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!
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
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
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
Saturday, November 5, 2016
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
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
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
Friday, November 4, 2016
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.
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.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
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
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
Saturday, September 3, 2016
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
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
Saturday, August 20, 2016
99 Answers To Islam
Why this list of questions?
When I first started encountering Muslims as a new Christian, I was dismayed to discover that I did not have an adequate reply to the questions that they asked and the challenges they posed. This was embarrassing for me. I determined to learn to be able to counter their arguments.
Since then, I observed that that all Muslims share the same set of questions about Christianity. Because of this uniformity, apologetics to Muslims to is easier than many people realize.
Many of the questions on this started with the Muslim debater Ahmed Deedat from South Africa. In the 1970's he popularized a number of arguments by unleashing them on Christians who were not prepared to answer them, just as I also was. He made many videos and wrote pamphlets and books. Soon, however, John Gilchrist, a Christian missionary, also in South Africa, showed that it was possible to teach the church there to answer Deedat's questions. When the church knew how to answer them it made his arguments not just useless but counterproductive for for the spread of Islam.
I still meet Muslims who study Deedat's materials and gleefully watch his videos when he could trip up Christians in debates. They don't know that his arguments have long been satisfactorily answered by even more knowledgeable Christian apologists since then.
I believe the Church partly to blame when Muslims become emboldened after they find that the Christians they encounter can't provide answers when these questions are raised. All the answers have been worked out. They are not hard.
My approach requires very little knowledge about Islam, but builds on what most Christians already know. The fact that Muslims have all these questions represents an opportunity to share the gospel, and their expectation that these are difficult questions makes this approach all the more effective. You may ask, how can this be effective there are no anti-Islamic arguments? The fact that Islam claims to be the correction or replacement for Christianity and Judaism, and yet provides no decisive argument against Christianity is itself a testimony that the Quran is not from Allah.
Also notice that since there is no particular teaching about Islam in this material below, this means that pastors can equip their church to counter Islam, but without explicitly mentioning it, by including some of this material in each of their sermons.
Also, since Ahmed Deedat used the King James version, some of his the questions ask are specific to the particulars of this translation, such as the phrase "only begotten". I once heard of an evangelist who encountered a Muslim in a remote part of Africa who started by asking the missionary about 1 John 5:7.
Trinity (Muslims have many questions about this)
x) Do Muslims and Christians worship the same god?
A: Jesus taught us to worship "The Father".
x) Does it matter if you worship the Muslim god or the Christian god?
A: Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life; nobody comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:16)
x) Do you worship three gods?
A: Jesus said "The Lord is one" (Mark 12:30). We believe in a "tri-unity", or Trinity; not a "tri-theity".
x) What is the "Trinity"?
A: One being, three persons. Co-eternal.
The Holy spirit is seen in Gen 1, the Son of Man is in Daniel 7. Jesus used this title about 80 times for himself. If Christ were not divine then someone other than God would be worthy of worship for taking the penalty of sin on him.
x) Why can't there be any prophets after Jesus?
A: Gal 1:8,9, Jude 3. Jesus paid the penalty for sin. Anyone teaching anything else is fundamentally contradicting the Bible.
x) Isn't it undignified to say that Jesus (God) went to the bathroom?
A: It shows the high price that had to be paid for your redemption, that God became incarnate for your sake.
x) Is Jesus God?
A: Jesus is one person in the trinity. Jesus is not God the Father.
x) Who did Jesus pray to?
A: God the Father.
x) How can Jesus be God if it says that God is not a man (Numbers 23:19)?
A: Jesus was not incarnate at this time. In context it means that God does not lie.
1) Why is there no verse where Jesus says "I am God"?
A: This would have given his opponents occasion to stone him for blasphemy. Also Jesus' favorite self-designation was "son of man" in reference to Daniel 7.
x) Why do you believe Jesus is "God"?
Thomas said "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28) and Jesus accepted this. Also John chapter 1.
8) Do Christians worship Mary?
A: No, The Bible does not teach this.
x) Was Jesus impolite by calling his mother "woman"?
A: No, this is a term of endearment.
x) Did God beget Jesus by carnal relations with Mary? "Only Begotten"?
A: This heresy does not even have a name. The KJV phrase "only begotten" is a translation of "Monogenes", meaning one of a kind, or unique. There is nobody else who is fully God, and fully man.
x) What then does it mean by: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. " (Luke 1:35)?
A: It is the same language as Genesis 1:2: (the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. ESV)
x) Why did Jesus say "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"
A: This is from psalm 22, prophetic of Jesus.
x) Doesn't Jesus deny divinity in John 10:35 when he quotes "ye are Gods?"
No, he was defending himself against a charge of blasphemy, a capital offense. His point is that it is not unlawful to call himself Son of God.
x) Why did Jesus say "my Father is greater than I" John (14:28)?
A: Jesus entered into the human experience. He submitted to the Father. See Philippians 2.
x) Why did Jesus say "Why do you call me good"? Doesn't this show that Jesus is not God?
A: It means not to call him good without recognizing his divinity.
x) What is the big deal with the resurrection? Many prophets performed miracles, including raising the dead.
A: This is divine endorsement of Jesus' claims.
x) Wasn't the doctrine of the trinity invented at the council of Nicea?
A: Constantine convened this council discuss the the claim by Arius that Jesus was not God, but a created being. This was contrary to the accepted view. Constantine did not want division in his empire. The cannon of scripture was not a topic of discussion.
x) Why did Jesus say "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak)?" (John 12:49)
A: Jesus has three offices, namely, priest, king and prophet. As prophet he only speaks what he hears from the Father.
x) Why is the word "Trinity" not in the Bible?
This word summarizes what is taught in various passages.
x) How do you know that the Holy spirit is not the angel Gabriel, who brought the Quran?
A: In Matt 28:19-20 we read: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Note this "name" is singular.
x) Why don't we worship the holy spirit?
A: The holy spirit wants to draw attention to Jesus: He shall glorify me (John 16:14)
Bible Corrupt
x) What about 1 John 5:7?
A: Research is constantly performed to determine the original text. The "Trinity" does not depend on this verse. The fact that verses like this have annotations shows that we are always improving the text, and are open about this process.
6 ) How do you know that your Bible isn't corrupted?
