The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Myths About Islam: Another Road to God

The Fate of Islam

Is Islam a Legitimate Road to God?

Is it true, as even some Christians are now claiming, that Islam is a legitimate road to God? In other words, should Islam be considered equally valid with Christianity?

On our television program, Christ in Prophecy, we looked at statistics related to the growth of Islam, we explored the goals of Islam as taught by their holy books and imams, and we marveled at the fate of Islam as foretold in the Bible. We addressed these topics using clips from Nathan Jones’ latest teaching DVD titled, The Fate of Islam.

In Part 2 of our “Christ in Prophecy” teaching series on Islam and the Bible, we’re going to answer a very crucial question: Is Islam a legitimate road to God?

The Road to God

Nathan Jones: Absolutely not! And, this is the reason why. Let me read to you just a few verses about what the Bible claims is the only legitimate way to reach God. Let’s start with John 14:6, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, nobody comes to the Father except by Me.'” The Apostle Paul reiterated in Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of Life set me free from the law of sin and death.” We can go on to Romans 10:9, “That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus answered, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, nobody comes to the Father except by Me. - John 14:6 #salvation Click To Tweet

Dr. Reagan: There’s a problem with claiming Jesus Christ is the only way to God, from the viewpoint of society, that is. To claim Jesus is the only way is to sound intolerant.

Nathan Jones: True, it does indeed sound intolerant. And yet, the Bible repeatedly describes what the one and only way to get to God is — through the Son, Jesus Christ. By believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the one and only Savior of our sins, our sins are forgiven and we can then one day stand before the Father. The Bible leaves absolutely zero deviation from this requirement.

The Bible continues this Jesus-only theme with 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and the man, Christ Jesus.” And, 1 John 5:5 draws the line at, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. - 1 John 5:5 #salvation Click To Tweet

I could go on and on with verse after verse after verse, but clearly the Bible teaches that the one and only way to get to the Father is through the Son, Jesus Christ. Now look at Islam. Islam does not teach that Jesus is the Son of God nor the Savior.

Dr. Reagan: What does Islam teach about Jesus?

Nathan Jones: Islam does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but rather that He was merely an esteemed man. To believe in a Trinity, as Christians do, that God is comprised of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; to a Muslim is what’s called shirk, meaning idolatry. Islam vehemently believes in monotheism, as Christians do, but they deny that God exists as a trinity and claim there is only one entity in the God-head whose name is Allah. And, there’s only one true revealer of Allah, and that’s the Prophet Mohammed.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ performed all of the saving work by dying on the cross and resurrecting, and that people can be saved by grace through faith. But, for the Muslim to get to Heaven, or Paradise as they call it, they have to earn their way up to it. There’s actually quite a series of works that one must do in order to reach Paradise.

Dr. Reagan: When Muslims speak to Christians, they often claim to also believe in Jesus in an attempt to build some rapport with their Christian audience. “Yes, we believe in Jesus as well. We honor Jesus, and so forth.” But, they are not referring to the Jesus of the Bible.

Nathan Jones: Not at all! It is a preconceived Jesus, lacking the power and divinity as the Son of God. As a matter of fact, concerning Jesus dying on the cross, Muslims teach that Judas Iscariot took Jesus’ place and instead died on the cross. In making that wild claim, Islam denies the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the very mechanism which provides the world with salvation from our sins. Islam flat out denies that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the only way to get to Heaven. In the place of God’s grace, Islam offers up a works-based salvation in order to get to Paradise.

#Islam denies the #crucifixion and the #resurrection of #JesusChrist, the very mechanism which provides the world with #salvation from our sins. Click To Tweet

The Christian and Islamic views of what constitutes salvation are two completely, totally, different things. Each are teaching two opposing, conflicting, contrasting philosophies.

Dr. Reagan: The last time I was traveling in Israel I noticed something peculiar. When our tour group entered Nazareth, we started up a hill there that leads to the magnificent Church of the Annunciation. That’s the supposed traditional site where the Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary. As you start up that hill you’ll notice a billboard that’s been put up by the Muslims. Every Christian pilgrim would see it upon entering the church.

The billboard reads, “Anyone who says that Jesus is the Son of God is a liar and is going to Hell.” This sign perfectly describes what Islam blatantly denies, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Working One’s Way Into Paradise

Nathan Jones: The following are the works Muslims believe they must perform in order to earn their way into Allah’s good graces and so be allowed to enter Paradise.

First, a new convert must recite what’s called the Creed, or the Shahada, which is: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is his prophet.” That’s similar to the Christian’s altar call when we go up and we prayer a prayer to accept salvation. Muslims have their own prayer.

Notice that the Shahada makes the statement point blank, “There is no God but Allah.” This profession of belief does not say Jehovah or Yahweh from the Bible. Allah was originally the Arab moon god from back in Mohammed’s 7th-century time period. And, the incarnation of God isn’t Jesus Christ, but they’re declaring Mohammad is his only true prophet. The Shahada even denies Jesus’ preeminence in the Trinity.

Second, a Muslim must commit to prayer five times a day. In order to pray as a Muslim, you have to get down on your knees and pray towards Mecca.

Third, and again because Islam is a works-based salvation, the Muslim must also give alms to the poor. Giving is called zakat, and it consists of one-twentieth of one’s income. The money goes to helping widows and orphans. Giving money is required for earning salvation in Islam.

Fourth, there’s the act of fasting, called sawm. The most famous Islamic fast which most recognize occurs during Ramadan, which is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims don’t eat and also abstain from smoking and sex all day long until the evening. By fasting the Muslim attempts to prove he’s worthy to Allah.

Fifth, Muslims must take at least once during their lifetime the Pilgrimage, which is called the Hajj. They must pilgrimage to Mecca and walk a number of times around the Ka’aba stone. If you’re too sick and infirmed, then you send somebody in your place.

Then, there’s the unspoken sixth work known as jihad, meaning “to struggle, or to strive, against the infidel.” An infidel is the name Muslims give to non-believers. If you are not a Muslim, then you are an infidel, which the Muslim must “struggle” against.

To reiterate, Islam is an extremely works-based salvation. Muslims must do all these works in order to entice Allah to deem them worthy of entering into Paradise.

Dr. Reagan: My understanding of Islam is that even if you perfectly perform all of these works, the Muslim still has no assurance of salvation.

Nathan Jones: Absolutely! In Islam there is no eternal security.

Dr. Reagan: Mohammed even said he didn’t know if he was saved or not. That means the only way one can be certain that they are saved in Islam is to…

Nathan Jones: …engage in jihad. The Muslim must die as a martyr fighting the infidel. Otherwise, they just don’t know if Allah will allow them to enter Paradise or not.

Resources

To learn more about Islam and its future according to the Bible, order The Fate of Islam DVD.

The Fate of Islam DVD
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ABOUT AUTHOR View all posts Author Website

Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

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