September 15, 2002, Vol.2,
No.18.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "Should
You Be a Muslim or a Christian?" (see
below)
and "How Can One Become
a Christian?"
To Our Muslim Friends:
Should You Be a Muslim or a Christian?
Guest article by Don McClain
 Life
is filled with choices, and there is no area of life in which
our choices impact our relationships and future any greater than
those pertaining to religion: Our eternal existence hangs in
the balance!
This particular article examines the question as found in
the title, "Should You Be A Muslim or A Christian?"
I would like to ask the reader to be fair and honest in his consideration
of the things discussed as they are intended to help us "choose
wisely," the spiritual road upon which we travel:
Far better is it to seriously consider these things now, than
to have traveled that road, only to learn in the end that we
have chosen the wrong one.
Which Is Truly From God?
Choosing between Islam and Christianity should depend upon
which, if either, is based upon the truth! Are the teachings
of Islam as found in the Qur'an true? Or are the teachings found
in the New Testament true and accurate? Other articles in this
issue examine the history, teaching, and nature of the religion
of Islam, as well as the reliability of the Qur'an and the Bible.
Each writer has attempted to provide the reader with pertinent
information for the express goal of equipping him/her with the
facts needed to make an informed, and thus correct decision between
the two. I urge each reader to examine every article with care,
and great consideration, for it is the information, and the evidence
available that should determine our decision - not prejudices,
feelings, or outside pressures but the truth.
If Islam is the true religion of God, and Mohammed was truly
His prophet, then the evidence should lead us to that truth.
On the other hand, if the evidence leads us to Jesus Christ as
being the only begotten of the Father, the Son of God, and the
one through whom God has spoken to mankind in these last days,
(Hebrews 1:1,2), then we should and must accept that truth and
follow Jesus, (i.e. be a Christian). (John 14:6)
I humbly, yet confidently affirm that the evidence leads one
to Christianity as it is revealed in the Bible. I believe the
Bible to be the Word of God and therefore confess with the apostle
Peter that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God,"
and that this truth is from God, just as Jesus' response indicates,
"for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-18). Therefore
I have been convinced that one should be a Christian based upon
this truth. (Note: When I say that I believe one should be
a Christian rather than a Muslim, I am not speaking of what many
consider to be a Christian, but rather the Christian as he should
be, as revealed in the New Testament.)
What Is Found In Christ That
Cannot Be Found In Islam?
If one is to choose to be a Christian, rather than a Muslim,
there should be an advantage gained in doing so. Space will not
allow me to elaborate upon all of the advantages the New Testament
teaches one has in Christ, but those which are not considered
are covered by Paul in Ephesians 1:3 "3Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
in Christ."
If all spiritual blessings are, "in Christ," then
it necessarily follows that there are no spiritual blessings
outside of Christ. The primary advantage then that the Christian
has over the Muslim is that the Christian is blessed with ALL
spiritual blessings, while the Muslim possess' none of them.
What are a few of these blessings? (Romans 5:1-11).
1) Justification
(Romans 5:1) In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul
writes of the need for all men to be justified by faith in Christ.
Paul's premise is the "gospel of Christ is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first
and also for the Greek," (1:16). All need the power of God
unto salvation because "all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God," (3:23). The consequence of sin is separation
from God, (Isaiah 59:1,2). Therefore, all need justification
"to be acquitted from the guilt of sin, pronounced
"not guilty" by God.
Paul also deals with several things which cannot produce justification:
· Ignorance (Romans 1:18-31)
· Being descendants of Abraham (Romans 2:25-28;
4:9-12,16)
· Through the Law of Moses (Romans 3:19,20,27,28)
· Good deeds apart from faith in Christ (Romans
4:2-4; Ephesians 2:8,9).
The Qur'an teaches "If your good deeds exceed your
bad deeds, and you believe in Allah, and sincerely repent of
sins, you may go to heaven" (3:135; 7:8-9; 21:47; 49:14;
66:8-9).