A: Modern translations point out verses with manuscript difficulties, so these should not be used as the only basis of doctrines. For verses without such notes, which is the majority of the text, the burden is on you to demonstrate that they are corrupt.
x) What about the Gnostic NT books?
A: These were written after the apostles died. They were not accepted by the church as a whole.
x) Did the Jews or Christians make up scripture to make money? (Q 2:79)?
x) When was the Bible written?
The OT was finished around 400 B.C, and the NT around AD 90.
x) How was it transmitted?
Churches copied the various writings of the apostles to each other:
When this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. (Col 4:16) There was no time when all manuscripts were in one place or under control of one group.
x) What are the earliest MSS?
The P52 manuscript (fragment) is from before 150 AD.
x) How do you know the Bible is true? (Bible contains verifiable claims to initial audience)
We must keep in mind that the church suffered much persecution and was in no position to use coercion or incentive to cause people to join. The fact that the church came into existence and survived is their testimony to us that they had compelling reasons to believe in the veracity of the books they preserved.
Many claims were verifiable to the the original audience, such as Matt 28:15 and 1 Cor 15:6.
x) Why does Catholic Bible have more books?
The Jews of Jesus' day maintained certain books along side of but outside of their accepted cannon. The Catholic church found parts of these useful for justifying some of their doctrines. Protestant bibles eventually stopped including these books, although they appeared in the original 1611 KJV.
x) Why are the four gospels anonymous?
A: There has always been uniform agreement in church history on the names of these books. They did not try to give them authority by naming Luke and Mark after apostles.
x)What is the purpose of the Old Testament?
A: The law has three purposes: 1. knowledge of sin 2. help restrain evil, 3. Reveal what is pleasing to God.
x) Is Christ foretold in the Old Testament?
A: Jesus talked about this on the road to Emmaus. These teachings are distributed through the NT.
x) Why are the four gospels anonymous?
A: There has always been uniform agreement in church history on the names of these books. They did not try to give them authority by naming Luke and Mark after apostles.
x) Why do Christians have so many Bibles?
The Hebrew and Greek texts are generally agreed on. There are many translations.
x) How do you get saved in Christianity?
A: Repent and be baptized.
2) Why can't I just keep on sinning since Jesus paid for all our sin?
A: If you persist in sin, it shows you never are not repentant.
x) Did Paul do away with circumcision to make Christianity appealing to pagans?
This was the decision of the Jerusalem council, in Acts 15.
3) Where is Jesus in the Old Testament?
A: Many places. This is a big topic.
4) How can Jesus take on himself the penalty for someone else's sin?
A: We are called "In Christ". Gal 2:20 says "I have been crucified with Christ".
5) Why did God create mankind?
A: For fellowship. We are made in the image of God and can
7) Why can't God just forgive sin without Jesus?
A: God speaks and worlds come into existence. God's word must remain true. "you shall surely die" (Gen 2:17) must mean something. In fact the first death was an animal to cover Adam and Eve. Violation of God's command must have consequences.
God is just and the justifier of the unjust (Rom 3:26)
x) Where did Jesus teach salvation by grace?
A: The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.(Matt 20:28)
Communion was instituted by Jesus, with the bread as his body and the wine as his blood:
This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins (Matt 26:28).
This day you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned (Mark 16:16).
General
x) Does the Bible permit polygamy?
A:In the beginning, God made Adam and Eve. The Bible teaches that you will have trouble if you have more than one wife.
x) Can Christians eat pork? (Acts 10).
A: God showed Peter this in a vision.
x) Is Alcohol permitted?
A: ...be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)
x) What about violence in the Old Testament?
A: There were only limited mandates; for example the Jews do not have permission to attack the Philistines at any time.
13) Didn't Jesus say he came to bring a sword (Matt 10:34)?
A: This passage shows the divisions and persecutions that persecutions that Christians will have to endure. The sword is pointed at us.
14) Didn't Jesus say he was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel?
A: Jesus paid the price for sin of all humanity. The great commission was for all nations (Matt 28:16)
x) Is Christianity responsible for this or that evil?
A: The most important command, given by Jesus, is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30). There is no greater prophet than Jesus, so nothing can supersede this.
x) Why wait so long for the Cross? What about Abraham, how was he saved?
A: We have Gen 3:15, the promise of the Messiah, and we have Cain and Abel.
x) Was Abraham a Christian or a Jew?
A: He is a fore-runner of both. He was the father of Judaism but he also paid tithes to Melchizedek, who is a type of Christ. (Hebrews 7).
x) Shouldn't men have a beard, like Jesus?
A: There is no reference to Jesus having a beard. Can't be important. But Acts mentions that Paul shaved his head.
x) Why does the Bible command women to wear a veil (1 Cor 11:6)?
A: In Corinth, the temple prostitutes had short hair. Some church ladies were adopting this fashion for themselves.
x) Did Mary wear a veil?
A: There is nothing about Mary wearing a veil in the Bible.
x) What is the Christian form of government?
A: The early church had all things in common. "My kingdom is not of this world". Eventually Jesus will return to rule.
x) Was Mohammed a prophet like Moses (Deut 18:15)?
A: Jesus performed spectacular miracles, like Moses did.
x) Did Jesus prophesy of Mohammed ( John 16:5-11)?
A: If he did, he would have endorsed someone who would contradict him. He did warn of false prophets that would come in his name (Matt 17:15, Matt 24:24).
x) Indecent verses in the Bible? (Ezekiel 23:1-10)
A: It got the attention of the people at the time, and yours. God is not "politically correct"
x) Were prophets without sin?
A: They were like us. We learn from their message, good deeds and their mistakes.
x) How do you pray?
A: We worship in Spirit and in Truth. We do not use vain repetitions. We do not pray to be seen by others. We do not worship with our lips having our hearts far from God.
x) Is there compulsion in Christianity?
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor 3:16)
x) Was Paul a liar (Rom 3:7)?
x) Were there eye-witnesses to the crucifixion? Didn't all the disciples flee?
A: They did not stay away. John and Mary saw Jesus on the cross. Matt 27:55-56, says that many women were "watching from a distance".
x) Why does it say God repented (Gen 6:6)?
A: The Bible uses anthropomorphic language to describe God. This is the only thing we really understand.
x) Why do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
A: 1 Cor 15.
x) Was Jesus really dead?
