CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:
Questions Muslims Want Answered
Some of the questions Muslims ask are sinister, and some are serious, but you must answer them all within your knowledge of the Word of God and with the Holy Spirit's help. D L Moody, at the end of his life, began to carry a concordance with him everywhere. He said that he didn't want to miss an opportunity to be used of the Lord because he couldn't remember where a verse of Scripture was found.
I encourage you to purchase a thin concordance, and carry it whenever you go to visit your Muslim friends. You might leave it in the car until you need it, then excuse yourself and go get it to find your way to the answers to their questions. The most destructive thing against a good witness is not being able to produce Bible verses to back up a claim or answer. These new Franklin computerized concordances are very handy for this purpose.
Here then are some questions that Muslims will ask. Do not feel threatened by the questions. Many Muslims today are being coached in how to question Christians to stump them, or find inconsistencies in their confession of faith. Every question is an opportunity to go on to show them The Lord Jesus Christ, so be patient, and answer all questions sincerely. Also, please respect the intelligence of the Muslim to whom you witness. He is lost in sin, but he is still created in the image of God, and Jesus Christ died for him and loves him.
QUESTION ONE-
"Why do you say that good deeds are worthless to please God?"
Islam is a system of works, and a pretty short list at that. There are the five pillars which include,
1. Declare the faith,
2. Pray,
3. Give alms,
4. Fast on Rammadan,
5. The Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca once in the life.
These are performed as rituals with no personal feeling for Allah, and they have no bearing on the life of the Muslim, that is, he can live just as he pleases, but if he does the five pillars, he is in no trouble with Allah.
To the five pillars we must add the sayings of Muhammed, the Hadith, which are spelled out by the Imams and Mullahs of the mosques. These Hadith control daily custom in every aspect of life in truly Islamic countries. In the westernized cultures, these Hadith are of less impact since the Muslim far from Mecca is usually very secularized. However; the Hadith are very useful to expose the degraded mind of Muhammed.
Page 268
There is no personal or emotional feeling for Allah or Islam. Allah is far away, and his regulations are cold and sterile. So, you can see that, to the Muslim to whom you witness, it is absurd to say that works do not save. He knows nothing but works, and, for a Muslim, to denounce a salvation by works is to become an atheist. A Muslim wants to know what works you do, and if you say he cannot be saved by works, he will ask how this is possible. You will need patience and time for this to sink in. The following texts may help you in teaching salvation is by faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, not by good works:
ANSWERS TO QUESTION ONE-
Regarding alms giving- Ezekiel 7:19; Mark 12:38-44.
Regarding the Mullah's authority in salvation- Psalms 49:7.
God decides who is righteous without noting their works- Isaiah 57:12.
God's view of our works- Isaiah 64:6.
An excellent account to show how God looks on the heart, not the works- Luke 18:9-14.
Regarding keeping laws and sayings such as the Hadith of Muhammed- Acts 13:39.
The purpose of the law- Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:24; Romans 3:28.
To show that salvation is purely the result of the mercy of God- Romans 9:16.
To show the hopelessness of keeping all of the law without faith- Galatians 3:10.
The just live by faith- Galatians 3:11-14.
Salvation is a free gift, not of works- Ephesians 2:8; II Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-5.
Especially good when a Muslim says he prefers to work for his salvation, tell him that one slip, and he will go to hell- James 2:10-11.
It is top priority to show a Muslim that he cannot be saved from eternal damnation by working his way into God's good graces.
QUESTION TWO-
What proof is there that Jesus rose from death in the resurrection?
This question must be answered very completely from the Word of God and from history. Ahmed Deedat and the other Mullahs mock and blaspheme our Lord fiercely on this issue. They study their Bibles incessantly to find some nuance of meaning which they can use to find another explanation for the resurrection, other than the biblical account.
Page 269
They quote the Jehovah's Witnesses, they use heretical Bible versions, and they gladly resort to the swoon theory championed by atheists. You must be prepared to take a single minded and narrow position, or you will lose the respect of your Muslim friend. Again, if you use any of the modern versions, get ready to have the discrepancies crammed down your throat.
A very powerful historic proof is in Flavius Josephus', The Works Of Josephus. He was a Jew who wrote in about 75 AD, and he WAS NOT a Christian. His discussion in Book 18, Chap. 18, page 548 on Jesus Christ includes the assumption that Jesus was seen alive after his death.
