What Do You Believe? Islam Part 4

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?