The FALSE GOSPEL of ISLAM
By Ric Llewellyn
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FOR CENTURIES, Christians have recognized Islam as
a false religion. Until recently Muslims (or Mohammadans as
they have been known in the past) have been the focus of
evangelistic outreaches. But today many people are
considering Islam from a more ecumenical point of view. It is
often said that Christians, Jews, and Muslims are worshipping
the same God, but in different ways. Muslims have capitalized
on this misconception and now urge Christians and Jews to
worship the one God with them, and work together for
solutions to the world's manysocialproblems.
It isimportant to know some of the history and false
doctrines of Islam, and to reject the new approach of this
fast growing religion.
Islam began about 600 A.D. in what is modern Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad, the "prophet" of Islam, received what is
purported to be a revelation from God. This revelation is
known as the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. From its dubious
beginnings, Islam has grown to approximately a billion
adherents worldwide. For centuries Islam has exerted a great
deal of influence over the people of the Middle East and
Africa, even dominating southern Europe for a time. Today
Islam is endeavoring once again to have a significant
influence upon the culture and society of the Western World.
The new image Islam is trying to present in the West is a
far cry from the fanaticism and violence advocated by many
Muslim leaders. Nevertheless, the devotion of Muslims in the
West to Islamic principles is as uncompromising as any in the
world. The presentation of Islam in Europe and North America
is characterized by intellectualism rather than emotionalism.
The irrational religious frenzy by which Islam has become
recognized worldwide is covered by a facade of civility. Yet,
Muslims around the world concur that Islamic laws and
principles take precedence over the decency and morality of
civilization.
No matter how intellectual, civilized, or scientific Islam
is made to appear, it is still a religion which embodies "anothergospel.- whichisnotanother"
(Gal. 1:6-7). The Lord declares it accursed (Gal. 1:8).
Christians must be prepared to present the one true Gospel of
salvation to Muslims, desiring that they be delivered from
their religious bondage.
The most important thing for Christians to know when
confronted with the teachings of a false religion is the
Truth. It cannot be too forcefully stated that Christians
must know the Scriptures. In evangelism, therefore, we must
know the Evangel.
Our message to Muslims is that they, like all men, are
lost. All are naturally at enmity with God (Ps.14:2-3; Jn.
3:36b; Eph. 2:1-3). There is no good in us that can merit
God's favor and there is no good we can do to endear
ourselves to Him (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:12, 19-20; Titus 3:5).
But, being lost and unable to effect our own salvation, God
did all that is required to reconcile men to Himself. Christ
bore our sin, died on the Cross shedding His Blood as a
completely propitious sacrifice for sin, andHe rose
again bodily from the dead. Believing this testimony and
wholly trusting Jesus Christ for salvation is all that is
necessary to be saved (1 Cor. 15:1-41, Rom. 5: 1, 6-9; Col.
1:12-22; 2 Cor. 5:18-21).
The "gospel" of Islam is something quite
different. Similar to many modern cults, Islam claims to
revere the writings of all the prophets. Yet, Muslims
unequivocally subjugate the Scriptures to the
"prophecy" of Muhammad.
A leaflet prepared by the Institute of Islamic Information
and Education titled "Introducing Islamto
Non-Muslims" states, "Muhammad is the very last
Prophet of God to mankind. He is the final Messenger of God.
His message was and is still to the Christians, the Jews and
the rest of mankind. He was sent to those religious people to
inform them about the true mission of Jesus, Moses, David,
Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham."
The leaflet continues, "Muhammad is considered to be
the summation and the culmination of all the prophets and
messengers that came before him. He purified the previous
messages from adulteration and completed the Message of God
for all humanity. He was entrusted with the power of
explaining, interpreting and living the teachings of the
Qur'an."
Believers must recognize that Joseph Smith (Mormonism),
Charles T. Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses), Mary Baker Eddy
(Christian Science), and Ellen G. White (Seventh Day
Adventism) have all claimed that same transcendent authority.
And along with these, Muhammad was the bearer of wicked
doctrines that have plunged many into the outer darkness of
eternal torment.
Among the insidious doctrines of Islam is the rejection of
the doctrine of imputation. "Introducing Islamto
Non-Muslims" explains, "Muslims believe that people
are born free of sin. It is only after they reach the age of
puberty, and it is only after they commit sins that they are
to be charged for their mistakes. No one is responsible for
or can take the responsibility for the sins of others."
First, this is a denial of the Biblical teaching that all
mankind sinned in Adam, that is, Adam's sin has been imputed
to the whole human race (Rom. 5.12-14). Second, this is a
denial of the Biblical teaching that the sin of man is
imputed to Christ, that is, Christ became sin for us on
Calvary's Cross (2 Cor. 5:21). Third, this is a denial of the
Biblical teaching that the righteousness of God is imputed to
men upon believing, that is, believers possess the
righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21;Rom. 5:15-19).By denying
these truths which are fundamental to the Gospel of salvation
by grace through faith alone, Islam has laid the groundwork
for a "gospel" of self righteousness and salvation
by works.
The Bible teaches that salvation is NOT a reward.
