamic sects’ in the reference books and collective works on Islam.”
​

Of course, the same would apply to researching Hinduism, Buddhism, or any other religion.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Jesus Christ taught people what to expect when the Holy Spirit came. The righteousness of Christ was not available until the Spirit descended at Pentecost.

As Peter said on the day of Pentecost.
'Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.' [Acts 2:33]

I think Righteousness of Christ was manifested from Christ Himself.
How can we say, Righteousness of Christ was absent from the Christ Himself?
All the words and teachings of Christ would represent His qualities and attributes.
The Holy Spirit which also ascended, inspired others, so they could see truth of Christ.

But eitherway, how does that disprove Muhammad?

 

[InvestigateTruth]

If someone misunderstands something, what else would you call them? You're claiming that Hindus don't understand their own belief, and claiming that a non-Hindu understands it better than they do. That would be like me saying that Baha'is don't understand their own belief, that I understand it better than you do, despite me not having read any Baha'i scripture, or going into any depth at all about your faith. Momen (and others probably) read some encyclopedia short article about Hinduism, and then interpreted it their way, based on what Baha'i believe. In doing that, I would say it's far more likely that any 'misunderstanding' is on the other side of the fence.

Making mistakes, does not make one stupid. Everybody makes mistakes everyday. So, God comes and teaches the truth again and again.

 

[Vinayaka]

Making mistakes, does not make one stupid. Everybody makes mistakes everyday. So, God comes and teaches the truth again and again.

So all those billion Hindus made mistakes? How nice of you and your Baha'i friends to correct us.

 

[Vinayaka]

I am very tangential, so what you said just reminded me of something I typed up from a book (unfortunately, it is not online) a while back about how to properly research religions. It was written by a German Baha'i who was an attorney:

The following is from “The Light Shineth in Darkness” by Udo Schaefer. What is cited here is from the introduction, pp. 2 and 3. Some facts of what is cited have changed since changes have occurred since the writing of Schaefer's book in 1977. However, principles pointed out continue to be relevant.

“Whoever wants to be properly informed about a religion would first do well to get hold of literature which is both self-descriptive and self interpretive which shows what the religion in question is and what its claims are according to its own teachings and history. This is a matter of course. He who really wants to know whether a retailer’s merchandise is good and worth the money will buy from him before he criticizes; he will not be satisfied merely with information given him by competitors. He who would like to know what Catholicism is, and how it sees itself, should not seek information from its declared enemies before he is familiar with its followers. Otherwise his research is unscientific; he bars himself from the way to a personal evaluation and a proper understanding.

He who wants information about Islam should start by reading works written by believers before he concentrates his attention on the premises of Western scholars of Islam, and can look at the religion only from their point of view. Obviously this is easier said than done, for the choice of literature is not very wide although the best material available is written in English (Syed Ameer Ali, The Spirit of Islam, London, 1965; Seyyed Hosein Nasr Ideals and Realities of Islam, London, 1972). The works of non-religious Europeans writers offer an abundance of interesting and useful facts and details. But as soon as these scholars start to evaluate the material—the calamity begins: the results are determined by the scholar’s attitude to his subject and the premises on which his research has been based. The image projected is not concordant with the reality; as in a concave mirror, it is strangely distorted. The believing Christian, on the other hand, exploring a religious world foreign to him, has more understanding of the original religious element than the atheist scholar for whom the world of religion is nothing more than a reflection of the human mind’s imaginative power and of specific social and economic conditions.

The same is true of the Baha’i Faith. Whoever wants to inform himself in an objective manner, and believes he can find this objectivity in the scientific works available to the general public—which, incidentally, are not very numerous—will find it difficult to reach and unbiased conclusion and a fair-minded evaluation. Most of the descriptions in the encyclopedias are based on early European publications and are hopelessly obsolete. As a rule the Baha’i Faith is dealt with under the heading of ‘Islamic sects’ in the reference books and collective works on Islam.”
​

Of course, the same would apply to researching Hinduism, Buddhism, or any other religion.

I only get involved on RF with Baha'i these days when someone misrepresents Hindus, or insults Hindus. I know nothing at all (well, very little) about Islam, Christianity, or the Baha'i faith. I can't see any situation where I'd want to BS my way through something I knew nothing at all about.

