What's the Difference Between Islam and Christianity, Part I

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

Between Islam and Christianity, Part I

INTRODUCTION

Paul Harvey said that the Muslim clergy condemn the same things about America that many

Christian ministers condemn. There is a lot of truth in that statement but it leaves out some very

important information. As we begin this series of sermons, let me remind you of two very important

issues we Christians must balance:

(1) We must be tolerant and loving toward people of other religions and

(2) We must stand firm on the truth of the Gospel.

Islam and Christianity agree on many very important issues but disagree on several key issues

that both religions believe to be absolutely essential. Let’s begin with some general comments

and then check out Islam by the three “tests”Christians should use for any religious group.

Islam and Christianity both teach that there is only one true God

Islam and Christianity both are worldwide religions -- there are about one and one-half billion

Christians in the world today and about one billion Muslims (Over 5 million in America)

Islam and Christianity both claim to be a religion of peace but both accuse the other of using war and

military actions to spread their religious views

Islam and Christianity both teach there will be a future judgment with only one of two results -- heaven

or hell

Islam and Christianity both are strong on the importance of the family

Islam and Christianity both condemn sex outside of marriage

Islam and Christianity both condemn abortion (with some exceptions)

Islam and Christianity both condemn homosexuality

Islam and Christianity both teach the sanctity of human life and, therefore, condemn murder

Islam and Christianity both believe that they have a God given responsibility to evangelize and convert

every other person on earth to their one true religion. (Muslims want to convert Christians to

Islam and Christians want to convert Muslims to Christianity.)

Islam and Christianity both have “extremists”and “fanatics”who go too far in promoting their religion

and “hurt”the public image of their religion

I. ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY DISAGREE ABOUT WHO JESUS IS

1. Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet who was born of a virgin, revealed God’s

message to man but was not crucified on the cross as an atonement for sins nor was He

resurrected from the dead

(1) Muslims teach that God does not and cannot have a son or a partner

(2) Muslims teach that someone else died in Jesus place (some say it was Judas)

(3) They do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus

2. Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and that His death, burial and

resurrection are essential doctrines of the Christian faith

(1)

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,

(2)

received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He

was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

I Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also

II. ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY DISAGREE ABOUT WHAT IS GOD’S FULL AND

FINAL REVELATION TO MAN

1. Islam teaches that the Koran (Qur’an) is God’s full and final revelation

(1) Muslims believe God revealed His will through many prophets including

Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad but that they have all been corrupted by

the Jews and the Christians except the the prophecies in the Koran

(2) Muslims believe that the Koran is God’s full, final and perfect revelation and it

overrules all the others (The contents of the Koran are said to be revelations

made to Muhammad by the one true God, Allah through the angel, Gabriel.)

2. Christianity teaches that the Bible is God’s full, final and perfect revelation to man

(1)

teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the

man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

II Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for

(2)

moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

II Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men

III. ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY DISAGREE ABOUT THE WAY OF SALVATION

1. Islam teaches that it is through good works

(1) Islam teaches that each person has two angels assigned to him or her -- one

records your good deeds and other records your bad deeds

(2) At the judgment, if your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds (and God is

merciful to you) you will go to heaven--otherwise you go to hell

2. Christianity teaches that eternal salvation is only available through Jesus and His

atoning sacrifice for sins

(1)

comes to the Father but through Me.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I amthe way, and the truth, and the life; no one

(2)

of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may

boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not

(3)

the Lawbut through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus,

so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law;

since by the works of the Lawno flesh will be justified.

Galatians 2:16 Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of

CONCLUSION

Islam and Christianity are two worldwide religions who agree on several very important issues but

disagree totally on three essential doctrines of Christianity.

They disagree about:

1. Who Jesus is and the nature of God

2. Which book is the inspired Word of God and His full and final revelation to man

3. How a person is eternally saved (goes to heaven instead of hell)

Faith

The Faith That Makes A Difference
Lee Delbridge

A Sunday morning Bible School teacher asked her class “What is faith?” No one seemed to know the answer. Finally one little boy said “Faith is believing something you know is not true.” Is that what you think faith is? [Just to make sure I don’t mislead anyone -- that is the wrong answer.] Let’s talk about faith -- “the faith that makes a difference.” The Greek words for faith (pivsti", pisteuvw) are used over 500 times in the New Testament. Sometimes it is translated faith and sometimes it is translated believe (or belief). Is faith required to please God? What is faith, really? How do we acquire faith?

1. FAITH REQUIRED
• Jesus required it in the golden text of the Bible
  John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
• Those who believe in Jesus have eternal life
• Those who do not believe in Jesus will perish
• Jesus required in the great commission
  Mark 16:15-16 - And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
• Those who believe the gospel and are baptized will be saved
• Those who don’t believe the gospel will be condemned
• The inspired writer required it in the faith chapter
  Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
• It is impossible to please God unless you believe in Him
• The difference between those who spend eternity in hell and those who spend eternity with God is their faith!

2. FAITH DEFINED
• The Greek word pistis (Strong # 4102), means a firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing and in the New Testament it is always used as “faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual.”
• In the New Testament faith (belief, believing) involves three things:
• a firm conviction of God’s revealed truth in the Bible
• a personal surrender to God
• a conduct inspired by such surrender
• Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
• The New Century Version translates Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.”
• Christian faith is based on facts
• Picture a train: The engine is facts. The second car is faith. The third car is feeling. Faith is based on the facts. The feelings are an outcome of the faith. (Don’t get these three in the wrong order)
• Picture a house: The house is faith. The foundation is facts on which the faith is built

3. FAITH ACQUIRED
• By reading the story of Jesus
  John 20:30-31 - Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
• The gospel of John was written to tell us the story of Jesus for the express purpose that we would believe in Him as the Christ, the Son of God and as a result have eternal life
• By hearing the story of Jesus
  Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (KJV says “the word of God”)
• Faith comes from hearing the story of Jesus
• Faith is to be fully persuaded (to know) that the story of Jesus is absolute truth (He is God in flesh who lived a perfect life, died as an atonement for our sins, was resurrected from the dead and is alive forever)
• The way to acquire faith and/or to strengthen your faith is to study the Bible

What is faith? Is it required? How do I acquire it? From the Christian perspective faith is a firm conviction that what the Bible says about God and Jesus are absolutely true, that you surrender yourself to Jesus because of what you believe and that you live your life based on that conviction. Faith is believing something that you know is true. (Not like the little boy in the introduction.) God requires faith from us. It is the one thing that makes the difference between a saved person and a lost person. What you believe will determine where you spend eternity. God requires that you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Do you believe that? Do you have that faith? Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior?

A One Verse Summary of the Bible

My Goal and Purpose for this Blog is to glorify God and serve people by teaching God's Word in a simple and understanding way. For more of my teaching and serveral of my booklets see http://www.leedelbridge.com/

Romans 6:23

Bible Text in Bold—Comments in Italics

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For the wages  (what you get for what you do) of sin (a violation of Bible principles including both doing wrong and not doing right) is death, (spirit/soul separated from the body and spirit/soul separated from God) but the free gift (not earned, not deserved, a conditional gift, but nevertheless a totally free gift) of God (the creator of the universe) is eternal life (God-quality life that last forever) in (in a personal relationship with) Christ Jesus (Jesus is God the son who lived a perfect life, died on a cross for the sins of the world and was resurrected from the dead) our Lord (Master, Boss, Leader).

Romans 6:23 is as close as you can get to a “one verse” summary of Christianity.  You should memorize it and meditate on it daily for at least 21 days.  It would also be good to “run the cross references” and write notes on what you find.