The Islamic faith holds Jesus to be a prophet but denies that he is the divine son of God. Furthermore, it denies that Jesus died for the sins of others. It is maintained that the record of the gospel or Injeel and the Torah or the Tawrit has been so tainted by Hellenistic, Pagan influences that it's true message is lost and the traditional story of Jesus cannot be believed. The purpose of this sermon is to deal with growing Islam, build faith in Christ, and to show your need for Christ.
Islamic Position:
1. No Vicarious Atonement: Surah 35:18 "And a burdened soul cannot bear the burden of another..." (it is central to the beliefs of Islam that one cannot suffer for the sins of another.)
Ezek. 18:20 (Moslems claim this passage teaches one cannot bear the sin of another.)
2. Jesus Didn't Die: Surah 4:157-158 "And their saying: Surely we have killed Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Jesus) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. hay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise." (Islam teaches that the Jews killed a man who looked like Jesus but that Jesus was taken by God into heaven.)
3. Jesus Not The Son Of God: Surah 6:101 "Wonderful originator of the heavens and the earth! How could He have a son when He has no consort...." See also Surah 9:30, 4:171 (Moslems believe the nature of God is such that he could not have a son.
Answers:
1. Substitutionary Death: Ezek. 18:20 (This is not a statement on vicarious atonement but is a rebuttal to the false concept that Judah was in captivity because former generations had sinned. It speaks of one person by nature suffering the guilt of former generations' sin, not Christ voluntarily bearing the penalty for another person's sin.)
(Sin reaps the penalty of death. If there is no death for sin, how can sin be cleared? Would God be just to punish one sin with death and simply forget another?)
2. Did Jesus Die: Surah 19:15, 33 "And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life .... And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life." (This passage clearly speaks of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus as a fact.)
(If the divine Son of God did not die for man, then God expects man to do something for him [die] that he will not do for man. The greatest expression of love is to die for another, and according to Islam, God never did it. It is the utmost arrogance to think you would do something for God he would not do for you.)
3. Jesus Is A Son: (What is inherit in the nature of God that demands he could not have a son, one who is equal but subordinate?)
What The Bible Says:
1. Old Testament From God: Surah 32:23 "And certainly We gave the Book to Moses, so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it, and We made it a guide for the children of Israel." (The Rook is clearly said to be from God, and is a believable guide.)
Surah 5:44 "Surely We revealed the Torah in which was guidance and light; with it the prophets who submitted themselves to Allah..." (Along with the Torah, the first five books, also the prophet books are inspired.) See also Surah 2:53, 21:48, 23:49, 25:35, 28:43, 40:53-54, 41:45, 46:12
Isa. 53:4-6 (There is no denying that the Old Testament portrays the coming of one who would suffer for the sins of others.)
2. New Testament From God: Surah 5:46 "And We sent after them in their footsteps Jesus, son of Mary, verifying what was before him of the Torah and We gave him the Injeel in which was guidance and light..." (The Injeel, or gospel, is said to be from God and give light.) See also Surah 2:87, 19:30, 46:30, 57:27.
Jn. 11:49-51 (The New Testament plainly states that Jesus would die for the sins of others.)
2 Cor. 5:21 (The substitutionary aspect of Christ's death is specifically explained.)
3. David Inspired: Surah 17:55 "... We have made some of the prophets to excel others, and to David We gave a scripture." (The psalmist David is said to be inspired.) See also Surah 4:163
Ps. 2:12, Heb. 1:8/Ps. 45:6 (Christ was referred to as the son before his incarnation.)
4. No Distinction Between Books: Surah 2:136 "Say: We believe in Allah and in that which had been revealed to us, and in that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and in that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit." (According to this, no distinction is made between the prophets of the Bible and the Koran. One is just as credible as the other.) See also Surah 2:285.
5. We Must Believe The Bible: Surah 3:3-4 "He has revealed to you the Book with truth, verifying that which is before it, and He revealed the Torah and the Injeel aforetime, a guidance for the people, and He sent the Furqan (Criterion) Surely they who disbelieve in the communications of Allah- they shall have a severe chastisement..." See also Surah 4:136, 6:5.
Has The Bible Been Changed: Islam holds that the Bible text has been so corrupted that it cannot be trusted. There are some passages of truth but the claims of the sonship of Jesus, etc., are the result of corruption of the text.
Surah 7:170 "And as for those who hold fast by the Book and keep up prayer, surely we do not waste the reward of the right doers." (Why hold fast the book or consult the people of the book if it is tainted? How can the book be a guide and a light if it is tainted?)
Isa. 40:8 (God promised to preserve his word. A similar promise is made in the Koran. If he would not keep his promise to preserve the Bible, how do we know he has preserved the Koran?)
What This Means To Us:
1. Sonship Implies Authority: Mt. 28:18, Jn. 12:44 (As the Son of God Christ has all authority. He represents God's authority. The authority of Christ compels us to follow him.)
2. His Death Says He Loves You: Rom. 5:8, Jn. 15:13 (The death of Jesus manifests the love of God and Christ. According to Islam, this greatest expression of love was never given by God, only by man! Arrogant! This love calls on you to follow Jesus.)
3. Substitution Says You Need Him: 1 Tim. 2:5 (The fact that Christ suffered in our place shows he is your mediator to God and that you need him. How arrogant for lowly man to think he can approach God on his own, without help from the God/man, Jesus Christ!)
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