There is an easy solution, and that is to admit that others may have a different understanding than you do, rather than just insulting them by telling them they're wrong, or they made a mistake about their own belief. Schaefer makes a great point.

(I'm not addressing you directly, as you probably figure.) I'm disappointed that once again, it's going nowhere. Time to fold 'em. Take care.

 

[Trailblazer]

I can't see any situation where I'd want to BS my way through something I knew nothing at all about.

Nor can I. If I have home repairs, yard work, tenant legal issues, car problems, or health issues with myself or the cats, I normally look to those who are experienced and qualified to advise me and/or do work for me. If I want to know about someone's religion, I ask them and they are usually more than willing to tell me. That is how I have learned so much about Christianity. I have learned only enough about Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism to be dangerous, and even less about Hinduism. That is probably the case because these religious folks talk less about their beliefs than Christians and of course Baha'is.

There is an easy solution, and that is to admit that others may have a different understanding than you do, rather than just insulting them by telling them they're wrong, or they made a mistake about their own belief.

I think we should always do that and I try to do that. We all have different understandings of the same topics so I try to understand where people are coming from and then explain where I am coming from. After I find out what someone believes, I might not agree with their beliefs or like them, but there is a way to say that and a way not to. I have also learned that sometimes it is best to say nothing, and that took me the longest time to learn.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

So all those billion Hindus made mistakes? How nice of you and your Baha'i friends to correct us.

Well, if you really think of it, you would believe billions of followers of Abrahamic religions have been wrong about their religious belief and prophets. Nothing wrong with that though.
We can always talk and perhaps you can correct us.

 

[Trailblazer]

The message of the Qur'an, even if you believe that Muhammad was a true prophet, is a message of law. The same is true of other teachings, and religions, that follow Pentecost. Why? Because in God's timetable, law comes before grace. Law is the schoolmaster that leads a person to Christ. Christ baptises with the Holy Spirit, which is God's grace. Therefore, any teaching that places man's righteousness (law) above God's righteousness (grace) is a deception!

I do not know what one has to choose between grace and the law. Didn’t Jesus say that He came not to destroy the law but rather to fulfill it? Then I believe what happened is that Paul changed the course of Christianity, and doing away with the law was just one thing he changed.

Two years ago I stared a thread entitled How Paul changed the course of Christianity
Below is an excerpt from that post that refers to the Law:

"The most essential and effective alteration of Jesus’s message carried out by Paul was in denying the Law’s power of salvation and replacing the idea of the Covenant, (235) the objective principle of the Jewish religion, with faith in Christ and the atoning power of his sacrificial death; the concrete mosaic law with a mystical doctrine of salvation. Here the Cause of God was robbed of its proper centre and transformed into a mixture of Judaism, Christianity and paganism."

Once Jesus Christ appeared, and once the Holy Spirit was given, God's grace and mercy was shed abroad. The Gospel of grace is still with us today.

I agree that the Gospel of grace is still with us today as the result of the release of the Holy Spirit into the world by the coming of Jesus, but I believe God’s laws are vitally necessary. It is convenient for Christians to believe that they do not have to adhere to the Laws but if God revealed Laws for our own benefit and protection, it is foolish not to follow them and it is also a slap in God’s face to ignore them.

Islam is a religion of Laws but the Baha’i Faith is a religion of Laws and grace.

Below is what Baha’u’llah wrote about the importance of the Law.

“They whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples. He that turneth away from them, is accounted among the abject and foolish. We, verily, have commanded you to refuse the dictates of your evil passions and corrupt desires, and not to transgress the bounds which the Pen of the Most High hath fixed, for these are the breath of life unto all created things. The seas of Divine wisdom and divine utterance have risen under the breath of the breeze of the All-Merciful. Hasten to drink your fill, O men of understanding! They that have violated the Covenant of God by breaking His commandments, and have turned back on their heels, these have erred grievously in the sight of God, the All-Possessing, the Most High.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 331

And again, Baha’u’llah is pointing out that evil acts men commit are the result of breaking the laws of God…

“God hath in that Book, and by His behest, decreed as lawful whatsoever He hath pleased to decree, and hath, through the power of His sovereign might, forbidden whatsoever He elected to forbid. To this testifieth the text of that Book. Will ye not bear witness? Men, however, have wittingly broken His law. Is such a behavior to be attributed to God, or to their proper selves? Be fair in your judgment. Every good thing is of God, and every evil thing is from yourselves. Will ye not comprehend? This same truth hath been revealed in all the Scriptures, if ye be of them that understand.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 149-150

Below are some Baha’i quotes about God’s grace, and more quotes can be found on the link below.