A: The Romans were severe to others and themselves. In Acts 16:27-28, the Philippian jailer was about to kill himself when he discovered the doors were open. The soldiers would do their job well.
Questions
?) What parts of the Bible do you believe and why?
This can be useful to ask. The Quran motivates belief that the Bible is true, and at the same time that it it can't all be true because it contradicts the Quran. Some Muslims like to bridge this contradiction by claiming parts of the Bible are "changed", or false for some reason. It in that case it is good to establish reasonable criteria for determining what Bible passages are problematic.
?)What deep insight into the Bible does the Quran supply?
For a book that is supposedly inspired, the Quran does not interact much with the Bible. For example, no explanation is given why it was revealed by an angel when Galatians 1 warns against this.
?)What is the earliest complete Quran manuscript?
Back in Deedat's day it was widely assumed that the Quran was perfectly preserved. In fact, the Evangelist Jay Smith has been publicizing recent research on the major Quran manuscripts that seem to indicate that the text evolved over time.
?) Explain the resurrection? The origin of Christianity?
If Jesus was a prophet of Islam and taught contrary to Christianity then how did Christianity arise in the same location as Jesus and in the first century?
Muslims generally have difficulty constructing a coherent story from their Jesus to the historical Christian Jesus that is consistent with the Quran.
?) Does your Quran explain this story from your previous answer or did you just make that up?
In the debate between Josh McDowell and Ahmed Deedat, Josh listed about a dozen Muslim theories on what happened to make it so Jesus appeared to be crucified.
?) How is the Quran supporting you?
?) Failure of prophet Jesus?
?) Paradigm?
?) What motivates to read the Quran?
?) Luther was able to reform Christianity without appealing to supernatural revelation.
Resources
"Quran Manuscripts tell the tale Jay Smith 2015" on YouTube
Jay Smith made a series of five videos after his 2014 debate with Shabir Ally, that are collected together in this one. He talks about the major Quran manuscripts, how they differ from today's 1924 Cairo edition, and how there appears to have been gradual changes towards a common standard over time.
Muslims on the one hand want their religion to be the only one for all humanity, but yet don't seem to want to expose it to scholarly scrutiny.
"Gilchrist and his debate legacy" on YouTube
Explains some of the background of Ahmed Deedat and modern Islam. Shows that the church can render their arguments counterproductive.
"Ahmed Deedat vs Josh McDowell Debate: Was Jesus Christ Crucified? (Full)" on YouTube
I heard a story from a knowledgeable source. John Gilchrist knew he was not "quick on his feet" enough to debate Ahmed Deedat, so he suggested a young author named Josh McDowell instead. Deedat lost this debate so badly so that he did not release the official video, so all we have is this amateur footage, which has its own charm. This video shows that there are a dozen or so Muslim conjectures on what actually happened to Jesus; the Quran is a bit vague on this.
"Foundations"
After becoming familiar with Muslim arguments, it is useful to listen to R. C. Sproul's series on "foundations" which is a series of 60 lectures on Systematic theology, or something similar.
Is The Original New Testament Lost? :: A Dialogue with Dr. Bart Ehrman & Dr. Daniel Wallace on YouTube
This shows the reasonable boundaries of discussion since this is discussion with a knowledgeable opponent of Christianity
?) If the Quran does not provide a compelling case against Christianity, then what is the use of Islam?
When I first started encountering Muslims as a new Christian, I was dismayed to discover that I did not have an adequate reply to the questions that they asked and the challenges they posed. This was embarrassing for me. I determined to learn to be able to counter their arguments.
Since then, I observed that that all Muslims share the same set of questions about Christianity. Because of this uniformity, apologetics to Muslims to is easier than many people realize.
Many of the questions on this started with the Muslim debater Ahmed Deedat from South Africa. In the 1970's he popularized a number of arguments by unleashing them on Christians who were not prepared to answer them, just as I also was. He made many videos and wrote pamphlets and books. Soon, however, John Gilchrist, a Christian missionary, also in South Africa, showed that it was possible to teach the church there to answer Deedat's questions. When the church knew how to answer them it made his arguments not just useless but counterproductive for for the spread of Islam.
I still meet Muslims who study Deedat's materials and gleefully watch his videos when he could trip up Christians in debates. They don't know that his arguments have long been satisfactorily answered by even more knowledgeable Christian apologists since then.
I believe the Church partly to blame when Muslims become emboldened after they find that the Christians they encounter can't provide answers when these questions are raised. All the answers have been worked out. They are not hard.
My approach requires very little knowledge about Islam, but builds on what most Christians already know. The fact that Muslims have all these questions represents an opportunity to share the gospel, and their expectation that these are difficult questions makes this approach all the more effective. You may ask, how can this be effective there are no anti-Islamic arguments? The fact that Islam claims to be the correction or replacement for Christianity and Judaism, and yet provides no decisive argument against Christianity is itself a testimony that the Quran is not from Allah.
Also notice that since there is no particular teaching about Islam in this material below, this means that pastors can equip their church to counter Islam, but without explicitly mentioning it, by including some of this material in each of their sermons.
Also, since Ahmed Deedat used the King James version, some of his the questions ask are specific to the particulars of this translation, such as the phrase "only begotten". I once heard of an evangelist who encountered a Muslim in a remote part of Africa who started by asking the missionary about 1 John 5:7.
Trinity (Muslims have many questions about this)
x) Do Muslims and Christians worship the same god?
A: Jesus taught us to worship "The Father".
x) Does it matter if you worship the Muslim god or the Christian god?
A: Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life; nobody comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:16)
x) Do you worship three gods?
A: Jesus said "The Lord is one" (Mark 12:30). We believe in a "tri-unity", or Trinity; not a "tri-theity".
x) What is the "Trinity"?
A: One being, three persons. Co-eternal.
The Holy spirit is seen in Gen 1, the Son of Man is in Daniel 7. Jesus used this title about 80 times for himself. If Christ were not divine then someone other than God would be worthy of worship for taking the penalty of sin on him.
x) Why can't there be any prophets after Jesus?
A: Gal 1:8,9, Jude 3. Jesus paid the penalty for sin. Anyone teaching anything else is fundamentally contradicting the Bible.
x) Isn't it undignified to say that Jesus (God) went to the bathroom?
