ScriptureStream

Islam is the fastest growing religion in America today. The followers of this religion have a world vision that sees their faith dominating the civilized world in the not-too-distant future. Is it compatible with the religion of Jesus Christ? Can Christians and Muslims live together in peace and serve God/Allah according to their own beliefs?

Islam is a religion based on the Koran, traditions of Muhammad, and Shariah law.

Muhammad lived in a time of corruption in the Arab culture (570-632 AD).

He wanted to restore Arabic worship of the One, True God - thus ending idolatry.

At the age of 40 (610 AD), he received a visit from the angel Gabriel and began his work.

His followers wrote his sayings down in the Koran shortly after his death.

The oral traditions about his life (the Hadith collections) are used to explain the Koran.

Shariah Law is the legal system that stems from the Koran and Hadith.

The Koran is a complex book that teaches many different things:

That Christians and Jews are “people of the Book” - Surah 3:64-71 (the Book = Bible)

“Historical accounts” differ slightly from the Bible - Abraham, Noah, Moses, etc.

Later revelations “abrogate” earlier revelations - Surah 2:106

The Koran is difficult to study because it is not recorded in chronological order. The longer books are written first and the shorter ones follow in descending order of length (more or less - CG).

The Koran and the New Testament are mutually exclusive.

Jesus claims that God’s way is through Him - John 14:6.

The New Testament writers affirmed Jesus’ teachings - Acts 4:10-22; et. al.

Muslims are peaceful - at first (109:6; 2:256); then consolatory (3:28 and the Hadith teachings); and finally violent to infidels/apostates (9:29, 73, 123; 47:34-35; 96:15-18).

Conclusion: There is one mediator between men and God, “the man Jesus Christ” (I Timothy 2:5?

Summary of the story of Jesus

Jesus loves us and wants us to love.

I John 4:10

Ephesians 1:3-5 - the theme of love in Ephesians

Romans 14:15

We need to tell this story.

Matthew 18:1-4 - stories of conversion from vain things to God

Acts 2:22-24 - the effect of Peter telling the story of Jesus

Acts 8:26-40

Was the eunuch a Jew? It’s possible. The scripture does not specifically say.

He put forth much effort to worship God.

Acts 8:27-28 - He was traveling several hundred miles to worship God and had acquired scripture to read from on his trip.

Do we put forth this much effort?

I Peter 2:2 - We should long for the scripture.

I Timothy 4:6 - We are to be nourished on the words of the faith.

Romans 3:1

He was humble.

II Kings 5:1 - Naaman let his pride get in the way of serving God.

Acts 8:27-30 - The eunuch displayed no arrogance when Philip met him.

Note: This was not Philip the apostle. He was one of the seven men chosen in Acts 6:5.

I Timothy 1:6-7 - The Ethiopian did not bluff his knowledge and neither should we.

He didn’t procrastinate.

Acts 24:25 - Felix procrastinated when he heard Paul.

We must not put off serving God. Serve Him today, don’t wait for some perfect time in the future to be spiritual!

If we serve God we can go on our way rejoicing like the eunuch!

Defining homosexuality

Leviticus 20:13 - Homosexuality is described as an act in the Old Testament.

Leviticus 18:22

See also Leviticus 20:10-26.

Some contend that these verses are only talking about temple prostitution. This does not fit the context, though.

Genesis 19

Lot was trying to protect his visitors from the rampant homosexuality in the city.

Some claim it was rape and not homosexuality that Sodom was guilty of. The rape aspect was certainly wrong, but the homosexual perversion in the city was also wrong.

See Jude 1:6-7.

Matthew 19

Some argue that Jesus never dealt with homosexuality. See Matthew 19:4-6. He implicitly dealth with the subject in His teaching on marriage and divorce. The apostles also spoke on Jesus’ authority.

Romans 1:22-32

This passage clearly shows that homosexuality is prohibited under the New Covenant.

I Corinthians 6:9-11

I Timothy 1:8-11

I Corinthians 15:19 - Without faith in Christ, life is meaningless.

Christ came to give real meaning to life.

Things that do make life worth living:

Have THE faith to live by

Romans 1:16

Have A faith to live by

Hebrews 11:6

One’s faith is no stronger than the time he spends with the word of God.

II Corinthians 5:7 - Do not be tossed about by false doctrine.

Have a work to live for

Acts 20:35

We are to save self, glorify God, and save others.

Galatians 6:1

Have a fit self to live with

True happiness comes from serving God

John 15:11

Luke 19:10 - Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

To teach them the truth

We can’t make them obey it or even listen, but we must make the effort to teach.

We must plant the seed. It is God’s business to give the increase.

Luke 4:16-20 - Jesus taught publicly. Those that have the ability and assignment can do the same.

Matthew 18 - Jesus also taught privately.

Acts 5:42 - The apostles taught publicly and privately.

Acts 20:20 - Paul taught publicly and privately.

All can have part in public teaching even if they can’t teach themselves by inviting others to the study.

Even if we don’t see immediate results, we must keep on teaching!

To set the proper example

It does no good to teach one the truth if you don’t set the proper example.

I Peter 3:1-3

A proper example involves:

A clean heart

Psalms 51:10 - David prayed for a clean heart after his sin with Bathsheba.

A right spirit (Psalms 51:10

Close walk with God (Psalms 51:11

Joy of God’s salvation (Psalms 51:12

Then we will be able to teach transgressors God’s ways and convert some to Him. (Psalms 51:13

To what degree is each responsible?

Matthew 25:15-30 - We must each work according to our ability.

II Timothy 1:14 - This is one of the very few passages that talk about the Holy Spirit dwelling in the Christian.

Ephesians 3:17 - Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. This is the same way God the Father and the Holy Spirit dwell in us.

Colossians 3:16 - The word of Christ is to be that which motivates and directs our lives.

The Holy Spirit dwells in one when one allows the word delivered by the Holy Spirit to direct his life. (See John 14:26

II Timothy 1:18 - We all hope to find mercy in judgment. We can’t hope to have gotten everything so right in our lives that we have no need of mercy.

II Timothy 2:2 - We all have the responsibility to teach others.

II Timothy 2:3. At some point, Timothy was imprisoned for teaching the truth.

II Timothy 2:4-5.

II Timothy 2:6.