Islam and the Bible- Part 3

Hey there! I know it's been awhile, I've been super busy. But without further delay, here is Part 3.


The next few posts are going to be about significant differences between Christianity and Islam.

"Many differences exist between Christianity and Islam. Yet before exploring those differences, we should recognize that some basic convictions are common to both faiths. Indeed, some teaching in the Quran confirms biblical truth. Note these seven truths about God embraced by followers of Islam and Christianity alike:

1. God is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4; supported in Sura 4:171)

2. God is the great and sovereign Creator. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1; supported in Sura 50:38)

3. God revealed His will through the prophets and apostles. "And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son" (Matthew 2:15; supported in Sura 16:36)

4. God wants to forgive! He is full of mercy and kindness. "For the Lord your God is a merciful God" (Deuteronomy 4:31; supported in Sura 2:218)

5. All creation has the privilege and duty to worship God. "All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you' (Psalm 66:4; supported in Sura 1:4)

6. God controls history. All men will be judged. "For God will bring every deed into judgment" (Ecclesiastes 12:14; supported in Sura 1:3)

7. We can bring our requests to God in prayer. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, be prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6; supported in Sura 2:153)


Notice the common beliefs among Muslims and Christians. We agree that God is one, God rules, God reveals His will; we believe God judges, is merciful, and forgives. Yet Muslims and Christians disagree on exactly how God creates, rules, reveals His will, judges, loves, and forgives. Indeed, the partial truth that Muslims have of God blinds them to the full truth.


THE ESSENCE AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD:


Christianity:

- Righteousness and justice are parts of the holiness of God that are seen in His treatment of His creatures. God will never do anything that is not morally perfect. "For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice" (Psalm 11:7).
-God loves all mankind. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" (John 3:16). "God is love" (1 John 4:8)
-God is always faithful to His covenants and doesn't change His mind. "The Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations: (Deuteronomy 7:9). "The Father...does not change" (james 1:17).


Islam:

-There is no law of righteousness in the being of Allah. He does as He pleases, guiding some men aright and others astray. Allah created some men and spirits to send them to hell: "...that I will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together' (Sura 32:13).
-Allah has no affection or feeling for any creature. Love is conditional to those who believe and do good works. "Lo! those who believe and do good works, the Beneficient will appoint for them love" (sura 19:96).
-Allah does not make covenants with man. He can and does change His mind. "And when we put a revelation in place of [another] revelation-and Allah knowest best what He revealeth" (Sura 16:101)



Even though this section does not talk much about Mohammad, I thought I'd bring this up since Easter just passed. My pastor last Sunday said this: That many Muslims come from all over the world to the place where Mohammad was buried (I think in Medina?), but his bones are still there. But Jesus has risen, and his bones aren't. Makes you think.



(Everything italicized and other quotes are from the book: "Islam and the Bible- Why Two Faiths Collide" by David Goldmann)