What Do You Believe? Part 4
Islam
Introduction
A. Today we are continuing our series called “What do you believe?” We
are talking about some of the major false religions that we are faced
with today such as Jehovah Witnesses, the Mormons, Scientology and Islam
and why Christianity is different from them. Many Christians today are
confused about what they believe. They are not sure if other religions
are okay or if they are the same as Christianity. Many Christians have
bought into the lie that there are many ways to God and Christianity is
just another one of those ways.
B. When confronted with questions like: “Do you believe good Hindus, good
Moslems, good Jews are going to Hell?” many Christians struggle with an
answer. I have even heard some big time TV preachers struggle with an
answer. Our answer should be along this line, “My authority is the
Bible, God’s Word. God says in His Word that ‘unless one is born again,
he CANNOT see the kingdom of God.” We are also told in John 14:6 that
Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.” And in Acts 4:12 we read, “There is no other
name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, nor is
there salvation in any other.” So whether you are a Baptist, Catholic,
Presbyterian, Moslem, Jewish or Hindu, if you are not born again as the
Bible states, and have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior the
Bible clearly teaches you will not go to heaven. You see it is not about
what you think or what someone else thinks, what matters is what does
God’s Word say?
C. According to a recent survey almost 60% of people who attend what they
call ‘evangelical’ churches now believe that there is more than one way
to heaven! That is six out of ten Christians! (Survey by Pew Forum) The
survey reveals that ‘most’ Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to
their faith; most do not believe their religion is the only way to
salvation. The survey asked them to choose whether the first or second
statement came closer to their own religious views even if neither was
exactly right.
1. My religion is the one, true faith leading to eternal life.
2. Many religions can lead to eternal life.
3. Which one would you pick? Almost 60% of evangelical Christians
answered #2 “Many religions can lead to eternal life.”
D. Many people in today’s secular society and even in the church accuse
Christians who hold to the exclusive teaching that Christianity is the
only way to heaven, as being intolerant and dogmatic. I wish to point
out however, that those who insist there are many ways to heaven are the
ones who are INTOLERANT! People who assert their view of many ways
leading to heaven and who reject the Bible’s teaching that there is only
one way, who insist that everyone has to think their way, reveal their
own intolerance and need to be more open minded!
E. We have been using what I am calling the three S’s as a way of
determining whether a religion is true or false. They stand for Savior,
Salvation, and Scripture. All false religions differ from the Christian
view on these three major issues.
1. Savior: All false religions change who Jesus really was. They do not
believe that He is the ‘only way’ to heaven. Usually they follow
another prophet or holy man who is considered as good as Jesus.
2. Salvation: All false religions teach that a person must ‘earn’ their
way to heaven. They don’t believe we are saved by grace, God’s gift.
3. Scripture: All false religions teach that the Bible
is ‘incomplete/outdated’ and there are ‘other’ holy books which
are ‘more’ important.
F. So far we have looked at the beliefs of the Jehovah Witnesses and the
Mormons. Next week we shall look into Scientology. Today we are going to
talk about Islam.
G. Why am I doing this teaching? I am not teaching this series so you can
argue with people of other faiths. The main reason I am teaching this is
to help you establish what it is that you believe so that you are not
lead astray and deceived. Sooner or later every Christian has to come to
grips with what it is that they really believe and if it is really
different than other religions. I want to help you to see
the ‘distinctives’ of your faith. The second reason to equip you so that
you can help others; friends, relatives, and co-workers, who are open
and looking for truth.
(We had invited a converted Moselm to speak at our church)
A. Today we are going to talk about Islam. I have invited Kamalo to come and share with us about the Moslem faith. Could you welcome Kamalo?
After she spoke I asked her a few questions
A. Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Kamalo. Can you tell us
what is the difference between being a Moslem and Islam? Can a person be
a Moslem and be a Christian?
B. We have been using the ‘three S’s’ (Salvation, Scripture, Savior) as a
way of determining whether religion is false or not. Can you tell us
what does Islam teach about:
Salvation: Is a Moslem saved by faith/grace or must he/she earn
salvation? In the Quran (Sura 23:102-103) it says in the day of
judgment those whose balances shall be heavy with good deeds shall be
happy, but those whose balances are light shall lose their souls and
remain in hell.” There is one exception to earning salvation by doing a
lot of good deeds, that is dying in service to Allah. Isn’t it true
that Islam teaches if a Moslem gives up his life by
attacking ‘infidels’ he is assured a place in paradise?
Scriptures: Is it true that Islam teaches that the Bible is corrupt, and
that the Quran is the revelation for today. Muslims believe the Bible
is a good book but that the gospels have been especially corrupted by
Christians and the first five books of the Bible have been corrupted by
the Jews and that only the Quran has remained uncorrupted.
