Don Stewart :: Is the God of Islam the Same God as Christianity?

Is Allah, the god of Islam, the same God as the One revealed in the Bible? Do believers in Allah actually believe in the same God?

What Is Islam?

A man named Muhammad, born in A.D. 570, founded the religion of Islam. Muhammad claimed to receive revelations from God that went beyond the Scriptures of Judaism and Christianity.

It Is Not The Same As Christianity

But the evidence speaks otherwise. The concept of God in Christianity and Islam is not the same. It is not possible that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. The two religions have a different source of authority, different view of Jesus Christ, and different view of salvation.

They Have A Different Source Of Authority

According to Islam the final source of authority is the Koran, which Muslims believe to be the word of God. Although Islam teaches that the Old and New Testaments are divinely inspired they believe that Christians and Jews have corrupted the Scriptures. Islam considers the Bible wrong in any place where it conflicts with the Koran. The Koran is the only trustworthy source of teaching for the Muslims.

There Is A Different God

The Koran portrays a different god than Christianity. The god of Islam is called Allah and within his nature there is only one person. The Bible teaches that there is one eternal God who has revealed Himself in three eternal persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are the one God. This is the doctrine of the Trinity. Islam rejects the Trinity and the New Testament teaching that Jesus Christ is the eternal God. They consider Him only a prophet:

Jesus Christ, the son of Mary was no more than an apostle of God (Sura 19:92).

This statement is in direct contradiction to what the Bible says about Jesus:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

Islam believes that its founder Mohammed was the last and greatest of the prophets.

There Is A Different Way Of Salvation

Finally, Islam teaches a different way by which a person can know God and be saved from their sins. Islam's standard of measurement is a person's good deeds.

They whose balances shall be heavy shall be blest. But they whose balances shall be light, they shall lose their soul, abiding in hell forever (Sura 13:102-104).

The Bible says that our good works cannot please God. We need a Savior. Jesus is the one who died to save us from our sins. We must accept the forgiveness He offers by faith. We cannot earn our salvation.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us (Titus 3:5).

Islam rejects the salvation that is offered by Jesus Christ.

Summary

The God of Islam and the God of Christianity are not compatible for the following reasons: The sources of authority are different. Islam accepts the Koran as its final authority and believes that the Bible contains errors. The Bible teaches that it is the inerrant Word of God and final authority on all matters, including faith and practice.

Islam believes that Jesus was only a great prophet. The New Testament teaches He is the eternal God. Islam elevates Mohammed to a greater position than Jesus.

Islam teaches that a person can be saved by his own good deeds while the Bible teaches that only through belief in Christ can a person be saved. Thus Allah, the god of Islam, is not the God revealed in the Bible.