Also, you need to get the two volume apologetic study written by Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict.
(FOOTNOTE 12: Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell, Campus Crusade For Christ Int. in 2 Vol. This can be found at any Christian bookstore. I must add a total disclaimer of the publisher and parent organization. They have now joined the Roman Catholic Church in joint "evangelism," so they are reprobate at the present, however; when the book was written, they were basically sound.)
This set is one of the most powerful studies in Christian evidences outside of the Bible, which is your highest authority. Josh will help you in many other questions raised by Muslims and Mullahs, especially in external proofs of the prophecies about Christ in the Old Testament and their fulfillment. To these useful helps I suggest the following Scriptures:
ANSWERS TO QUESTION TWO-
Regarding the first prediction of Christ's death and resurrection- Genesis 3:15; John 12:21-33; Colossians 1:14-17; Hebrews 1:3; I Peter 3:18-21; I John 4:10. Remember, there would be no hope in only the death of Christ. Adam and Eve were doomed to eternal death. They needed a miracle-resurrection, which only God could provide by initiating it by His own death and resurrection.
To the Muslim claim that Jesus didn't really die completely- Isaiah 52:14.
To show that every Jew, every sinner today, including Muhammed, needs a sacrifice- Isaiah 53:3-12
The sign of Jonah included resurrection- Matthew 12:40; 16:4. Ahmed Deedat and the Mullahs completely rework this one. You better have it very clear in faith and understanding.
To refute the claim that Jesus didn't know He was going to die and be resurrected- Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; 20:28; Mark 10:34; John 3:14; 10:11, 15, and 17; 12:24.
There is no forgiveness and purity for man without Christ's death and resurrection- Acts 5:30-31; Romans 4:24; Romans 8:10-11.
Page 270
The physical blood of Jesus had to run out of Him as a sacrifice for our sin- Hebrews 9:11-28; I Peter 1:18-21. If the blood sacrifice of Jesus makes you uncomfortable, you better examine yourself to see if you are even in the Faith. The Muslim must see that sin is cleansed by only one thing, that is, a blood sacrifice. Also, the swoon theory falls apart here since transfusions were not available to replace Jesus' Blood.
Christian baptism is a picture of Christ's complete work- Romans 6:3-11. What blessing would it be to die without sin, only to be eternally dead? Resurrection is not found in us, rather; we must get such power from One Who has claimed the power before us and given it to us.
Judgment awaits those who will not believe Christ has the power of resurrection based upon His resurrection first- Romans 8:34; 14:9.
The true Gospel (Injil) MUST include the resurrection of Christ- I Corinthians 15:1-8; Philippians 2:7-10. At this point you must make it clear that, if Muhammed did not believe that Jesus rose from real death to be totally alive humanly and as God, then Muhammed is burning in hell.
There is no hope for Jew, Christian, or Muslim without the physical resurrection of Jesus- I Thessalonians 1:10; 4;14; 5:9-11.
Those who contradict the resurrection of Jesus are doomed to hell- Hebrews 12:2-3; Revelation 13:8
This worship precedes their entry into hell. I Thessalonians 4:14.
Jesus makes it clear that He died, rose from death, and that He has the final authority over hell and death- Revelation 1:10-18.
Even the angels agree that Jesus was alive after He died- Revelation 5:9-12.
God could not leave Jesus in the grave- Psalms 16:9-10.
Jesus gave up His life on purpose- Matthew 27:50. Also, His resurrection immediately resulted in the resurrection of believers who had previously died.
Wicked men, like Muhammed and Ahmed Deedat, are grieved when the resurrection is taught- Acts 4:1-2; 17:18-34; 23:8-7; 26:8.
A most complete text to show the centrality of the resurrection of Jesus to the Gospel of Salvation- I Corinthians 15:1-49.
The resurrection of Jesus is the hope of true believers- Philippians 3:10-11; 3:21; Revelation 20:4-6.
I have given you a good start. The above question WILL be asked by the serious and sinister seeker, so you must "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," which is to say, be absolutely and personally convinced, and have your foundation in the Word of God.
Page 271
QUESTION THREE-
Why do some Christians not believe in the virgin birth?