The Bible teaches that one sin condemns and must be forgiven,
(James 2:10; 1 John 1:5-10; Acts 8:18-24; Romans 3:23-26), and
forgiveness is a blessing found ONLY in Jesus Christ; (Romans
3:24; 4:24,25; 5:9). When one by faith repents and is baptized
INTO Christ he receives the forgiveness of his sins, (Acts 2:38),
whether they be a few or a few thousand.
Islam rejects the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus,
(Koran 4:156), thus if the Bible is true, a Muslim denies
the means and power God has chosen to justify the believer, and
consequently will perish (1 Corinthians 1:18).
2) Peace with God
(Romans 5:1) As a result of one being justified by
the blood of Jesus Christ, through faith, one has peace with
God (Romans 5:1). Jesus said "I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
(John 14:6) Outside of Christ, one is "without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
(Ephesians 1:11,12). But a Christian has "been brought near
by the blood of Christ, 14For He Himself is our peace, . . .
. . 16. . .. . that He might reconcile them both to God in one
body through the cross," (Ephesians 1:13-17).
By rejecting the sacrificial death of Christ, Islam rejects
the means used by God to reconcile men unto Himself. Thus through
the gospel of reconciliation, we "implore you on
Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God," (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3) Access Into God's Grace
(Romans 5:2) Only through Jesus Christ can one access
the grace of God, (Romans 5:2). The word grace means unmerited
favor. No one can say "God owes me justification,
and reconciliation!" God sending His only begotten Son as
a sacrifice for the sins of the world was due to His love and
mercy, not mans goodness (Romans 5:6-11). Man deserves
wrath because of sin, but God sent His Son that we may
escape wrath. What a wonderful motive to serve God! The
Christian doesn't serve God because he fears what God will do
to Him if doesn't, but because of what He has done for him that
he may escape condemnation.
God's grace is available to one and all on equal terms, (Titus
2:11,12). Paul deals with this in Romans 3 and 4:
"Is He the God of the Jews only? Is
He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles
also," (3:29)
"The righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ,
to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus," (3:22-24)
"16Therefore it is of faith that it
might be according to grace, so that the promise
might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the
law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is
the father of us all." (4:16) (See also Galatians
3:10-29, 4:21-31).
Justification and reconciliation are achieved by everyone
the same way, and everyone who has access to the grace of God
has access through the same person Jesus Christ!
Islam doesn't speak of Grace but of debt "If
you're good enough; if you've fasted enough; if you've given
to others enough, or prayed enough" then you will
be allowed into heaven. The Bible says that Jesus paid the redemptive
price due for our sins, and through our complete and submissive
trust in Him we become heirs with Him, children of God. Man cannot
escape the chains of sin on his own merit apart from Christ .
. . He must look to Christ to release Him.
4) Can Rejoice In Hope Of The
Glory Of God - (Romans 5:2) The joy possessed
by the Christian is not mere happiness, but contentment emanating
from a deep and abiding confidence in the promises of God through
Christ. The Christian who has built his life upon the teachings
of Jesus stands upon promises that cannot be moved, (Matthew
7:24-27), and realizes it (Romans 8:31,35-39). He looks to that
city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10,13-16,26).
We look to
"Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who
for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God." (Hebrews 12:1,2).
Islam cannot bring about this kind of joyous hope, for it
denies the one who gives it: Jesus Christ, our redeemer and Lord.
Conclusion
Because of what Jesus has done for us we can be justified,
have peace with God, and through Christ, have access to God's
grace. Consequently, the Christian has the hope of heaven because
of his submission to Jesus who suffered death, and arose victorious
over death.
Should you be a Muslim or a Christian? If the Bible is truly
the Word of God, then you should be a Christian Those in
Christ are blessed with every spiritual blessing, those outside
are deprived of them - "Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which
we must be saved," (Acts 4:12). Please give the evidence
provided throughout this special issue of "With All Boldness"
a sincere and diligent examination that you may make an informed
choice between Islam and Christianity - your eternity depends
upon it!
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