A: It shows the high price that had to be paid for your redemption, that God became incarnate for your sake.
x) Is Jesus God?
A: Jesus is one person in the trinity. Jesus is not God the Father.
x) Who did Jesus pray to?
A: God the Father.
x) How can Jesus be God if it says that God is not a man (Numbers 23:19)?
A: Jesus was not incarnate at this time. In context it means that God does not lie.
1) Why is there no verse where Jesus says "I am God"?
A: This would have given his opponents occasion to stone him for blasphemy. Also Jesus' favorite self-designation was "son of man" in reference to Daniel 7.
x) Why do you believe Jesus is "God"?
Thomas said "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28) and Jesus accepted this. Also John chapter 1.
8) Do Christians worship Mary?
A: No, The Bible does not teach this.
x) Was Jesus impolite by calling his mother "woman"?
A: No, this is a term of endearment.
x) Did God beget Jesus by carnal relations with Mary? "Only Begotten"?
A: This heresy does not even have a name. The KJV phrase "only begotten" is a translation of "Monogenes", meaning one of a kind, or unique. There is nobody else who is fully God, and fully man.
x) What then does it mean by: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. " (Luke 1:35)?
A: It is the same language as Genesis 1:2: (the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. ESV)
x) Why did Jesus say "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"
A: This is from psalm 22, prophetic of Jesus.
x) Doesn't Jesus deny divinity in John 10:35 when he quotes "ye are Gods?"
No, he was defending himself against a charge of blasphemy, a capital offense. His point is that it is not unlawful to call himself Son of God.
x) Why did Jesus say "my Father is greater than I" John (14:28)?
A: Jesus entered into the human experience. He submitted to the Father. See Philippians 2.
x) Why did Jesus say "Why do you call me good"? Doesn't this show that Jesus is not God?
A: It means not to call him good without recognizing his divinity.
x) What is the big deal with the resurrection? Many prophets performed miracles, including raising the dead.
A: This is divine endorsement of Jesus' claims.
x) Wasn't the doctrine of the trinity invented at the council of Nicea?
A: Constantine convened this council discuss the the claim by Arius that Jesus was not God, but a created being. This was contrary to the accepted view. Constantine did not want division in his empire. The cannon of scripture was not a topic of discussion.
x) Why did Jesus say "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak)?" (John 12:49)
A: Jesus has three offices, namely, priest, king and prophet. As prophet he only speaks what he hears from the Father.
x) Why is the word "Trinity" not in the Bible?
This word summarizes what is taught in various passages.
x) How do you know that the Holy spirit is not the angel Gabriel, who brought the Quran?
A: In Matt 28:19-20 we read: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Note this "name" is singular.
x) Why don't we worship the holy spirit?
A: The holy spirit wants to draw attention to Jesus: He shall glorify me (John 16:14)
Bible Corrupt
x) What about 1 John 5:7?
A: Research is constantly performed to determine the original text. The "Trinity" does not depend on this verse. The fact that verses like this have annotations shows that we are always improving the text, and are open about this process.
6 ) How do you know that your Bible isn't corrupted?
A: Modern translations point out verses with manuscript difficulties, so these should not be used as the only basis of doctrines. For verses without such notes, which is the majority of the text, the burden is on you to demonstrate that they are corrupt.
x) What about the Gnostic NT books?
A: These were written after the apostles died. They were not accepted by the church as a whole.
x) Did the Jews or Christians make up scripture to make money? (Q 2:79)?
x) When was the Bible written?
The OT was finished around 400 B.C, and the NT around AD 90.
x) How was it transmitted?
Churches copied the various writings of the apostles to each other:
When this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. (Col 4:16) There was no time when all manuscripts were in one place or under control of one group.
x) What are the earliest MSS?
The P52 manuscript (fragment) is from before 150 AD.
x) How do you know the Bible is true? (Bible contains verifiable claims to initial audience)
We must keep in mind that the church suffered much persecution and was in no position to use coercion or incentive to cause people to join. The fact that the church came into existence and survived is their testimony to us that they had compelling reasons to believe in the veracity of the books they preserved.
Many claims were verifiable to the the original audience, such as Matt 28:15 and 1 Cor 15:6.
x) Why does Catholic Bible have more books?
The Jews of Jesus' day maintained certain books along side of but outside of their accepted cannon. The Catholic church found parts of these useful for justifying some of their doctrines. Protestant bibles eventually stopped including these books, although they appeared in the original 1611 KJV.
x) Why are the four gospels anonymous?
A: There has always been uniform agreement in church history on the names of these books. They did not try to give them authority by naming Luke and Mark after apostles.
x)What is the purpose of the Old Testament?
A: The law has three purposes: 1. knowledge of sin 2. help restrain evil, 3. Reveal what is pleasing to God.
x) Is Christ foretold in the Old Testament?
A: Jesus talked about this on the road to Emmaus. These teachings are distributed through the NT.
x) Why are the four gospels anonymous?
A: There has always been uniform agreement in church history on the names of these books. They did not try to give them authority by naming Luke and Mark after apostles.
x) Why do Christians have so many Bibles?
The Hebrew and Greek texts are generally agreed on. There are many translations.
x) Who is Paul and why do do you read his epistles?
Paul wrote two-thirds of the NT, mostly from prison. Received the Gospel by revelation (Gal 1:11) He suffered a lot for his faith (2 Cor 11:25). He could not have credibly made claims like "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal 6:17) unless he had many scars on his body. Unlike other "prophets" he did not primarily teach on the basis of his revelation as authoritative. Instead, Most of his teachings he justified by reasoning and OT references. So most of what he wrote we could still believe even if he had not written it.
SalvationPaul wrote two-thirds of the NT, mostly from prison. Received the Gospel by revelation (Gal 1:11) He suffered a lot for his faith (2 Cor 11:25). He could not have credibly made claims like "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal 6:17) unless he had many scars on his body. Unlike other "prophets" he did not primarily teach on the basis of his revelation as authoritative. Instead, Most of his teachings he justified by reasoning and OT references. So most of what he wrote we could still believe even if he had not written it.
x) How do you get saved in Christianity?
A: Repent and be baptized.
2) Why can't I just keep on sinning since Jesus paid for all our sin?
A: If you persist in sin, it shows you never are not repentant.
x) Did Paul do away with circumcision to make Christianity appealing to pagans?
