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Islam is the second largest religion in the world, next only to Christianity. There are approximately 1.5 billion adherents, called Muslims, who make up about a fifth of the world’s population. It claims the same history as Judaism and Christianity. Whereas Christianity considers Jesus Christ as the final and complete revelation, Muslims believe that additional revelation was given by the angel Gabril to the prophet Mohammed in the 7th century A.D. Mohammed received divine revelation over a period of 23 years, and his message was written down and became know as the Quran, the Holy Scriptures of Islam. Muslims adhere to the five pillars of Islam which consist of belief in Allah as the only God and Mohammed as his prophet, ritual prayer five times a day, religious financial offering, a month long annual fast, and a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. Islam and Christianity share many common moral values, but they differ greatly over the person of Jesus Christ and the need for further revelation.
The Quran and Jesus
The name of Jesus is mentioned 25 times in the Quran. Often, the Quran reflects the teachings of the Bible. Jesus was born of a virgin, named Mary (Quran 3:47). He lived a sinless and righteous life (Quran 6:85), and he performed miracles and proclaimed God’s word (Quran 2:87; 3:49; 19:30). However, the Quran does not proclaim the same Jesus as the Bible, contradicting several vital aspects of his character. The Quran affirms that he was merely a man and not the Son of God, rejecting his deity and eternal nature (Quran 3:59; 5:18, 75; 9:30; 17:111). His atoning death by crucifixion is also refuted (Quran 4:157).
Jesus’ Claims for Himself
Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, making himself equal with God (Mk. 14:61-62; Jn. 8:58; 10:30). Jesus allowed others to worship him, recognizing that only God is worthy of worship (Matt. 4:10; 8:2; 14:33; Jn. 9:35-39; 20:27-29). Jesus considered himself to be God, and he proclaimed that message to others. If his claim to deity were false, as claimed by Islam, he was either mentally disturbed or he was a cold-blooded liar. He could not have been a prophet of God carrying a false message. The only alternative is that Jesus was the Son of God, as declared elsewhere in the New Testament (Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-17; 2:9).
Salvation in Christ
The Quran also contradicts the Bible concerning the crucifixion of Jesus as an atoning death. Jesus came to bring salvation to all men (Matt. 1:21; Lk. 1:66-79; 19:10). This was accomplished when he died on the cross (Jn. 10:7-18; Heb. 2:9). He was a perfect and sinless sacrifice, offered once for all time (2 Cor. 5:20-21; Heb. 9:27-28). Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death, he provides exclusive access to the Father (Jn. 14:6). There is no other way to God except through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
Completed Revelation
The revelation of Jesus Christ came in the “fullness of time” and the “last days” (Acts 2:14-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Heb. 1:1). His sacrifice is the culmination of God’s administration or plan for man’s salvation (Eph. 1:9-10). The teachings of Christ and his apostles represent the final revelation from God and any further revelation that contradicts the teachings of the Bible are to be rejected (Jude 3; Gal. 1:6-9).
Christianity and Islam share many moral teachings and claim a similar history, but their teachings are incompatible with one another. Christianity teaches that Christ is the only source of salvation. Islam denies his atoning death and divine nature, and it claims further revelation was given to Mohammad. The teachings of these two religions are mutually exclusive, hinging on the truth of Jesus Christ. Examine the evidence and make a decision. It is the most important decision you will ever make.
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I AM the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father
except through Me.
- John 14:6
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