Responding to Muslim Arguments

Case Study:  The Deity of Christ 

Ali's three statements dismissing Christianity:

1. the Bible has been changed

• Ask: how do you know the Bible has been changed?
• Dan Rice existing manuscripts argument
  • double standard: there is no Islamic equivalent to New Testament textual criticism.  

2. Jesus is not God's Son

• what we believe about the Son of God is different than what you might think
  • God did not have relations with Mary
• the Gospel of John, one of the most important books of the Bible was written for this very reason:
  • John 20:30-31 "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus in the Christ, the Son of God..." 

3. The Trinity is not even in the Bible

• It is true the word "trinity" is not found in the Bible
• what we believe about the trinity is not what you might think (has nothing to do with Mary)
• the concept is found throughout the Bible
  • We are commanded to baptize "in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19)
  • Jesus himself is called God
    • John 1:1 "the Word was with God and the Word was God"
    • John 8:58--"before Abraham was, I AM." 
    • John 20:20--Thomas "My Lord and my God!"
    • Romans 9:5--"...is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever, Amen," 
    • Colossians 1:15-20--"He is the image of the invisible God..." 
    • Titus 2:13--"the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ"
    • Rev 22:13--"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" (see Rev 1:8) 
• our belief in the Trinity is at the very foundation of our salvation and the Christian faith
  • The Father planned our salvation
  • The Son purchased our salvation
    • If Jesus is not the Son of God, he would not qualify to be punished for our sins.
  • The Holy Spirit preserves our salvation
    • if the Holy Spirit does not dwell within us, we would not remain a Christian!

 What WOULD you say? First, some reminders:

• remember you are speaking to someone who has been blinded by the Evil One (2 Cor 4:4)
• pray! Ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment
• be a good listener
• speak the truth in love
• invite him to start reading the Bible together

Second, some assumptions about where Ali is coming from:

• What he is saying to you is a core tenet of his religion
  • God is one
  • it is blasphemous to say that God would have a son
• Other beliefs Muslims hold:
  • Jesus never died on the cross ("the Jews thought he did")
  • another person could never be punished for your sins
  • the Bible has been changed
  • man is born as a blank slate (not with an inherent sin nature)

 So what would I say? 

• Quick "drive-by" response:
  • How do you know the Bible's been changed?  Have you ever read it?  Perhaps you should. 
• Longer curb-side conversation response:
  • How do you know the Bible's been changed?  Have you ever read it? 
  • May I share with you a story?  
    • Mark 2 story of Jesus healing the paralytic
  • That is from the Bible.  Mark 2.  Would you be interested in getting together again to read the Bible.
  • objective:  drive the conversation to helping the person encounter Christ through the Word

Typically, how do Muslims come to faith in Christ?  Research has show these are the most common ways:

1. Through experiencing the love of a believer (contrary to what they assume about Christians)
2. Encountering the love of Christ through the Scriptures
3. Through dreams and visions

Notes from a recent Sunday School class.