This was the decision of the Jerusalem council, in Acts 15.
3) Where is Jesus in the Old Testament?
A: Many places. This is a big topic.
4) How can Jesus take on himself the penalty for someone else's sin?
A: We are called "In Christ". Gal 2:20 says "I have been crucified with Christ".
5) Why did God create mankind?
A: For fellowship. We are made in the image of God and can
7) Why can't God just forgive sin without Jesus?
A: God speaks and worlds come into existence. God's word must remain true. "you shall surely die" (Gen 2:17) must mean something. In fact the first death was an animal to cover Adam and Eve. Violation of God's command must have consequences.
God is just and the justifier of the unjust (Rom 3:26)
x) Where did Jesus teach salvation by grace?
A: The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.(Matt 20:28)
Communion was instituted by Jesus, with the bread as his body and the wine as his blood:
This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins (Matt 26:28).
This day you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned (Mark 16:16).
General
x) Does the Bible permit polygamy?
A:In the beginning, God made Adam and Eve. The Bible teaches that you will have trouble if you have more than one wife.
x) Can Christians eat pork? (Acts 10).
A: God showed Peter this in a vision.
x) Is Alcohol permitted?
A: ...be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)
x) What about violence in the Old Testament?
A: There were only limited mandates; for example the Jews do not have permission to attack the Philistines at any time.
13) Didn't Jesus say he came to bring a sword (Matt 10:34)?
A: This passage shows the divisions and persecutions that persecutions that Christians will have to endure. The sword is pointed at us.
14) Didn't Jesus say he was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel?
A: Jesus paid the price for sin of all humanity. The great commission was for all nations (Matt 28:16)
x) Is Christianity responsible for this or that evil?
A: The most important command, given by Jesus, is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30). There is no greater prophet than Jesus, so nothing can supersede this.
x) Why wait so long for the Cross? What about Abraham, how was he saved?
A: We have Gen 3:15, the promise of the Messiah, and we have Cain and Abel.
x) Was Abraham a Christian or a Jew?
A: He is a fore-runner of both. He was the father of Judaism but he also paid tithes to Melchizedek, who is a type of Christ. (Hebrews 7).
x) Shouldn't men have a beard, like Jesus?
A: There is no reference to Jesus having a beard. Can't be important. But Acts mentions that Paul shaved his head.
x) Why does the Bible command women to wear a veil (1 Cor 11:6)?
A: In Corinth, the temple prostitutes had short hair. Some church ladies were adopting this fashion for themselves.
x) Did Mary wear a veil?
A: There is nothing about Mary wearing a veil in the Bible.
x) What is the Christian form of government?
A: The early church had all things in common. "My kingdom is not of this world". Eventually Jesus will return to rule.
x) Was Mohammed a prophet like Moses (Deut 18:15)?
A: Jesus performed spectacular miracles, like Moses did.
x) Did Jesus prophesy of Mohammed ( John 16:5-11)?
A: If he did, he would have endorsed someone who would contradict him. He did warn of false prophets that would come in his name (Matt 17:15, Matt 24:24).
x) Indecent verses in the Bible? (Ezekiel 23:1-10)
A: It got the attention of the people at the time, and yours. God is not "politically correct"
x) Were prophets without sin?
A: They were like us. We learn from their message, good deeds and their mistakes.
x) How do you pray?
A: We worship in Spirit and in Truth. We do not use vain repetitions. We do not pray to be seen by others. We do not worship with our lips having our hearts far from God.
x) Is there compulsion in Christianity?
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor 3:16)
x) Was Paul a liar (Rom 3:7)?
x) Were there eye-witnesses to the crucifixion? Didn't all the disciples flee?
A: They did not stay away. John and Mary saw Jesus on the cross. Matt 27:55-56, says that many women were "watching from a distance".
x) Why does it say God repented (Gen 6:6)?
A: The Bible uses anthropomorphic language to describe God. This is the only thing we really understand.
x) Why do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
A: 1 Cor 15.
x) Was Jesus really dead?
A: The Romans were severe to others and themselves. In Acts 16:27-28, the Philippian jailer was about to kill himself when he discovered the doors were open. The soldiers would do their job well.
Questions
?) What parts of the Bible do you believe and why?
This can be useful to ask. The Quran motivates belief that the Bible is true, and at the same time that it it can't all be true because it contradicts the Quran. Some Muslims like to bridge this contradiction by claiming parts of the Bible are "changed", or false for some reason. It in that case it is good to establish reasonable criteria for determining what Bible passages are problematic.
?)What deep insight into the Bible does the Quran supply?
For a book that is supposedly inspired, the Quran does not interact much with the Bible. For example, no explanation is given why it was revealed by an angel when Galatians 1 warns against this.
?)What is the earliest complete Quran manuscript?
Back in Deedat's day it was widely assumed that the Quran was perfectly preserved. In fact, the Evangelist Jay Smith has been publicizing recent research on the major Quran manuscripts that seem to indicate that the text evolved over time.
?) Explain the resurrection? The origin of Christianity?
If Jesus was a prophet of Islam and taught contrary to Christianity then how did Christianity arise in the same location as Jesus and in the first century?
Muslims generally have difficulty constructing a coherent story from their Jesus to the historical Christian Jesus that is consistent with the Quran.
?) Does your Quran explain this story from your previous answer or did you just make that up?
In the debate between Josh McDowell and Ahmed Deedat, Josh listed about a dozen Muslim theories on what happened to make it so Jesus appeared to be crucified.
?) How is the Quran supporting you?
?) Failure of prophet Jesus?
?) Paradigm?
?) What motivates to read the Quran?
?) Luther was able to reform Christianity without appealing to supernatural revelation.
Resources
"Quran Manuscripts tell the tale Jay Smith 2015" on YouTube
Jay Smith made a series of five videos after his 2014 debate with Shabir Ally, that are collected together in this one. He talks about the major Quran manuscripts, how they differ from today's 1924 Cairo edition, and how there appears to have been gradual changes towards a common standard over time.
Muslims on the one hand want their religion to be the only one for all humanity, but yet don't seem to want to expose it to scholarly scrutiny.
"Gilchrist and his debate legacy" on YouTube
Explains some of the background of Ahmed Deedat and modern Islam. Shows that the church can render their arguments counterproductive.