Savior: How do Moslems view Jesus? Is He considered the ONLY way to God
or just one of many ways to God? The Moslems believe that Jesus was one
of the most important prophets of Allah, the sinless messenger of God
who brought truth to His generation, but that He was only a man, no
different than any other prophet of Allah (of which there are 124,000!)
The Quran says that Jesus was just another messenger (Sura 5:75) while
the Bible in Hebrews 1:1-3 says that Jesus was the ‘brightness of God’s
glory’. Isn’t it true that Moslems believe Muhammad was a ‘greater’
prophet than Jesus? (Sura 4:171) Moslems recognize Jesus as a ‘miracle’
worker but do not believe He was the ‘Son of God’ or God in the flesh.
Isn’t true that the Quran teaches that Jesus was NOT crucified or even
killed? (Sura 4:157) but that He was taken up into heaven by Allah? The
Quran does not teach that Jesus died for man’s sins but that each man
must pay for his own sins by doing good deeds. (Sura 39:7)
C. What is the Ramadan fast all about? Is it true that ‘more’ food is
eaten during this month than any other month of the year?
D. Does Islam treat women as equals or more as property? Doesn’t the
Quran teach that it is all right for a husband to ‘beat his wife’ if
there is good reason for it? (Sura 4:34)
E. Is it true that Moslem’s believe that everything that happens to them
was ‘preordained” and they can do nothing to stop it? What does it mean
when a Moslem says “Im shallah?” (if God wills it) Is this just a form
of fatalism which leads to a diminished sense of moral responsibility
for one’s own decisions and actions.
F. What happens when a Moslem converts to Christianity?
G. Thank you for sharing with us today. Let’s let Kamola know we
appreciate her.
Is there any difference between the Moslem God Allah and the Christian God, Jehovah? Jeremiah 9:23-24 or Rom 8:15, Rom 5:8, I John 4:7-11
A. The Moslem God and the God of the Bible, Jehovah are similar in many
ways. They are both viewed as the creator of the universe, sovereign,
omnipotent and will be the judge of all mankind. There are many
differences between these two gods, I will just mention three major
differences.
B. Allah is called “one” and the God of the Bible is considered to
be ‘triune’ three in one, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit. The Moslems believe that Christians worship ‘three’ gods and do
not understand the concept of ‘three in one’ or the trinity. I am not
sure that anyone understands that concept but it is clearly taught in
the Bible. In Matt 28:19, Jesus said we are to baptize in the name of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Paul mentions the triune God at
the end of his letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor 13:14). “May the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.”
1. It is taught in many others places as well: at Jesus water baptism,
where we have God the Father, speaking to God the Son and the Holy
Spirit descending like a dove also I Peter 1:2, Rev 1:4-5, Ephesians
2:18 For through Him (Jesus) we have access by one Spirit to the Father.
C. Moslems do not believe they can ‘know’ Allah or have a relationship
with him. But as Christians we believe we can both know and have a
relationship with Jehovah, through His Son Jesus. The main emphasis in
Islam is not personal fellowship with God, but rather service, obedience
and allegiance to him. There is no concept of God as a father at all.
D. The highest aim of all Christians is to ‘know God.” Read in Jeremiah
9:23-24 “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom or the strong man
boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him
who boasts boast about this: that he understands and KNOWS ME.” There is
a hunger in the heart of every man that can only be filled with knowing
God, a vacuum that only God’s presence can fill. We were all created
with a need for fellowship with God. And we are restless and insecure
until this becomes our living experience. Romans 8:15, says that we can
call God, “Abba, Father.” Abba is an Arabic term of affection and
intimacy similar to the English word, “daddy.’ It speaks of a tender
relationship with God as our Father.
D. The Moslem God Allah is not a god of love. He does not love those who
do wrong. (Sura 3:140) This is quite different than the God of the Bible
who we are told in Rom 5:8 “That God demonstrated His love toward us in
this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Also John
3:16.
E. Turn to I John 4:8. God is not just a God of love He ‘is love.’ His
love does not depend upon us being ‘loveable.’ He loves us despite the
fact that we are fallen in sin.
Summary I Peter 3:15
A. I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be
ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope
that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
B. How should we treat people who follow false religions such as Islam?
Be careful not to attack their religion or their Holy Books. This can be
taken as an insult and insults quickly and permanently close the door to
future discussions and cause the person to hold even more tightly to
their false religion. Make an effort to make a positive defense of the
Bible as God’s Word, who Jesus was, what He did and said, and the
wonderful gospel of God’s love and salvation by His grace. This will
touch any seekers heart.
C. Always remember you are not talking to their intellect you are talking
to their spirit and when you speak truth you touch their inner man and
awaken their conscience and their hunger for the one true God. There
will come a time when you have to discuss some of the problems with
their false religion but that should not be the first discussions.
