“Enter through the narrow gate; the way is narrow that leads to life”

Matt. 7:13

In respect to the current events surrounding the wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan there has been a barrage of media commentary trying to harmonize Christianity and Islam.   Several news commentators, T.V.  shows, politicians, and liberal clergymen have gone to great links to present Christ and Mohammad (the founders of these faiths) as spiritual equals.   In their peacemaking attempts, these men and women have consequently misrepresented much of what Jesus Christ claimed about Himself and the impending judgments and consequences He put on those who would reject His teachings.    There is little doubt that Jesus is known for His message of love, grace, and forgiveness.   He even gave up His life on the cross for man.  But He also spent a great deal of time talking about the eternal consequences of rejecting Him and His message of salvation.     It is therefore important that as parents, you review with your children the claims of Christ, especially in reference to Mohammad (the founder of Islam) and all Muslims living today. 

Christians and Muslims are in harmony though on one issue; they both believe the other will never see or inherit the kingdom of God.   It was Jesus who first set the tone for this division, not Mohammad.    Although Mohammad and all Muslims give Jesus some credit for being a good prophet, He does not return the favor.   As a matter of fact, Jesus openly condemns any leader, people, or movement that reject His sacrifice and plan of salvation.  Those who refuse to repent of their sins and believe in Him as God’s only provision for salvation are condemned and denied entrance into heaven.     And that would include Mohammad and all Muslims.  Therefore Jesus could not be a great prophet in Islam, because a great prophet would never condemn Allah and judge Mohammad as Jesus did.  Others outside of Islam do not call Jesus a prophet, but they often identify him as a great teacher, good role model, and generally good man.   Although these are honorable things to say about Jesus, these comments are also not true because anyone claiming to be the Son of God as Jesus did is either the Son of God or a lunatic.    A great teacher, good man, or role model would never make such a claim.   Therefore Mohammad, the Muslim world, and all men must either believe Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to salvation or reject Him.

Here are some direct quotes that Jesus made about Himself and salvation.   Is He the Son of God or a lunatic?

1. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me will be saved.    (John 10:9)

2. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.                                                                        

      (John 14:6)

3. “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. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.   (John 3:16-18)

4.  “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.  (John 5: 20-23,35)

5. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.   “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.    (John 10:1,9)

6. Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.    (John 8:12)

7. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.              (John 11:24)

8. Jesus said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  The man answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”  Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.”   And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”    (John 9:35-39)

Since we know a lot about the life, character, and message of Christ through the testimony of the Bible, who is Mohammad and how does he compare to Christ?   Mohammad was born about 500 A.D. in Mecca.   It can be assumed that he had plenty of exposure to the claims of Christ and His message of salvation because of the reference given to Jesus as a prophet in Islam.  Mohammad obviously refused to believe in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, but rather organized his own religion.   The choice Mohammad made was just another example of how men through history love their lordship at the expense of their own salvation (Romans 10:9). It is the same temptation Satan fell into himself (Matthew 4:8-11).  

At age 40, Mohammad left his camel business for the spiritual realm, proclaiming heavenly revelations (Koran) from Allah, a revived moon god.  In addition to his efforts to build a new religion through these revelations, Mohammad also employed militarily means (Holy War, Jihad) to force his beliefs on others.   He was rather ruthless at times, not unlike the terrorists we have seen in this century.  For example, after defeating a Jewish settlement, he beheaded 700-1,000 of the surviving men, and sold the remaining women and children into slavery.   Mohammad’s character also lacked great integrity.   His greed was manifested in the large amount of accumulated loot he amassed through numerous raids on innocent towns and caravans over the years.   He was noted for a quick temper and often killed debating opponents.    Mohammad lacked a great deal as a family man, he boastfully established a harem of 16 wives, two slaves and four mistresses. One of his wives was only 8 years old when he took her to bed.   Of course he rationalized these actions by claiming Allah’s leading and approval.   He often stated,  “It was the revelation and will of Allah to do so.” (Page 387, Gate Breakers Fleming)  

Here are some of the basic tenets of Islam, the religion that Mohammad created.

·    The Koran is the holy book of Islam; it is the Muslim bible.

·    Allah is the god of Islam; prior to Muhammad, he was a moon-god deity.

·    Islam means submission to Allah.

·    Muslims do not believe Jesus died on the cross.

·    Muslims do not believe Jesus paid the penalty for man’s sins on the cross as the Bible teaches.

·    Islam teaches a different resurrection of Christ, He is only a part of the general resurrection on the last day.

·    Jesus is nothing more than a prophet; He is only one of many prophets who tried to persuade people about the truth of Allah. 

·    Jesus is not the Savior of men, nor the Son of God.

·    The Islam religion is filled with rules, regulations, and rote habits.   It is a religion based on righteousness by works. 

·    Muslims do believe in a Holy War (The Jihad), it is the 6^th pillar of their faith.   Most Islamic believers though do not follow the example of Mohammad in this regard.

·    Many Islamic based countries do not allow the presence of Christianity to be taught in their countries.  Although they regard Jesus as a prophet, they believe His followers are infidels, who will contaminate their beliefs. (Gate Breakers  378-397)

It is hard to believe that anyone would choose Mohammad over Jesus Christ, Allah over the God of the Bible, or Islam over biblical Christianity.     By final comparison here are just a few of the differences:

·    Jesus died for all men, in order to pay for every man’s sin and return him to God via his response of repentance and belief. (2 Cor. 5:14-15).   In contrast Mohammad took the lives of many through his Jihad (Holy Wars), he even murdered those who debated with him.  

·    Jesus loved and cared for the weak, the struggling, and the hurting.   When a woman for example was being stoned for her adultery, Jesus intervened, stopped the execution, and saved her life.  He then restored her broken life with His message of repentance and grace.  (John 8:3-11).  In contrast, Mohammad forcefully subjugated women to serve his sexual needs

·   Jesus gathered nothing for Himself, he owned nothing.   In contrast, Mohammad stole from others and used his ill-gotten gains to build up a vast fortune.   (Matthew 6:19,33).   

·    Jesus drew people to the kingdom of God through His love and atoning sacrifice on the cross.   He took the guilt of everyone’s sins (Mohammad’s included) on Himself (Romans 8:31-32).   He offered everyone grace and forgiveness, and only required personal repentance and belief.  (Matthew 4:17; Ephesians 2:8-9).   In contrast, Mohammad set up his own system of religious do’s and don’ts.   Everything he formulated for salvation fell short of bringing anyone into the kingdom of to God.

·    Jesus rose from the dead to prove He was more than just a good man, great teacher, or outstanding prophet; He was who He said He was, the Son of God. (John 20:11-14).  In contrast, Mohammad died and like all other men who reject Jesus’ message of salvation was judged accordingly (Rev. 20:12-15)

Word of God

Romans 10:9   9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Matthew 4: 8-11 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed

Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these

things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him,

“Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’

2 Cor. 5: 14-15 14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died

for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer

live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

John 8:3-11  3 The Scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery.

6   They were testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. “He who

is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  9 When they

heard it, they began to go out one by one.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, where

are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11   She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not

condemn you, either. Go now on sin no more.

Matthew 6: 19,33   19  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth

and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  20  “But store up for yourselves

treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break

in or steal. 33   “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things

will be added to you. 

Romans 8:31-32   31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is

against us?   32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all,

how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom

of heaven is at hand.”

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

yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.     

John 20: 11-14   11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she

wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting,

one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they

said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken

away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said

this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

Revelation 20: 12-15  12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. The books were opened and the dead were judged according to their deeds.  15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.