"Ahmed Deedat vs Josh McDowell Debate: Was Jesus Christ Crucified? (Full)" on YouTube
I heard a story from a knowledgeable source. John Gilchrist knew he was not "quick on his feet" enough to debate Ahmed Deedat, so he suggested a young author named Josh McDowell instead. Deedat lost this debate so badly so that he did not release the official video, so all we have is this amateur footage, which has its own charm. This video shows that there are a dozen or so Muslim conjectures on what actually happened to Jesus; the Quran is a bit vague on this.
"Foundations"
After becoming familiar with Muslim arguments, it is useful to listen to R. C. Sproul's series on "foundations" which is a series of 60 lectures on Systematic theology, or something similar.
Is The Original New Testament Lost? :: A Dialogue with Dr. Bart Ehrman & Dr. Daniel Wallace on YouTube
This shows the reasonable boundaries of discussion since this is discussion with a knowledgeable opponent of Christianity
?) If the Quran does not provide a compelling case against Christianity, then what is the use of Islam?
Friday, July 29, 2016
Verses that show Jesus Is God
A set of verses you can learn in preparation for discussions with Muslims.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
--John 1:1-2
God made creation, and he can enter into it:
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
--John 1:14
30 “I and My Father are one.”
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works have I shown you from My Father. For which of those works do ye stone Me?”
33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy and because thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”
--John 10:30-33
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out. And when He had found him, He said unto him, “Dost thou believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered and said, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe in him?”
37 And Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.”
38 And he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
--John 9:35-38
58 Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am!”
59 Then they took up stones to cast at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
--John 8:58-59
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
--John 17:5
Jesus did not refuse this title:
28 And Thomas answered and said unto Him, “My Lord and my God!”
--John 20:28
This shows "God" was born:
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
--Isaiah 9:6
14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Emmanuel means God with us)
--Isaiah 7:14
17 And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and on earth.
19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
--Matt 28:17-29
Jesus is the Son of Man, from Daniel 7:
61 But He held His peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him and said unto Him, “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 And Jesus said, “I am; and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
63 Then the high priest rent his clothes and said, “Why need we any further witnesses?
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy. What think ye?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
--Mark 14:61-63
9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.”
--Acts 1:9-11
This is Daniel 7: Jesus applied the title "Son of Man" to himself about 80 times.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.
14 And there was given Him dominion and glory and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
--Daniel 7:13-14
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
--Titus 2:13
Paul expands on the "shemah":
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
--1 Cor 8:6
They "called on" Jesus, or prayed to him:
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
--1 Cor 1:2
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
--John 1:1-2
God made creation, and he can enter into it:
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
--John 1:14
30 “I and My Father are one.”
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works have I shown you from My Father. For which of those works do ye stone Me?”
33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy and because thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”
--John 10:30-33
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out. And when He had found him, He said unto him, “Dost thou believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered and said, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe in him?”
37 And Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.”
38 And he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
--John 9:35-38
58 Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am!”
59 Then they took up stones to cast at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
--John 8:58-59
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
--John 17:5
Jesus did not refuse this title:
28 And Thomas answered and said unto Him, “My Lord and my God!”
--John 20:28
This shows "God" was born:
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
--Isaiah 9:6
14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Emmanuel means God with us)
--Isaiah 7:14
17 And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and on earth.
19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
--Matt 28:17-29
Jesus is the Son of Man, from Daniel 7:
61 But He held His peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him and said unto Him, “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 And Jesus said, “I am; and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
63 Then the high priest rent his clothes and said, “Why need we any further witnesses?
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy. What think ye?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
--Mark 14:61-63
9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.”
--Acts 1:9-11
This is Daniel 7: Jesus applied the title "Son of Man" to himself about 80 times.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.
14 And there was given Him dominion and glory and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
--Daniel 7:13-14
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
--Titus 2:13
Paul expands on the "shemah":
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
--1 Cor 8:6
They "called on" Jesus, or prayed to him:
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
--1 Cor 1:2
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Ligonier contributes to Christian response to Islam
I am excited to see that R.C Sproul and his group are helping to equip Christians to articulate their faith to Muslims.
First they recently came the statement on who Jesus is:
http://christologystatement.com/
What would cause one ministry to propose a modernized credal statement on Christology? I heard their official response, but there was no mention of Islam, as I recall. However, I think the statement was really motivated in large part as a response to the challenge of Islam to the Church.
Now they have released a "one-stop shop" set of teaching in audio form called "The Cross and the Crescent" where Abdul Saleeb explains the Muslim mindset and R.C Sproul answers from the Christian perspective.
What I particularly like is that this material is accessible to lay people and, while building on what most Christians already know, and does not rely on detailed knowledge of Islam, which would soon be forgotten anyway by most people. So much material in this space is just disparaging Islam, rather than learning to articulate the Gospel to Muslims (and to others). The questions that Muslims raise are also asked by other people.
You can get this material at the Ligonier.org store as the "Cross and the Crescent" CD series.
Or, presumably, the series may be available somewhere on SermonAudio, along with the rest of their daily podcast, or from their Ref.net Android app.
First they recently came the statement on who Jesus is:
http://christologystatement.com/
What would cause one ministry to propose a modernized credal statement on Christology? I heard their official response, but there was no mention of Islam, as I recall. However, I think the statement was really motivated in large part as a response to the challenge of Islam to the Church.
Now they have released a "one-stop shop" set of teaching in audio form called "The Cross and the Crescent" where Abdul Saleeb explains the Muslim mindset and R.C Sproul answers from the Christian perspective.
What I particularly like is that this material is accessible to lay people and, while building on what most Christians already know, and does not rely on detailed knowledge of Islam, which would soon be forgotten anyway by most people. So much material in this space is just disparaging Islam, rather than learning to articulate the Gospel to Muslims (and to others). The questions that Muslims raise are also asked by other people.
You can get this material at the Ligonier.org store as the "Cross and the Crescent" CD series.
Or, presumably, the series may be available somewhere on SermonAudio, along with the rest of their daily podcast, or from their Ref.net Android app.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Bible Corrupt: Persistent and Verifiable statements in the Bible +
People who have never opened a Bible may think that it is a religious book, maybe like a fairy tale or a book of wise sayings. Actually the Bible is more of a historical book that describes people's encounters with God. What many don't realize is that, it contains many statements that would have been provable or disprovable at the time they were written, to some degree.