ANSWER-
They are not Christians. Go on to show the seeker that every faith has its counterfeit followers, but the true Christian never doubts one truth presented in the Bible. Now, a word of caution-- Do Not correct words in the Bible. Don't say such stupid puerile things as, "This is an unfortunate translation," or "Bible teachers agree that this should say...." You might as well cash it all in at that point, because you will be massacred by the Muslim sharks. They do not question the Koran, and they will notice your uncertainty of your Bible when you use such childish statements.
Do have the texts on the virgin birth clear in your mind- Isaiah 7:14. Here is an example where you MUST use the King James Bible, or you have no prophecy of the virgin birth. Matthew 1:23-25; Luke 1:26-35.
QUESTION FOUR-
Is it true that the Bible has 50,000 errors?
ANSWER-
This question is based on the claims of the Mullahs who are quoting the Jehovah' Witnesses. This may seem like a bizarre detour, for them to refer to such a depraved cult, in order to discredit the Bible and Christianity. The Mullahs are very clever though, since they know that the vast majority of Muslims don't distinguish between Bible believing Christians and the cults.
Any alleged Christian source will be used, by the Mullahs, to put the curious Muslim's nose out of joint. You must first tell your Muslim friend that there are heretics in Christendom just as there are heretics from Islam, such as the Sufis, and Bah`ai, and the wild people in the mountains of Oman who do naked dances to Allah.
To illustrate the doubtful origin of the "50,000 errors" accusation handed to the Mullahs by the Jehovah's witnesses, ask your Muslim friend if Islam teaches that there is a hell. He will say, "yes." Then tell him that the JWs claim that there is no hell. This may convince him that the Mullahs have a strange friend in that slow bellied loser from Oregon, Charles Taz Russell.
Page 272
Next, if you are using the King James Bible, hand them the Bible, and ask them politely to find you an error. If they are well prepared, they may find something the Mullahs have told them. Often the context of the passage they are in will take care of the question. Simply read the whole context, and teach them the true meaning.
Otherwise, get out your Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, published by Revell, and begin to search the Scriptures with them for other texts on the subject. If you allow the use of various versions, then I have no help for you because there are easily 50,000 different "renderings" amongst all of the versions, and you cannot prove to the Muslim that they are not contradictions.
Regarding "other renderings"-- Says who? Why do you want to worry about what some late-great-scholar thinks about the penultimate? The only thing I like to "render" is the fat out of the bacon and the textual criticism out of seminary scholars' swollen heads. I say that charitably, of course.
If the Muslim seeker or cynic cannot produce a contradiction in the Bible, ask them with patience if they were told that by Islamic teachers or Mullahs. If they admit this, sincerely ask them to stick only with things they have proven for themselves.
QUESTION FIVE-
When was Jesus crucified?
ANSWER-
This is a masterful trap. If you say. "On Friday," you have had it my friend. Your Muslim friend will devour you. I know that the vast majority of Christians have just gone along with the old Roman Catholic Whore system with its "Holy Week" schedule. If you are a literalist, which I am, you must get this right, be willing to break with the majority who are too wimpy to stand for the truth, and make yourself a safe and biblical place to stand when this question is asked. If you cannot get this one right, your Muslim friend will assume that you prefer myth to fact.
Jesus was three days and three nights in the grave, just as Jonah was the same period time in the whale (It was a whale you know, Matthew 12:40). You must recall that the Jewish day went from sundown to sundown. This means that you cannot count Sunday, the first day of the week, when Jesus was seen in the garden, because it represents neither a complete night nor a day. Below is a link to a chart of the crucifixion and resurrection which I suggest you memorize.
There are a number of texts that undergird this study, but the text from which the week of the resurrection is timed almost to the minute is found in Matthew 28:1, In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. They found the Lord alive, and this means that Sunday was NOT a day of His three days in the grave.
Page 273
To view a chart of Resurrection events, CLICK HERE.
If Saturday was the last day, then Jesus had to be dead and buried before sunset three nights earlier. Count it off. If Saturday night could be counted, then He would have been buried on Thursday, and then you don't have three days. Jesus Christ was dead and buried, before sundown, on Wednesday evening.
The reason that the Lord's supper was likely on Tuesday evening was because He was in trial and being crucified all day Wednesday. It is possible that the Lord's Supper was eaten after dark on Tuesday, which would actually be Wednesday by Jewish figuring. Did He celebrate the Passover? Yes, but a day early, which, I am told, was not uncommon where there was a conflict.
