Without God we can do nothing.

 

50. Without God we can do nothing for ourselves, and without God’s permission nothing can happen:  Babi Religion: “I have no control over what profiteth Me or harmeth Me, but as My Lord pleaseth. Indeed God is Self-Sufficient and He, My Lord, standeth supreme over all things.” (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 64)  Christianity: John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” 9:33 “If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.” 5:30 In fact, “I can of mine own self do nothing:” And God speaking through Jesus Christ tells us that “Without Me ye can do nothing.”  We are completely reliant on God whether we know it or not.  Judaism: Enoch 2. “According as God hath ordained so is it done.” (Apocrypha) Psalms 65:4 “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee,” Maccabees “Nevertheless, as the will of God is in heaven, so let him do.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha)  Christianity: Acts 17:28 “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 14:8 “For whether we live, we live unto The Lord; and whether we die, we die unto The Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are The Lord’s.” James 4:15 “For that ye ought to say, If The Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God.” Without the assistance from God we can do nothing of ourselves but make choices that rely on God’s assistance to complete. This is a teaching found in the writings of the bible, this is a teaching found in the Bahá’í Faith and this is also a teaching found in the other religions of God as well.

 ISLAM: 80. “His people disputed with him. He said: “(Come) ye to dispute with me, about Allah (God), when He (Himself) hath guided me? I fear not (the beings) ye associate with Allah: unless my Lord willeth, (nothing can happen). My Lord comprehendeth in His knowledge all things: will ye not (yourselves) be admonished?”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   6)

 BABI RELIGION: “Assuredly whatsoever God hath decreed for Me shall come to pass and naught else save that which God hath ordained for us shall ever touch us.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 15)

 Babi Religion: “Nothing can befall us but what God hath destined for us. Our liege Lord is He; and on God let the faithful trust!”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 334)

 ISLAM: 51. “Nothing will happen to us except what Allah (God) has decreed for us: He is our Protector’: and on Allah let the believers put their trust.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   9)

Islam: 11. “And Allah did create you from dust; then from a sperm-drop; then He made you in pairs. And no female conceives, or lays down (her load), but with His knowledge. Nor is a man long-lived granted length of days, nor is a part cut off from his life, but is in a Decree (ordained). All this is easy for Allah.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 35)

Islam: “There is neither might nor power but with Allah.”

(Hadith, Bukhari Vol 5)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: 11. “Mark those commandments which Mazda (God) hath ordained.” 2. “Making straight the paths for the Religion of the future Deliverer which Ahura ordained.” 47. “He wields his power according to the wish of Ahura Mazda (God), the Good Spirit,”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta -Yasna 30, 53 and Avesta Fragments)

 Zoroastrianism: “It is only when Mazda is pleased to lead, that a man can tread the path of virtue.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 688)

 HINDUISM: “I am not seen by all; I am not known- Unborn and changeless- to the idle world. But I, Arjuna! know all things which were, And all which are, and all which are to be, Albeit not one among them knoweth Me!” “To Him, the far-renowned, the wise Ordainer, ancient and glorious.” “The fool, cheated by self, thinks, ‘This I did’ And ‘That I wrought;’ But all thy dues discharging, for My sake, I am not (own not) even mine eyelid’s Lord without Thee.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 7 and Vedas, Rig Veda – Books 2 and 5)

 Hinduism: 2. “The various doings of all mortal people by Thee are ordered, in Thy wisdom, Indra (Brahma/Vishnu/God).”

(Hinduism, Vedas, Rig Veda – Book 1)

 BUDDHISM: “O Blessed Lord! We have been wandering about in the desolate wilderness (of spiritual depravity, searching) of this world for many kalpas, recognizing no sign of our Lord’s parental (Fatherly) love.” We seek, but only with our Fathers parental blessings descending on us, to reach our true heart’s desire. (Buddhism, The Surangama Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “We will pray with Thee the ‘uthras’ prayer and ask of Thee, of the Great (Life, God), a petition for ourselves, for our friends, for our friends’ friends and for those who love the great Family of Life.” A petition is ask because without His help and assistance nothing in this life can happen. “And my lord Manda-d-Hiia (God) will lend them his helping hand.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 72 and 75)

 BABI RELIGION: “Nothing whatsoever can frustrate Thy purpose and that Thou art the Knower of all things andThe Lord of might and majesty.” “No one can attain anything save by Thy power.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 1 and 6)

 Babi Religion: “Verily, there is no power except in God, and sufficient witness unto Me is your Lord, Who is, in very truth, the Omnipotent Avenger.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 59)

 Babi Religion: “Only that which is the will of God can happen to me.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 248)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Some things are subject to the free will of man, such as justice, equity, tyranny and injustice, in other words, good and evil actions; it is evident and clear that these actions are, for the most part, left to the will of man. But there are certain things to which man is forced and compelled, such as sleep, death, sickness, decline of power, injuries and misfortunes; these are not subject to the will of man, and he is not responsible for them, for he is compelled to endure them. But in the choice of good and bad actions he is free, and he commits them according to his own will.”

“The movement of man depend upon the assistance of God. If he is not aided, he is not able to do either good or evil. But when the help of existence comes from the Generous Lord, he is able to do both good and evil; but if the help is cut off, he remains absolutely helpless. This is why in the Holy Books they speak of the help and assistance of God. So this condition is like that of a ship which is moved by the power of the wind or steam; if this power ceases, the ship cannot move at all. Nevertheless, the rudder of the ship turns it to either side, and the power of the steam moves it in the desired direction. If it is directed to the east, it goes to the east; or if it is directed to the west, it goes to the west. This motion does not come from the ship; no, it comes from the wind or the steam.”

“In the same way, in all the action or inaction of man, he receives power from the help of God; but the choice of good or evil belongs to the man himself.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, pp. 248, 249

Baha’i Faith: “Nothing whatsoever is possible without His permission; no power can endure save through His power, and there is none other God but He. His is the world of creation, and His the Cause of God. All proclaim His Revelation, and all unfold the mysteries of His Spirit.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 175)