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)
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2. Allah (God) created all things, including Jesus. | 2. Jesus created ALL things.
(Jn 1:3)(Col 1:6)(Heb 1:10)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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.
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