Again, who made the mess that we have today? Answer: Old Mother Whore, The Roman Catholic Church, who wanted the days to have more ecclesiastical bite. "Holy Week" is holy first to God, then to Israel, and then to the Church. That week MUST be put into Old Testament context to be right, and you better know that your Muslim friend, with the help of the Mullahs, has been coached in this conundrum of Christendom. Please sit down and check me out using all of the Bible passages for this event. I don't have space to do a complete exegesis of it here.
QUESTION SIX-
Why are there so many versions of the Bible
while there is only one Koran?
ANSWER-
The fact is, there have been revisions of the Koran, but they were very early in Islam's history, so it is hard to convince the Muslim of this. Just forget about trying. My answer is, "There is only one Bible in Greek. It is the Textus Receptus." Your Muslim friend will not have heard of the TR. Then I go on, "There is only one English Bible, the King James Bible 1611."
Page 274
End of discussion with my Muslim friend, and I do this gently but show my firm conviction. I feel sorry for you if you try to show him how there can be about one hundred English Bibles produced since 1900, and then you must try to prove that all of them are inerrant and infallible in the words and in the thoughts.
If you allow that the Bible has errors in the English, and that the Bible is without error only in the "original manuscripts," you are in deep trouble. You see, my friend, your Muslim friend has NEVER found errors in the Koran. He has an absolute trust in it. If you pull out three English Bibles and try to convince him of anything, he will see you as an infidel to Christianity. If the scholars at the Bible College or Seminary have convinced you that all Bibles today have errors, well then, don't bother to witness with Muslims. Go play golf. Your Muslim friend is better off never hearing your alleged Gospel.
Why do you suppose that so many missionaries to Muslims have such poor results. They almost all, sooner or later, return to the established Church where they pass themselves off as experts on Muslim evangelism, and they do seminars and "workshops" ad nauseam. The "experts" on Muslim missions are not on the missionfield. They are at institutes, and high IQ think tanks in Pasadena and Oxford, where they patent schemes and charts on Islam, occasionally producing a "how to" video for saints who have no intention of going anywhere near a Muslim. Get away from these mausoleums-- please.
QUESTION SEVEN-
Why do you refuse to accept Muhammed as a prophet?
ANSWER-
Don't get into Muhammed's overall claim to be a prophet. Rather; isolate one of his claims or teachings that is clearly blasphemous, and show that he is in hell. I prefer his claims to give revelation in the Koran and the Hadith. You will find them in Chapter Three and Eight of this book. Compare Muhammed's claims to The Bible, Revelation 22:14, Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Page 275
Let your Muslim friend read these verses. Ask him if he thinks that God should let arrogant liars into His heaven. He will agree that they should go to hell. Now, have him read the following: Revelation 22:18, For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Explain that this is the last book of the Bible, and God meant that nothing is to ever be added to the Bible. This includes the "revelations" of Benny Hinn, Joseph Smith, as well as Muhammed. Explain to him that, when a taylor tries to add cloth to a garment to hide a flaw, he does not add bright red to a dark suit coat. Rather; he tries to make the counterfeit material look as much as possible like the original material. Thus it is with the Koran. Muhammed saw that he had to make the Koran sound like the Bible, but no matter how good it sounds, God has ruled out any further Scripture being given to men. We are to be content with the Bible as the Apostle John closed it on the Isle of Patmos.
Again, forgive me, but I must ask you a question. In the above passage, do you believe that God was excluding Bible publishers in the 20th century from this great damning curse? I say that they are all in trouble, for they have all added, and all taken away, bits and pieces of the Bible.
QUESTION EIGHT-
Why do Christians drink alcoholic beverages?
ANSWER-
Now, there's a real good question. I too would like to know why so many alleged Christians haven't reformed their libation theology. Part of the answer is that Martin Luther had no victory over beer, so it has just never come up on the agenda.
The fact is, alcohol is a wicked scourge on the world today, and every Christian I know, who has spiritual victory, does not drink, nor does he want to get a quick shot at the Lord's Supper. I simply tell my Muslim friends that true Christians don't drink. If you want to try to prove otherwise, help yourself, but forget about winning souls from Islam. Muslims forbid alcohol, and though there are exceptions, the standard of Islam is total abstinence.
