Q: #382. What are the differences between Christians and Muslims (Islam)?
A: Following is a chart which lays out some of the key differences between Christians and Muslims.
ISLAM TEACHES THAT: CHRISTIANITY TEACHES THAT:
1. Jesus is not God. 1. Jesus IS God.
(See: Jesus “IS” God)
2. Allah (God) created all things, including Jesus. 2. Jesus created ALL things.
(Jn 1:3)(Col 1:6)(Heb 1:10)
3. Allah will judge everyone. 3. Jesus will judge everyone.
(Jn 5:22,27)(2 Tim 4:1)(2 Cor 5:10)
(Acts 10:42)(Rom 14:10-12)
4. Jesus did not die on the cross, but was raised to Heaven alive by Allah. 4. Jesus did die on the cross and rose again on the 3rd day. His bodily resurrection is a key part of salvation. It shows that we have a LIVING Christ, and because He overcame death, we can as well.
Jesus died on the cross:
(Jn 19:17,19,25,31)(Mt 27:40,42)(Mk 15:29-30,32)(Col 1:20)(Col 2:14)(Heb 12:2)(Phil 2:8)
Proof of His resurrection and why it is important:
(1 Cor 15:3-7,12-20)(Acts 13:30-37)(Rom 10:9)(Rom 4:25)(Acts 2:31)(Rom 8:11)
5. Jesus is not Allah’s Son. Allah cannot have a son. To believe He had a son is blasphemous. 5. Jesus is the Son of God.
(Mt 16:15-18)(Mt 3:17)(Jn 3:18)(Lk 1:34-35)(Mt 27:54)(Mk 3:11)(Mk 9:7)(Mt 26:63-64)(Lk 8:28)(Jn 10:36)
6. Jesus is not our Savior, and did not make atonement for our sins. 6. The blood of Jesus makes atonement for our sins, and through Him we are forgiven.
(Col 1:14)(Eph 1:7)(Mt 26:28)(Heb 10:16-19)(1 Jn 1:7)(Rev 1:5)(1 Jn 2:2,12)(Acts 10:43)(Acts 13:38-39)
7. There is no “Father” God. 7. God is called our Father numerous times in the Bible. Jesus called Him the Father over 180 times.
Jesus told us to pray to the Father:
(Mt 6:9)(Lk 11:2)(Jn 15:16)(Jn 16:23)
Jesus also said to worship the Father:
(Jn 4:21,23)
8. The Holy Spirit is not God, but is the angel Gabriel. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in people. 8. The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit coming to live inside of a believer is a sign of salvation.
Is God: (Acts 5:3-4)
(Ominpresent: Ps 139:7)
(Omniscient: 1 Cor 2:10-13)
(Omnipotent: Mic 2:7, Acts 1:8)
He comes to live in all believers:
(Rom 8:9,11)(2 Cor 1:22)(1 Cor 6:19)(1 Cor 3:16)(2 Tim 1:14)(1 Jn 4:1)(Jn14:17)(Jn 7:39)(Gal 3:2)
9. Man is not made in the image of Allah. 9. Man is made in the image of God.
(Gen 1:26-27)(Gen 5:1)(Gen 9:6)(Col 3:10)(Jas 3:9)(1 Cor 11:7)
10. You cannot have a personal relationship with Allah or know Him. To know Allah would make Allah dependent on His creation. 10. We can have a loving, personal relationship with God and know Him.
(1 Jn 1:3)(1 Jn 4:7-8)(1 Jn 2:3-4)(Eph 1:17)(Col 1:10)
11. Allah loves only those who do “good.” He does not love sinners, or those who do bad. 11. We are all sinners, yet God loves everyone.
All are sinners:
(1 Jn 1:8,10)(Rom 3:10,23)(Ecc 7:20)(Prov 20:9)
God loves everyone:
(Rom 5:8)(Jn 3:16)(1 Jn 4:7-21)(Eph 2:4-5)(Titus 3:4)(2 Th 3:5)(2 Cor 13:14)
12. Hold the Quran as God-inspired. The Bible we have today is corrupted. 12. The Bible is the ONLY God-inspired book, and we are NEVER to add to it.
(2 Tim 3:16)(2 Pet 1:20-21)(Ps 138:2)(Prov 30:5-6)(Deut 4:2)(Deut 12:32)(Rev 22:18)
His word is preserved and endures FOREVER:
(Mt 5:18)(1 Pet 1:23,25)(Isa 40:8)
13. Salvation by works (a person’s good works must outweigh their sin). 13. Salvation by grace alone, not by works.
(Eph 2:8-9)(Titus 3:5)(Rom 4:4-5)(Rom 3:27-28)(Gal 2:16)(Rom 11:6)(Rom 9:31-32)
14. You are assured of salvation only if martyred, otherwise, you will not know until the day of judgment. 14. We can be assured of eternal life through Jesus.
(1 Jn 5:11-13)(Jn 3:15-18)(Jn 10:27-29)(Jn 6:37,39)(2 Tim 1:12)(Rom 8:15-17)(Jn 20:31)
Obviously, based on these differences and others, it is a mistake to say, as some are saying today, that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.