Let me explain what I mean so you can find or select your own favorite statements that you can share with conviction.
(1)
Mark 5:1-20 describes how Jesus cast demons out of a demon-possessed man in a particular time in his short ministry and a specific location. It says that 2,000 pigs drowned themselves, and that the man "began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled". Decapolis means ten cities. Think about this: With that many dead pigs, there must have been either a very stinky lake, or, more likely, a lot of bacon on sale that week. Either way, this event would have been remembered, and talked about, for a long time. Anyone traveling through that region would have known about this if it had happened. So if you found yourself reading this story in Mark's Gospel in that day, you would have known if this was true or not.
(2)
Matt 28:14 describes how the Jewish leaders responded to the resurrection: "This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today." What saying? That the disciples stole the body of Jesus while the guards slept. This means that if you stopped a typical Jew in the street, around the time that Matthew was written, he would basically admit that Jesus' tomb was empty, and the Jewish leaders had no better answer to the resurrection than this saying. Therefore we can say that, from a historical perspective, there was widespread acceptance that Jesus was crucified at the time--contrary to the Quran claims.
(3)
The feeding of the five thousand, and of the four thousand, is recorded in all four gospels. This must have become widely known.
Question for Muslims: Does the Quran contain statements like Luke 3:1-2 or is it more of the "Long ago and in a land far away..." genre of literature?
Let me explain what I mean so you can find or select your own favorite statements that you can share with conviction.
(1)
Mark 5:1-20 describes how Jesus cast demons out of a demon-possessed man in a particular time in his short ministry and a specific location. It says that 2,000 pigs drowned themselves, and that the man "began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled". Decapolis means ten cities. Think about this: With that many dead pigs, there must have been either a very stinky lake, or, more likely, a lot of bacon on sale that week. Either way, this event would have been remembered, and talked about, for a long time. Anyone traveling through that region would have known about this if it had happened. So if you found yourself reading this story in Mark's Gospel in that day, you would have known if this was true or not.
(2)
Matt 28:14 describes how the Jewish leaders responded to the resurrection: "This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today." What saying? That the disciples stole the body of Jesus while the guards slept. This means that if you stopped a typical Jew in the street, around the time that Matthew was written, he would basically admit that Jesus' tomb was empty, and the Jewish leaders had no better answer to the resurrection than this saying. Therefore we can say that, from a historical perspective, there was widespread acceptance that Jesus was crucified at the time--contrary to the Quran claims.
(3)
The feeding of the five thousand, and of the four thousand, is recorded in all four gospels. This must have become widely known.
Question for Muslims: Does the Quran contain statements like Luke 3:1-2 or is it more of the "Long ago and in a land far away..." genre of literature?
Monday, January 4, 2016
Bible Corrupt: Dating the Gospels +
Muslims often ignorantly claim the gospels were written "hundreds of years" after the events they describe. However we can confidently show an earlier date because of the following:
We know that Acts and the Gospel according to Luke were both written by the same author. They were both addressed to "Theophilus".
We know that Luke's gospel was written before Acts, because Acts starts like this:
The first book [i.e. Luke's Gospel] I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach...
--Acts 1:1
The Book of Acts does not mention the following important events:
The Death of James (A.D. 62). James was the brother of Jesus and head of Jerusalem church, This event was recorded by the Jewish Historian Josephus.
The Death of Paul (A.D. 64). The book of Acts ends with Paul under house arrest for two years. Paul is the major figure in Acts.
The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Probably both Matthew or Mark were written before Luke, because Luke's gospel specifically mentions other gospels, and clearly uses Matthew and Mark as source material:
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
--Luke 1:1-4
This means that Luke wrote what he heard from eyewitnesses.
We know that Acts and the Gospel according to Luke were both written by the same author. They were both addressed to "Theophilus".
We know that Luke's gospel was written before Acts, because Acts starts like this:
The first book [i.e. Luke's Gospel] I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach...
--Acts 1:1
The Book of Acts does not mention the following important events:
The Death of James (A.D. 62). James was the brother of Jesus and head of Jerusalem church, This event was recorded by the Jewish Historian Josephus.
The Death of Paul (A.D. 64). The book of Acts ends with Paul under house arrest for two years. Paul is the major figure in Acts.
The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Probably both Matthew or Mark were written before Luke, because Luke's gospel specifically mentions other gospels, and clearly uses Matthew and Mark as source material:
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
--Luke 1:1-4
This means that Luke wrote what he heard from eyewitnesses.
Friday, January 1, 2016
License to Sin: Salvation by grace from the Epistles *
The doctrine of salvation by grace is most clearly shown in Paul's epistles, but as mentioned previously Muslims tend not to believe Paul.
The following verse may be the most concise explanation of the Gospel found in scripture:
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
--2 Cor 5:21 (KJV)
Paul teaches that there are fundamentally two ways to obtain righteousness:
One is by following the law perfectly, and the other is by Christ's righteousness by grace through faith.
Some people may seem to be holy to some people if you look like you are following the laws of Moses, you should not try to do that as a way of earning your salvation, unless you can keep the whole law completely:
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
--Gal 5:3-4 (KJV)
Salvation cannot be earned, but only received as a gift. If you try to earn your salvation, you will receive the wages of your actions:
Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
--Romans 4:4 (KJV)
The following verse may be the most concise explanation of the Gospel found in scripture:
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
--2 Cor 5:21 (KJV)
Paul teaches that there are fundamentally two ways to obtain righteousness:
One is by following the law perfectly, and the other is by Christ's righteousness by grace through faith.
Some people may seem to be holy to some people if you look like you are following the laws of Moses, you should not try to do that as a way of earning your salvation, unless you can keep the whole law completely:
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
--Gal 5:3-4 (KJV)
Salvation cannot be earned, but only received as a gift. If you try to earn your salvation, you will receive the wages of your actions:
Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
--Romans 4:4 (KJV)
Monday, December 28, 2015
License to Sin: Can Christians Eat Whatever They want? *
Why don't Christians follow the Old Testament dietary laws against eating pork? Did Paul make more changes to the Old Testament laws?