Page 276
Stop making excuses for Christians who are sloppy with personal separation. Why should their worldly indulgences rule your apologetics, even if it is The Very Reverend Obnoxia doing the drinking or chewing on a smelly cigar? Let them sip their Schnappes, you stick to Arab coffee and the power of the Holy Ghost.
Let us hear none of this babble of "moderation." Drinking is an offense today, and Paul said in I Corinthians 8:13, Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. That goes for drink also. Do you need a brother that it offends as a cover story? Fine, it offends me, so stop it.
Just set your standard high, and your Muslim friend will believe you. Remember, you are the first epistle he will read.
QUESTION NINE-
Why does your God share His attributes among three persons?
How can God be One and Three at the same time?
Muhammed made a big fuss over this in the Koran, and it is even in the declaration of their faith. Now, DO NOT go mucking through the Koran trying to find the three persons of the Godhead. If you succeed, your Muslim friend will simply believe in the doctrine of the Godhead because the Koran teaches it, not because he found it in the Bible. You might be able to find a diamond ring in a sewer, but that doesn't mean the sewer is a jewelry store-- right? There are some clever apologists who think they can prove that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are in the Koran. This is another example of blasphemous contextualization, which we discussed earlier.
ANSWER-
Here are some texts which will help you get started answering from the Bible:
To show that the first revelation of God is One in Three- Genesis 1:1; 1:26-27. Explain that the word for God in 1:1 is "Elohim," which is a plural word. The "us" in 1:26-27 is very powerful.
To show that God is still Three-in-One at the Tower of Babel event- Genesis 11:1-9.
Page 277
To more clearly show the singular and plural together- Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: In Hebrew, "Sh`ma Yisroel Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echod." This is a favorite text used by the Mullahs to show that the Jews had it right while Christians changed it. "Lord" in the passage is Jehovah and is singular. "God" is Elohim and is plural. This means that the Godhead, in three persons, is the One and only godhead. You might point out that Islam has a godhead in Allah and Allat, but only if your Muslim friend has already somewhat dealt with this. To show that the Bible specifically introduces the Godhead to us, but ONLY if you use a King James
Bible: I John 5:6, This is he that
came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and
blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are
three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and
these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness
of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his
Son.
This text will not work at all in any other version but the KJV.
The question we need to ask is, "Why do Muslims attack the Godhead doctrine so viciously?" I quote Professor William Thompson of Harvard, "...the age-long dogmatic attack of the Muslim on the Trinity is due not only to his passion for the unity of God and abomination of the irrational. It is the spear head of his assault on the divinity of Christ and the doctrine of the atonement." (FOOTNOTE 13: 214 / 317 / 496)
Satan knows that if Christ could be separated from the Godhead, then He could not be the God-man who was, and remains, sinless. If He was not sinless, then He could not atone for the sins of other sinners. If He could not atone for the sins of mankind, then Muhammed had every right to make other arrangements, right?
Now, do you see why one of your first tasks in witnessing to Muslims is to convince them that there is a Godhead which is both One and Three? Here are some other texts which show that the Godhead is working together in the Church, first saving men unto salvation, and second, maintaining the spiritual well being of the Church: I Thessalonians 1:2-5; II Thessalonians 2:13; I Corinthians 12:4-6; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:13-18; 3:2-5; 4:4-6 Ephesians 5:18-20; Titus 3:4-5; 3:6; II Timothy 1:6-7; II Timothy 1:13-14; Hebrews 2:3-4; Hebrews 6:4-6; I Peter 1:2; 4:13-14.
Page 278
QUESTION TEN-
Why do you Christians refuse
to consider Muhammed as a prophet?
ANSWER-
The Islamic Mullahs are some of the most zealous Bible students in the world. In the 1920s in Egypt, this was because God's servants had faithfully spread the Bible throughout the land, and, in love and submission, they had proved that the love of Christ was genuine. The Imams and Mullahs were studying their Bibles out of genuine curiosity to see what power the Bible had to change Europeans (who were witnessing to them)a, while other Europeans were normally so violent (if they were NOT witnessing to them).
Today, the missionaries have all moved to Pasadena and London. They make occasional forays into Muslim lands with insipid literature and abbreviated Bibles which have been retranslated and neutered by the Bible Societies. The Mullahs are not fools. They see the powerlessness of these missionaries, and they study their Bibles again, but now, with a vengeance, they look for two things.