Behold how the manifold grace of God, which is being showered from the clouds of Divine glory, hath, in this day, encompassed the world. For whereas in days past every lover besought and searched after his Beloved, it is the Beloved Himself Who now is calling His lovers and is inviting them to attain His presence. Take heed lest ye forfeit so precious a favor; beware lest ye belittle so remarkable a token of His grace. Abandon not the incorruptible benefits, and be not content with that which perisheth. Lift up the veil that obscureth your vision, and dispel the darkness with which it is enveloped, that ye may gaze on the naked beauty of the Beloved's face, may behold that which no eye hath beheld, and hear that which no ear hath heard.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 320

The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of the flood of grace which God poureth forth for him. Let none, therefore, consider the largeness or smallness of the receptacle. The portion of some might lie in the palm of a man's hand, the portion of others might fill a cup, and of others even a gallon-measure.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 8

God's grace is like the rain that cometh down from heaven: the water is not bounded by the limitations of form, yet on whatever place it poureth down, it taketh on limitations -- dimensions, appearance, shape -- according to the characteristics of that place. In a square pool, the water, previously unconfined, becometh a square; in a six-sided pool it becometh a hexagon, in an eight-sided pool an octagon, and so forth. The rain itself hath no geometry, no limits, no form, but it taketh on one form or another, according to the restrictions of its vessel. In the same way, the Holy Essence of the Lord God is boundless, immeasurable, but His graces and splendours become finite in the creatures, because of their limitations, wherefore the prayers of given persons will receive favourable answers in certain cases.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 161

It is evident that the souls receive grace from the bounty of the Holy Spirit which appears in the Manifestations of God, and not from the personality of the Manifestation. Therefore, if a soul does not receive grace from the bounties of the Holy Spirit, he remains deprived of the divine gift, and the banishment itself puts the soul beyond the reach of pardon.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 127-128

Just as the reality of divinity is limitless, likewise his grace and bounties are limitless.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 169

Grace | Bahá’í Quotes

 

[Redemptionsong]

I think Righteousness of Christ was manifested from Christ Himself.
How can we say, Righteousness of Christ was absent from the Christ Himself?
All the words and teachings of Christ would represent His qualities and attributes.
The Holy Spirit which also ascended, inspired others, so they could see truth of Christ.

But eitherway, how does that disprove Muhammad?

Clearly, the righteousness of Christ, the Holy Spirit, was not absent in Jesus. But Jesus Christ came to die; that was his purpose. Only through death and resurrection could God's righteousness become our righteousness! The Spirit of Christ could not be sent from heaven until after Jesus Christ had been resurrected and exalted.

'For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.' [Hebrews 9:17]

Jesus Christ did not come to teach anything that was not already in the law. He came to offer HIMSELF as the fulfilment of the law, so that we might have life.

IMO, Jesus Christ wants us to live by faith in Him!

'For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.' [Hebrews 8:10-12]

There is only one way, IMO, to have the law written on your heart, and that's to have the Holy Spirit indwelling. The only way to get the Holy Spirit is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

 

[Redemptionsong]

I do not know what one has to choose between grace and the law. Didn’t Jesus say that He came not to destroy the law but rather to fulfill it? Then I believe what happened is that Paul changed the course of Christianity, and doing away with the law was just one thing he changed.

Two years ago I stared a thread entitled How Paul changed the course of Christianity
Below is an excerpt from that post that refers to the Law:

"The most essential and effective alteration of Jesus’s message carried out by Paul was in denying the Law’s power of salvation and replacing the idea of the Covenant, (235) the objective principle of the Jewish religion, with faith in Christ and the atoning power of his sacrificial death; the concrete mosaic law with a mystical doctrine of salvation. Here the Cause of God was robbed of its proper centre and transformed into a mixture of Judaism, Christianity and paganism."

I agree that the Gospel of grace is still with us today as the result of the release of the Holy Spirit into the world by the coming of Jesus, but I believe God’s laws are vitally necessary. It is convenient for Christians to believe that they do not have to adhere to the Laws but if God revealed Laws for our own benefit and protection, it is foolish not to follow them and it is also a slap in God’s face to ignore them.