Heaven is the eternal abode of those who have received Christ
the Saviour. Islam teaches that salvation is indeed a reward
for a life of relative piety and righteousness. The Qur'an
states, "Then those whose scales are heavy, they are
successful. And those whose scales are light are those who
lose their souls…" In fact, Muslims are encouraged
to "vie with one another to attain to your Sustainer's
forgiveness and to a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the
earth, which awaits the God-conscious, who spend for charity
in time of plenty and in time of hardship, and restrain their
anger, and pardon their fellow men, for God loves those who
do good."
From these denials of fundamental Biblical teachings and
the establishment of a religion of self righteousness follows
the Islamic repudiation of the Saviour. The following is so
important to Islam that it was printed in very bold type in
the leaflet "Prophethood in Islam"--"The
Quranic account of Jesus emphatically rejects the concept of
his 'Divinity' and 'Divine Sonship…" The Institute
of Islamic Information and education publishes a leaflet
entitled "Is Jesus Really God?" In it they totally
reject the Biblical teaching that Jesus is God manifest in
the flesh.
Nevertheless, the Word is plain: "Godwasmanifest intheflesh" (1 Tim.
3:16). Jesus is the self existent I AM (Jn. 8:58). The
Creator dwelled as a man among men (Jn. 1:1-3, 14). Jesus
Christ is the Forgiver of sin (Lk. 5.20-21). In short, the
Son and the Father are one (Jn. 10:30). The Lord Jesus Christ
said to the religious of His day who rejected His deity, :...
if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your
sins"(Jn. 8:24).
Islam unashamedly rejects these truths which comprise the
Gospel. While many people today say that Christians and
Muslims worship the "Whosoever transgresseth, and
abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, HATH NOT GOD"
(2 Jn.9). An even greater condemnation is pronounced by
God in verse seven. Denying the doctrine of Christ reveals
Islam as a deception and an antichrist religion. The Qur'an
has substituted false doctrines which present another gospel.
Islam purports to be "the way of peace," but the
end of Islam is the way of death. Bible-believers must not
yield these eternally important points merely because Islam
claims to esteem the patriarchs and the prophets. It is our
responsibility to testify to the Truth, even as we cry out
against the error of any false religion.
It is important for God's people to be aware of the fact
that many so-called Christians are willing to compromise the
Truth of God's Word in the interest of building bridges with
various religions. Islam seems to be asserting itself in the
area of religious dialogue, and men and women who claim to
represent Christianity are quickly building the credibility
of Islam as a true religion. Instead of witnessing,
Christians are encouraged to discover common ground with
Muslims. Rather than exposing its errors, Christians are told
to search for the truth in Islam. Thus, Islam is gaining a
respectability that is simply not deserved.
While "Christians" are manifesting their
"open mindedness," Muslims are spreading their
false religious propaganda under the cover of dialogue.
Muslims believe that all mankind must be brought into
subjection to the spurious teachings of the Qur'an in order
to experience peace and blessing. They will not compromise
that belief. Muslims believe that the doctrine of the
Incarnation of God is blasphemy. They will not compromise
that belief. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the prophet who
fully revealed the final truth. They will not compromise that
belief. Muslims are "devoted to their ideals,... and
uncompromising with falsehood" ("Moral System of
Islam"). Only the glorious, liberating light of the one
true Gospel will be able to break through such darkness.
Although those who practice Islam profess "to respect
all those who are faithful and God conscious people," it
is their contention that the one true religion is Islam.
Muslims trace the "true religion" from Abraham
through Ishmael, but the Bible absolutely contradicts this
notion. Genesis 17:15-21 makesit clear that God
rejected Ishmael, confirming the covenant
blessings--including the fulfillment of the true religion to
Isaac alone. In chapter 21 Hagar and Ishmael are cast out of
Abraham's house with the sanction of God, "Let it not be
grievous in thy sight"(v. 12).
Galatians chapter three deals with this subject of the
true religion and directly references the events of Genesis
17 and 2 1. Galatians 3:8 says, "And the scripture,
farseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee
shall all nations be blessed."The promise of
salvation for Jew and Gentile was prophesied to come through
the seed of Abraham. Verse 16 clearly relates the true
religion, the only Gospel, to the promise made to Abraham in
Genesis 17:15-21: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the
promises made. [God] saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but
as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."The
Gospel preached to Abraham was the Gospel of Christ delivered
through Isaac, not the gospel of Islam delivered through
Ishmael.
Islam claims to be a religion of peace and tolerance. It
is, in fact, characterized by instability and religious
bigotry. It is our duty to stand for theGospel and
against all other gospels. Islam has rejected the essential
teachings of the Word of God. The "prophet"
Muhammad brought a message from a false spirit that totally
opposes the Gospel of grace. The message of Islam is a curse,
not a blessing.
Islam is being presented as a practical,
modern religion though it holds its adherents in spiritual
bondage. Christians must be diligent to witness to-not
dialogue with Muslims. This is God's way of presenting the
glorious light of the Gospel. There is only one true
religion. It was prophesied in the Garden of Eden, typified
in the days of Noah, confirmed to Abraham and Isaac, and
realized in Jesus Christ.