First, they look for every possible proof that Jesus was human, indeed a bastard. Their, "Blessings Be Upon Him" don't fool the true Christians.
Second, the Mullahs and Imams study their Bibles frantically looking for every text that can be twisted around to imply that Muhammed was a prophet and predicted by the Bible prophets or Christ Himself. You are going to be the brunt of this more recent and pathetic degeneration of human nature.
On the one hand you will have to disassociate yourself from the gold-bricking neo-missionaries who will see your zeal and leech onto you to rescue their credibility. Reject them, and flee from them, for they can do you nothing but harm. They will bribe you with their claims that they understand the culture and the Arab mind. They will offer you massive research surveys of "the field." They will even offer to fully support you financially. Do not tell them where you go, which Arabs you know, or what you talk about.
Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
I got next to one of these vipers who had a pocket full of photos of mosques and a research folder a foot thick. But when an opportunity came to talk to an Arab Muslim about Christ, he very carefully avoided the issue to "protect our cover" and passed himself off as a social researcher. Later, we went to an Arab restaurant. I bowed my head to pray over the food, and when I looked up again, he was staring at me in horror. He said, "I thought I'd tell you that I do not pray in front of these Muslims... I don't want them to know why I am here." Bully for the Fuller Seminary zeal, eh?
Page 279
Muslims WANT to hear about your beliefs. These paganized "missionaries" are often not even born again, rather; they are in it for the vocational job security, for if they are good little social-service soldiers they will get a nice retirement condominium in Florida or California, or better yet, they may get the chair in "Missiology" at Fuller Seminary. You are much safer working alone with the Holy Spirit as your cultural guide.
On the other hand, you may spend hours struggling with your Muslim friends over text after text that they are sure are prophetic proof that Muhammed is in the Bible. You will need to be ready to stand your ground in zeal for the truth, but do not attack the Muslim in front of you. They have been bombarded by the Mullahs with the notion that Muhammed is in the Bible.
The rules of engagement are:
One, stay in context;
Two, apply dispensational interpretation (use simpler words in your discussions), and
Three, wherever you end up in the Bible, find your way back to Jesus. Rule three is very convincing proof that God gave the Bible to show us that Jesus is the manifestation of God to man.
Here then are many of the texts which the Mullahs have used to find Muhammed in the Bible. You may feel that some of their interpretations are very silly and obvious counterfeits, but you must understand that the unregenerate mind cannot understand the spiritual things, so any interpretation that Satan passes off will appeal to them:
"MUHAMMED
IS THE COMFORTER."
John 16:7, Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient
for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto
you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
This is one of the favorite texts of the Mullahs. The quickest way to deal with it is by context. Tell your Muslim friend that it is hypocritical to take a verse here and there without agreeing that the verses around it are also the Words of God. He will probably agree. Now, show him verse 8-11.
ANSWER:
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will
reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9
Of sin, because they believe not on me.
10 Of righteousness, because
I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the
prince of this world is judged.
Your Muslim friend has been taught that calling God "Father" is blasphemy. Point out that Jesus prophesied in verse 10 that the Comforter would clearly agree with Jesus' teaching that God is the Father. Muhammed boldly ridiculed the Fatherhood of God, so he failed the three part test of the Comforter. Also, Muhammed failed to meet the test in verse 9 since he failed to require belief in Jesus for salvation.
Page 280
"MUHAMMED
IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH."
John 16:13, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself;
but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things
to come.
The Mullahs claim that the word "prophet" as used of Muhammed, is the same as "Spirit" in John 16, so Muhammed is the Comforter. Of course, this is patently absurd since the two words are NOT the same in the Greek, which was the language Jesus was speaking. "Spirit" is PNEUMA. "Prophet" is PROPHETES-- No similarity at all in Bible usage.
ANSWER:
Add to this the test
of a prophet as given by the same Apostle, John, in
I John 4:1, Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye
the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The prophet Muhammed did confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, but there are two more tests of a prophet in the same context: I John 4:15, Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Muhammed fiercely rejected the Sonship of Jesus Christ to the Father, so Muhammed is not the Comforter spoken of in John 16 because he is a false prophet. In fact, I John 4:3 indicates that Muhammed is a spirit all right-- the spirit of antichrist.