Islam is a religion of Laws but the Baha’i Faith is a religion of Laws and grace.

Below is what Baha’u’llah wrote about the importance of the Law.

“They whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples. He that turneth away from them, is accounted among the abject and foolish. We, verily, have commanded you to refuse the dictates of your evil passions and corrupt desires, and not to transgress the bounds which the Pen of the Most High hath fixed, for these are the breath of life unto all created things. The seas of Divine wisdom and divine utterance have risen under the breath of the breeze of the All-Merciful. Hasten to drink your fill, O men of understanding! They that have violated the Covenant of God by breaking His commandments, and have turned back on their heels, these have erred grievously in the sight of God, the All-Possessing, the Most High.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 331

And again, Baha’u’llah is pointing out that evil acts men commit are the result of breaking the laws of God…

“God hath in that Book, and by His behest, decreed as lawful whatsoever He hath pleased to decree, and hath, through the power of His sovereign might, forbidden whatsoever He elected to forbid. To this testifieth the text of that Book. Will ye not bear witness? Men, however, have wittingly broken His law. Is such a behavior to be attributed to God, or to their proper selves? Be fair in your judgment. Every good thing is of God, and every evil thing is from yourselves. Will ye not comprehend? This same truth hath been revealed in all the Scriptures, if ye be of them that understand.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 149-150

Below are some Baha’i quotes about God’s grace, and more quotes can be found on the link below.

Behold how the manifold grace of God, which is being showered from the clouds of Divine glory, hath, in this day, encompassed the world. For whereas in days past every lover besought and searched after his Beloved, it is the Beloved Himself Who now is calling His lovers and is inviting them to attain His presence. Take heed lest ye forfeit so precious a favor; beware lest ye belittle so remarkable a token of His grace. Abandon not the incorruptible benefits, and be not content with that which perisheth. Lift up the veil that obscureth your vision, and dispel the darkness with which it is enveloped, that ye may gaze on the naked beauty of the Beloved's face, may behold that which no eye hath beheld, and hear that which no ear hath heard.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 320

The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of the flood of grace which God poureth forth for him. Let none, therefore, consider the largeness or smallness of the receptacle. The portion of some might lie in the palm of a man's hand, the portion of others might fill a cup, and of others even a gallon-measure.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 8

God's grace is like the rain that cometh down from heaven: the water is not bounded by the limitations of form, yet on whatever place it poureth down, it taketh on limitations -- dimensions, appearance, shape -- according to the characteristics of that place. In a square pool, the water, previously unconfined, becometh a square; in a six-sided pool it becometh a hexagon, in an eight-sided pool an octagon, and so forth. The rain itself hath no geometry, no limits, no form, but it taketh on one form or another, according to the restrictions of its vessel. In the same way, the Holy Essence of the Lord God is boundless, immeasurable, but His graces and splendours become finite in the creatures, because of their limitations, wherefore the prayers of given persons will receive favourable answers in certain cases.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 161

It is evident that the souls receive grace from the bounty of the Holy Spirit which appears in the Manifestations of God, and not from the personality of the Manifestation. Therefore, if a soul does not receive grace from the bounties of the Holy Spirit, he remains deprived of the divine gift, and the banishment itself puts the soul beyond the reach of pardon.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 127-128

Just as the reality of divinity is limitless, likewise his grace and bounties are limitless.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 169

Grace | Bahá’í Quotes

Paul was the chosen apostle of Jesus Christ. What Paul teaches is for a new dispensation, the Church Age.

These are his words on the subject of the law versus grace:
'This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain?
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?' [Galatians 3:2-5]

 

[Vinayaka]

Well, if you really think of it, you would believe billions of followers of Abrahamic religions have been wrong about their religious belief and prophets. Nothing wrong with that though.
We can always talk and perhaps you can correct us.

(sigh) What makes you think I think they're wrong. I think they have a different world view than I do, but right/wrong doesn't even come into the picture. That's another essential difference between dharmic and Abrahamic paradigms. The dharmic paradigm wraps a big friendly circle around all of humanity, while the Abrahamic paradigm draws a little 'we're right' box around itself, and excludes anyone else cause they're 'wrong'.

But you can't understand that because you live in that little box. Yours is called the Baha'i faith, but there are many more.