Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?

Alpha & Omega Ministries

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It seems we have an opportunity right now to advance the conversation between Christians and Muslims, both to assist

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Christians to understand not only their faith better, but what Muslims believe, and likewise, in the same way, to do the same thing for Muslims.

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What do I mean? Well, I can't tell you how many times just recently, over the past few days,

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I have seen articles being posted under the title, Do Christians and Muslims Worship the

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Same God? Not all of them were actually seeking to, you know, advance the conversation.

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They were just sort of staking out ground that the authors had already explained in the past.

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But there is right now, because of what happened at Wheaton College, a professor who decided to wear the hijab to show solidarity with Muslims was disciplined primarily, not for the hijab thing, but for saying that Christians and Muslims worship the same

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God. And Wheaton said no, and that was an appropriate statement they took.

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Now, of course, they have been accused of religious bigotry and everything else in the process, and I want to explain to my

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Muslim friends why that is not religious bigotry at all. It is simply maintaining consistent

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Christian biblical beliefs. At the same time, use it to interact a little bit with Sheikh Yasir Qadhi.

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Dr. Qadhi, someone I've learned a lot from. Here's one of the first books

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I read on Shirk by Dr. Qadhi. It's an explanation of one of Al -Wahhab's works, a critical study of Shirk.

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Dr. Qadhi has been known as a leader in the

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Salafi movement in years past. He's moved away from that. I certainly have sensed a movement on his part in some other directions.

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He stood up against ISIS. He's identified them as Carajites and appreciate what he's said on those issues and things like that.

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But he seemed likewise to feel that what Wheaton did was wrong.

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And we certainly need to understand the

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Quran's fairly clear. I'm going to be using the new study Quran. Seems like an excellent translation.

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Very interesting notes as we may have opportunity to see a little bit later. But there really isn't any question from the

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Quran's perspective that the answer is yes, we worship the same God. On one level.

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On one level. In Surah Al -Ankabut, the spider,

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Surah 29, Ayah 46. And dispute not with the Al -Kitab, the people of the book, save in the most virtuous manner, unless it be those of them who have done wrong.

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I'm not sure what that means to do wrong. Was it wrong for me to write a book on the

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Quran? To not believe in the prophethood of Muhammad? Even though I've read the

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Quran numerous times and numerous translations? Another issue we can't get into today. And say, here's the key point, we believe in that which was sent down unto us.

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And what was sent down unto you. So what was sent down unto us? That would be the Quran to the

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Muslims. And what was sent down unto you is the Gospel. And in fact, in Surah 5, the

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Al -Anjil, the people of the Gospel, are specifically held accountable for believing and judging by what is in the

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Anjil. I don't think the Quran makes a lick of sense. If you do not recognize that the author of the

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Quran believed that the Anjil existed in his day. There's just too many places where it does not make any sense.

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I know that most modern Muslims want to say that the Anjil had been corrupted, lost, so on and so forth.

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Doesn't make any sense. We believe in that which was sent down unto us, the

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Quran, and was sent down unto you. Our God and your

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God are one, and unto Him are we submitters, that is, Muslims.

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Those who submit. So, there's the statement, our

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God and your God are one. So, what's being stated?

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That the God who revealed Himself to Abraham, which the

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Jews look back to, through the Jews the Christians look back to, and the

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Muslims look back to. That that was Allah. It's one God. Now, if we just stop there,

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I don't think that's doing justice, either to what Christians believe about worship, or to what

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Muslims believe. Because, well, the worst sin that you can commit in Islam is shirk, idolatry.

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Why? Because it's a negation of Tawhid, the oneness of Allah. And, so it's unforgivable.

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The Quran is straightforward. If you die as a mushrik, there is no forgiveness for you. Hellfire will be your abode.

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And so, if you keep that in mind, there are some texts in the

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Quran that seem to equate Christian worship with shirk.

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Don't believe me? Let me just read one of them. There's a number of them. If you read through Surah 5, you'll see a number.

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Surah 5, 17, 18. 5, 71 through 78 or so. Surah 5, 116 is very interesting.

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But here in Surah 4, Al -Nisas, the women,

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Surah 4, Ayah 171. And again, reading from the study Quran here.

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O people of the book, and in this case it's going to be clear. Al -Kitab here is specifically about Christians.

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O people of the book, do not exaggerate in your religion. Go into excess.

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That's what the term means. So, most would understand that to be an assertion that we've been given truth but we've gone beyond it.

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In fact, that we have been led astray. In fact, as far as I understand, the early

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Tafsir interpretation of Surah Al -Fatiha at the end.

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Those who have been led astray. Those who are in God's wrath, Jews. Those who are led astray, Christians.

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And every Muslim prays every single day not to be a Jew or a Christian. And that would be the same range of meaning here.

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Going into excess, going beyond what is true.

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Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter anything concerning God save the truth.

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So, the context here is you're saying something about a law that is not true.

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You're saying something about a law that misrepresents him. And what might that be?

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Well, verily, the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was only, he was a mere rasul.

