Inconsistent Muslim Arguments

Let's look at this verse:

And He went a little farther, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
--Matt 26:39

The Muslim may quote this verse to say that they pray as Jesus did.

And yet the same verse contradicts Islam when Jesus calls God "Father".

This is well worth pointing out as it is very hard for a Muslim to explain why the part of this verse that supports his case is true while the part of the verse that contradicts his case is a fabrication or error of some kind.  There is no consistent methodology to do this, unless you just take the Quran as true in the first place.

Watch for this type of faulty argument.  Muslims do this often.

Also, I have made a mistake that I suggest you try to avoid:  I showed a Muslim verses where Jesus said things that supported the Trinity.

In his mind my purpose was to demonstrate that the Jesus taught the doctrine of the Trinity, so he responded by showing me arguments from non-Trinitarians like Jehovah's witnesses.

Actually, my purpose is to show that Jesus made statements that are contrary to what the Jesus of the Quran would have made.  Sometimes we can find non-Trinitarian interpretations to what Jesus said, but since there is the Trinitarian interpretation of the statement, then what Jesus said is at the edge of blasphemy (unless it is true).

Eventually I realized this confusion and clarified this.

It is important to explicitly point out the contradiction between the the Quran's view and what we have from the historical record from the first century.  The Quran does not make many refutable statements, so make use of this opportunity!

Why Did Jesus Say: My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Muslims like this question.  Their point is this: If Jesus is God, how can God forsake God?
Along with this, there are other related questions:
Can your god die?
Who was running the universe while God was dead?


Death does not mean cessation of existence.  Not for people like you and me, and even less for the Alpha and the Omega, Jesus.

This question gives you a great opportunity.

Jesus is actually quoting from the first words of Psalm 22.  The psalms were not "numbered" at that time, but they would be commonly known by the first few words.  The psalm describes a person crucified and finally vindicated.  Jesus is saying that this psalm was fulfilled in their sight, just as in Luke 3, at the start of his ministry, he said that Isaiah's prophesy was fulfilled in their midst.


James White made a video on this topic:

Comments on Ally/Qureshi Debate
https://youtu.be/TsX6fhz-Bxs

Also this short video:

https://youtu.be/yecHbv06ZHI

Do Christians worship Mary?

This question comes up because of the verse in the Quran:

God will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say unto men: ‘Take me and my mother as deities beside God?’"  He will say: "Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say).  Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it.  You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours; truly, You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden.  Never did I say to them except what You commanded me - worship God, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them; and You are a Witness to all things.
(Quran 5:116-117)

Of course,  different Christians can do different things.  Some may worship Mary as a god.  But does the Bible permit worship of anyone but God?

Here are some verses that command against worship of any other than God:

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God
--Exodus 20:5

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
--Luke 4:8

 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
--Acts 12:22-23


And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
--Revelation 22:8-9

Similarities between Isaac and Jesus

In discussion with Muslims, the topic of Isaac tends to come up.  I once attended an interfaith dinner where all the talks were about Abraham, so that is how it arose.

There are several parallels between Isaac and Jesus that are useful to know about:

1. miracle birth

2. nations would be blessed

3. sacrificed by father; Father's very advanced age, like God

4. carried wood to sacrifice--or tried to

5. "Only begotten"


From the bottom of the wiki article, I see that the Greek OT used the word monogenes for Isaac, and so John 3:16 uses this word.
At the time of this incident,  Abraham had Ishmael and Isaac, so Isaac is not  the "only" son, but Isaac is called monogenes.

Here is the Wiki article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monogen%C4%93s

What is the Christian Form of Government?

I was once asked about what form of government that the Bible prescribes.
Islam has the concept of sharia law, so is there an equivalent concept in Christianity?

Actually, Christianity does not have a concept of a government that is comparable to what Muslims have.

Jesus said, "my kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).  He was not establishing a form of government.

Paul writes about government,

...he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
--Romans 13:4

Here the Government has the sword, not the church. The symbol for Christianity is the cross, but the symbol of Islam is the sword, specifically a Scimitar  (a  cured sword).  See the Wiki page.

What Christianity offers in place a form of government is the Kingdom of God.  The first words of Jesus in Mark's gospel are about this:

14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
--Mark 1

Where is the kingdom of God?  It is where ever people are obedient to God.  When Adam and Eve ate the fruit that was forbidden, they rebelled against the rule of God over them.

 The ultimate expression of this rebellion is described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 with  "the man of lawlessness" (NASB).

However, God offers you the opportunity to be restored to fellowship if you repent and submit to his authority if you repent and believe the Gospel.  This is government directly from God, not from man.

Salvation is By Faith apart from Works

Many people believe we are saved in part by good works.  This is not true:

Salvation is not earned:
 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness
--Romans 4:4-5

This is the only person in the Bible who received assurance of salvation while alive:
42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 
43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
--Luke 23:42-43

Paul calls the law "the ministry of condemnation".  It was given to show man they are lost, sinners.
9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.
--2 Cor 3:9

By the Law no flesh will be justified:
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
--Gal 2:16

Christ did not die needlessly:
21“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
--Gal 2:21

The law was never intended to bring salvation.
19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
--Gal 3:19-20

A mirror reveals the problem, but it does not fix the problem.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
--Gal 3:24

Jesus compared a pharisee to a tax collector, who is "Justified"
11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people:
...
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
--Luke 18:13,16

The allegory of Isaac and Hagar
29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?

“Cast out the bondwoman and her son,
For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
--Gal 4:29-31

Saved by grace through faith:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
--Eph 2:8-9
(NASB)


J Vernon McGee: Faith plus nothing equals salvation


Many people people ask:Why can't God simpy forgive sin? God had Jeus pay our penalty...
...that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus
--Rom 3:26

Did Paul invent Christianity?

This passage Shows that the Gospel is not something that someone would have invented to appeal to the culture of  the time:

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
--1 Cor 18-19

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
--1 Cor 1:22-23


Here is a longer answer that shows that Paul, as a Pharisee, was working to preserve tradition:

The A, B, Cs . . . Ds Es of Defending the Gospels - Dr. Mike Licona