John also gives one more test of the alleged prophet Muhammed: I John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Muhammed hated his half-brothers, the Jews, and Islam fosters intense Jew-hatred to this hour. What Muhammed failed to do will not be done by Islam, rather; it will be Messiah Christ who finally brings love into the hearts of Jews and Arabs for one another. Muhammed declared hate and Jihad on his brothers. The verse above reveals why Muhammed showed no love for Allah-- it is because he did not love men (with the exclusion of his harem). He fails again to be a Bible-type prophet, let alone the Comforter.
Page 281
Jesus will have the last word on Muhammed:
John 16:14, He
(the Comforter) shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew
it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore
said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall
see me, because I go to the Father.
Muhammed and the modern Mullahs must call The Lord Jesus Christ the physical incarnation of the Father, or they stand condemned of being antichrists. (Isaiah 9:6)
The following Bible texts will be listed for you to examine. All of them have been used at one time of another to apply to Muhammed. Study them BEFORE you have to give an answer to Muslims' questions. There are three rules that are inspired of God in all of life.
One-- Knowledge--
You have to have knowledge of the truth to believe it. Emotions and zeal are not enough. Example: I know I am a sinner and cannot help myself.Two-- Attitude--
Knowledge of the Truth rules every attitude and perception you make. It is unshakable and final. Example: I repent of my sin.Three-- Surrender--
You must surrender to the Truth, the Logos which is The Lord Jesus Christ, with no reservations. Example: I believe and confess Christ's salvation for me.
Think about these rules. They are masterfully counterfeited in Islam, indeed, Islam means "surrender." If you are holding back in one of these areas with your Lord, it will become glaringly obvious in the warfare of witnessing to one of these Muslims for whom Christ died. I can help you in the Knowledge department, but you must complete the Attitude and Surrender, in the Holy Spirit, between yourself and the Lord. Here then are other texts you may be told speak of the prophet Muhammed:
Psalm 118:22-23; Daniel 2:31-45; Habakkuk 1:5-11; 2:6-9; Zechariah 4:1-7; Malachi 4:2-3; Matthew 13:31-32; 21:42-43; Mark 12:1-11; John 1:19-25; 14:15-17; 14:26; 14:27-31; 15:26-27; 16:5-16, as previously discussed; Revelation 9:2-4.
There are, no doubt, many more in the writings of the Mullahs and Imams. This is why it is imperative that you keep up on the latest writings and claims of Islam. I strongly suggest you order a packet of literature written by Ahmed Deedat. This man has compiled the most potent attacks on Christ and the Word of God. He lies, imports mother goose-type fiction and novel tales, he praises Christ, and then tries to prove Jesus was a bastard.
Answer Deedat in the power of the Holy Spirit, and you will have made yourself ready for just about anything they can throw at you. His literature is usually free from one of the following addresses. DO NOT use my name or this book as reference, or they may not send the material:
Page 282
Dar El Fadila,
23 Mohamed Youssef El Kadi Street, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
Dar El Fadile,
PO Box 15765, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Islamic Propagation Cerntre International,
124 Queen Street, Durban
4001,
Republic of South Africa
Phone: (031) 3060026 / 7, Fax: 3040326
You may also order a good number of video productions from these addresses, and some will send you a Koran free. These resources will be very helpful in showing the tricks of the Mullahs, which they put into the minds of Muslims to try to prepare them to fend off Christian witness. If you feel that it is wrong to order such material, please note the words of the Apostle Paul who said in II Corinthians 2:11, Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
We are not to be pre-occupied with Satan's tricks, but we ARE to know how he works, so you must have some idea what is coming as you begin witnessing to Muslims.
If you come into fierce warfare, especially with a Mullah, do not be terrified, but please call Christian friends who will enter into warfare prayer while you are dealing with the power of Satan in Islam. Do not run from the Mullahs, for a number of them have believed in Christ in recent years. Remember, Muslims are not your enemy.
Ephesians 6:12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Your task is to call some of these, for whom Christ died, out of this dark pit into the Light of Christ. What a privilege, and I assure you, it will not be boring.
Feel free to contact me if you run into hard questions or Muslims who cannot understand. I have friends who will help you, and we can pray with you as you witness.
LINKS:
Back to HOME PAGE