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He was only a messenger of God. And his word which he committed to Mary and a spirit from him.

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So, believe in a law, believe in God and his messengers. And then, here you go. And say not 3.

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3. 3. Say not 3. I'm glad they did not put the word Trinity here because it's not the technical term for Trinity.

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It's just the ordinal number 3. But, it says, say not 3. Refrain, it is better for you.

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God is only one God. Glory be to him that he should have a child.

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Now, over in Los Angeles, they have two professional basketball teams.

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The Lakers and the Clippers. For a long time, it was only like one and a half. Now, it's,

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Clippers are good. So, Lakers aren't quite as good. If I was speaking to someone in Los Angeles.

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And I said, do not say 2.

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There is only one basketball team in Los Angeles. Would there be any question as to what

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I meant by 2? Of course not. Is there really any question?

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What the Quran is saying when it says, say not 3. Refrain, it is better for you.

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God is only one God. There is only one Allah. So, what's the

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Quran saying? There are not three Allahs. Three Gods.

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It's an accusation of polytheism. Now, it's interesting. The new study

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Quran. Check this note out. It's a very interesting translation and commentary.

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Despite these strong criticisms of Christian Trinitarian doctrine. As well as the implication through juxtaposition in 572 -73.

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That Christian beliefs in the divinity of Jesus. And in God as the third of three.

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Which is the language that's used there. Can be understood as a kind of shirk. Ascribing partners under God.

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Remember, shirk is unforgivable. Islamic law never considered Christians to be idolaters.

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Mushrikun. And accepted Christians own assertions of monotheistic belief. Maintained the clear distinction the

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Quran itself makes. Between idolaters, Mushrikun. And the people of the book. So, they are recognizing.

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That if you put this together with 572 -73. Sounds like saying shirk.

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But, Muslim law has never done that. Well, why not? What's your ultimate authority?

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Muslim law or the Quran? It leaves it open. It doesn't answer the question. Which I find absolutely fascinating.

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And, to be honest with you, rather troubling as well. So, I'd like to try to help people.

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Especially Muslims to understand. But, Christians as well. Because, I've encountered some

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Christians. That don't really seem to understand. Why this is such an important issue.

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And, why this has to be something that we focus upon. In our conversations with Muslims.

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Do we worship the same God? Well, if we're talking about the God of Abraham. Which we would say

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Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You would say Abraham and Ishmael primarily. Obviously, we're talking historically about the

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God. Who called Abraham out of the Ur of Chaldees. And so, on that level. Yes, we're talking about the same

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God. That's not the same thing as worshiping the same God.

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And, that's where I think a lot of the problems have come up. Dr. Anderson at RTS in Charlotte.

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Put out a blog article, I think, yesterday. Where he asked, I don't know, four, five, six questions.

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About, well, what are we really asking here? What are some of the things that we need to bring into consideration? Because, a lot of people were not.

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A lot of people were just simply saying. Well, there's differences between what Christians and Muslims believe about God. So, therefore. Rather than really thinking through what the issues are.

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Well, I don't have time to go through all those philosophical things here. But, I don't think you necessarily need to.

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To be able to understand. That the answer to the question is. On one level, yes.

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But, on the most important level, no. We do not worship the same

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God. Because, you see. Worship is not the same thing as just simply giving a definition.

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Of, well, our God first historically revealed himself at such and such time. That's not what worship is.

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And, I would think most Muslims would recognize this. I would think that the highest level of Islamic thought would recognize this as well.

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And, that the highest Islamic response would be, no. While we affirm what is said in Surah 29.

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That historically we're talking about the same God. When it comes to worship, no.

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Because, I think a lot of Muslims understand. That serious Christian worship is absolutely, definitionally

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Trinitarian. And, that serious Islamic worship is

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Unitarian. Both monotheistic. The difference between Unitarianism and Trinitarianism.

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Let me give you an example. And, I read this.

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Because, just as most of my Christian friends have never read the

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Quran. Most of my Islamic friends have never read the New Testament. Or, most of the

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Bible for that matter. And, so I want to give you a picture of Christian worship in heaven.

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To give you an idea of how central Jesus is. To Christian worship.

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Okay. This is in the book of Revelation. And, it gives us a picture of what is happening in the heavenly realms.

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And, one has appeared before the throne of God. The Lamb. He stands as if slain.

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This Lamb is representing Jesus. He stands as if slain. Even though he's been slain, he now stands. He's resurrected.

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He has given his life. He has now been exalted to the Father's right hand. And, when he had taken, the

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Lamb, had taken the scroll. The four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb.

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Each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense. Which are the prayers of the saints. And, they sang a new song saying.

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Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals. For you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God.

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From every tribe and language and people and nation. And, you have made them a kingdom and priest to our God. And, they shall reign on the earth.

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Then, I looked. And, I heard around the throne and living creatures and the elders. The voice of many angels numbering myriads and myriads.

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And, thousands and thousands. Saying with a loud voice. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth.

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And, wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. By the way, the very same language that had been addressed to.

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He who sits upon the throne in the earlier chapter. And, I heard every creature in heaven.

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And, on earth. And, under the earth. And, in the sea. And, all that is in them saying.

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To him who sits on the throne. And, to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.

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Did you catch that? To him who sits on the throne. And, to the

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Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. And, the four living creatures said amen.

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And, the elders fell down and worshipped. And, who are they worshipping?

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He who sits upon the throne. And, the Lamb. And, the

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Lamb. Now, that is absolutely vitally important to understand.

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When we talk about worship. We're no longer talking about a mere academic exercise of definition.

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We're talking about what we really believe God is.

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Because, we desire to worship him as he truly is. And, you see.

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The assertion of the Christian faith. Is that something amazing took place in history.

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The Old Testament scriptures prophesied it. The New Testament scriptures were written in the light of it already having happened.

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And, what was it? It was the incarnation of the Son. And, the outpouring of the

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Holy Spirit. Now, included in the incarnation is then his ministry. His self -sacrifice.

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His death upon the cross. His burial. His resurrection the third day. His exaltation in the right hand of the

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Father. But, something happened in history.

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The Son entered into human flesh. Upon the successful completion of his ministry.

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He returns the Father. And, he and the Father send the Spirit. To indwell all those who would believe in Jesus Christ.

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To empower them to live as the body of Christ. As the people of God. Now, Islam comes into existence.

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I know Islam believes it has always existed. I know about the mythic and all the rest of that.

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But, historically, Islam comes into existence half a millennium after these events.

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And, so it has to interact with them. And, what does it do? It denies that Jesus is the

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Son of God. It denies the incarnation. It denies the crucifixion.

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Surah 4, verse 157. Hence, the resurrection. Christ's intermediary work. The entirety of the gospel.

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And, hence, has no place whatsoever for the worship that was just seen there in Revelation chapter 5.

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No place at all. Now, if what the

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New Testament records for us is true. It happened in history. If the

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Son has been raised from the dead. Then, God the Father has testified of the truthfulness of what the

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Son taught. And, what the Son did. And, so after that tremendous self -revelation.

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Could anyone argue. I know that modern man does. But, think about it for just a moment. Could anyone argue that even though God has done this.

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Even though God has given this testimony. That there are still other valid ways of worshiping

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God. Even while specifically denying the testimony He has made to His Son.

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The New Testament says no. The New Testament says if you do not confess the Son. You do not have the

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Father. We are to honor the Son. Even as we honor the Father. It's very straight forward. It's very clear.

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Not very popular today. In an age, obviously. Where all religious truth is just.

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You know. Your opinion. Somebody else's opinion. It doesn't really matter. But, that is the biblical testimony.

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And, so. Do I believe that the author of the

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Quran. Even understood what the New Testament said in those places. Not in the least. I have no evidence of it whatsoever.

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But, you need to understand. That means the author of the Quran is not Allah. Because, even if the

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New Testament is wrong. And, what it says there. God knew what it said there. 600 years later. Could have refuted it.

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Never did. Didn't even interact with it. The author of the Quran gives no understanding.

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Of the relationship of father and son. In fact, Surah 4, verse 171 says. Glory be to him that he should have a child.

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What does that mean? I can only interpret that. In the context of the polytheism of the Kaaba. And, the three.

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The only place in the Quran. Where the three are ever mentioned. Is Surah 5, verse 116. And, that's not what

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Christians believe. We don't believe. That God had a consort. And, then he had a child.

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So, Christian worship. Worship. Is inherently.

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Intrinsically. Definitionally. Trinitarian. It accepts what

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God has testified. Concerning his own being. His own existence. In the person of Jesus Christ.

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And, Islam says. No. Cannot go there. Cannot do that. So, do we worship the same

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God? In taking into consideration everything. And, being serious about the depth.

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Both, of the Christian dedication. To Trinitarian worship.

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And, the Islamic emphasis upon Tawhid. The answer has to be.

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No. No. So, it's a yes and no answer. Yes, on a surface level.

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On merely a historical level. No, on the most serious.

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Meaningful level. We do not worship the same God. Now, I don't know why.

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That's not more of the central response. On both sides. But, I think it needs to be.

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And, I think we need to think about it. And, consider it. So, we can have even more in -depth interaction.

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And, again. Move the conversation forward. Advance it. Instead of just staking out our sides.

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And, lobbying verbal bombs at one another. Let's move forward from this point.

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I think that's the best way to go. I hope you have enjoyed this video. I hope it's been challenging to you.

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I hope it's made you think. Whether you're a Christian or a Muslim. But, let's not stop there.

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Let's continue forward. My prayer. My hope. The longing of my heart. Is that every

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Muslim. Watching this video. That you will come to know. The one who made you. The one who sustained you.

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The one in whom you have your very existence. And, that is. My Lord and Savior.

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Jesus Christ. He is a perfect Savior. He was the Son of God. Creator of all things.

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We cannot view Him as a mere Rasul. A mere

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Prophet. He was much more than that. And, my prayer is. You'll come to know