No, it is because Peter was shown a vision from God that showed that all foods were made clean, and he also learned that they should no longer avoid associating with non-Jews:
“What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”
--Acts 10:14
No, it is because Peter was shown a vision from God that showed that all foods were made clean, and he also learned that they should no longer avoid associating with non-Jews:
“What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”
--Acts 10:14
Salvation: Jesus Taught Salvation by Grace +
Usually, when we talk about salvation by grace, we will quote verses from the epistles. However, Muslims have been told that Paul changed the original Christianity that Jesus taught into licentiousness to appeal to pagan audiences.
Let me expand on this point here. They claim that Paul was able to entirely undo what Jesus came to do, then replace that with something different, all in the same generation that Jesus and his disciples lived in. This is the same Jesus who is the only virgin-born prophet who performed many miracles.
Nevertheless it is good to be able to show that Paul and Jesus are not at odds. Here are verses that show that Jesus himself taught that salvation is by grace, through faith.
Fundamentally, the message of the four gospels is that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. Jesus did not flee the cross but allowed himself to be captured. This must have great significance. As Paul points out:
For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!
--Gal 2:21
Communion was instituted by Jesus:
This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
--Matt 26:28
Jesus said:
the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
--Matt 20:28
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
--Mark 16:16
To the people who were religious people who were trying to keep the law:
I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
--Matt 5:20
whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
--Matt 5:28 (KJV)
About the tax collector compared to a pharisee:
But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.
--Luke 10:13,14
To a crowd that had gathered around Him:
“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
--John 6:29
To the paralytic:
Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
--Mark 2:12
To the thief on the cross:
He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
--Luke 23:40-42-43
To the sinner woman:
He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (...)
He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
--Luke 7:48, 50
To whosoever:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
--John 3:16 (KJV)
Jesus left us with a new commandment, not with Moses' law:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.
--John 13:4
This is not "another" commandment, but a "new" commandment that replaces the old.
Let me expand on this point here. They claim that Paul was able to entirely undo what Jesus came to do, then replace that with something different, all in the same generation that Jesus and his disciples lived in. This is the same Jesus who is the only virgin-born prophet who performed many miracles.
Nevertheless it is good to be able to show that Paul and Jesus are not at odds. Here are verses that show that Jesus himself taught that salvation is by grace, through faith.
Fundamentally, the message of the four gospels is that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. Jesus did not flee the cross but allowed himself to be captured. This must have great significance. As Paul points out:
For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!
--Gal 2:21
Communion was instituted by Jesus:
This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
--Matt 26:28
Jesus said:
the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
--Matt 20:28
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
--Mark 16:16
To the people who were religious people who were trying to keep the law:
I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
--Matt 5:20
whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
--Matt 5:28 (KJV)
About the tax collector compared to a pharisee:
But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.
--Luke 10:13,14
To a crowd that had gathered around Him:
“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
--John 6:29
To the paralytic:
Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
--Mark 2:12
To the thief on the cross:
He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
--Luke 23:40-42-43
To the sinner woman:
He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (...)
He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
--Luke 7:48, 50
To whosoever:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
--John 3:16 (KJV)
Jesus left us with a new commandment, not with Moses' law:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.
--John 13:4
This is not "another" commandment, but a "new" commandment that replaces the old.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Trinity: A Few verses of Explanation of the Trinity +
What Is The Trinity?
The Trinity is the belief that God is one being, three persons: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It may not make sense according to what you see in your daily world, but it is quite consistent with what the Bible says.
While there are some alternative doctrines, the trinity is the view that is presented to Muslims by scholarly Christian apologists. I am not aware of any exceptions.
I somewhat reluctantly concluded that the traditional view is the best. The argument that persuaded me was this:
If Jesus were just human of some kind, then that would mean that the hard work of paying for our salvation was done by a person, and not God. Who then do you want to worship? With the Trinity, God gets the worship he deserves.
You can expect to be asked about the trinity when talking to Muslims, but you don't have to be an expert. Usually, if you can intelligently answer few questions the conversation turns to something else.
Muslims typically have the expectation that the Trinity is something that was invented later, like in the council of Nicea, or that it is part of a corruption of the Bible.
These verses show that Jesus pre-existed creation.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made
...
The Word became flesh, and lived among us.
--John 1:1-3, 14
John introduces this as his thesis for the entire Gospel of John and it which concludes like this:
These are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
--John 20:31
Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.
--John 17:5
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
--Phil 2:5-11
Hebrews 1:1-14 (the entire chapter) is about who Jesus is.
From Jesus in Revelation, we have these:
I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
--Revelation 1:8
I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
--Revelation 1:17
I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
--Revelation 22:13
Note: When it is convenient, Muslims insist on accepting only the words of Jesus himself. However, the Quran is not held to this standard.
The Trinity is the belief that God is one being, three persons: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It may not make sense according to what you see in your daily world, but it is quite consistent with what the Bible says.
While there are some alternative doctrines, the trinity is the view that is presented to Muslims by scholarly Christian apologists. I am not aware of any exceptions.
I somewhat reluctantly concluded that the traditional view is the best. The argument that persuaded me was this:
If Jesus were just human of some kind, then that would mean that the hard work of paying for our salvation was done by a person, and not God. Who then do you want to worship? With the Trinity, God gets the worship he deserves.
You can expect to be asked about the trinity when talking to Muslims, but you don't have to be an expert. Usually, if you can intelligently answer few questions the conversation turns to something else.
Muslims typically have the expectation that the Trinity is something that was invented later, like in the council of Nicea, or that it is part of a corruption of the Bible.
These verses show that Jesus pre-existed creation.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made
...
The Word became flesh, and lived among us.
--John 1:1-3, 14
John introduces this as his thesis for the entire Gospel of John and it which concludes like this:
These are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
--John 20:31
Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.
--John 17:5
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
--Phil 2:5-11
Hebrews 1:1-14 (the entire chapter) is about who Jesus is.
From Jesus in Revelation, we have these:
I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
--Revelation 1:8
I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
--Revelation 1:17
I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
--Revelation 22:13
Note: When it is convenient, Muslims insist on accepting only the words of Jesus himself. However, the Quran is not held to this standard.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Why Muslims Never lose +
Do not be surprised if the Muslims you are talking to act as if their side wins every debate and that they are so confident that the Quran is true that it is as if they had witnessed everything it says with their own eyes. That is quite typical. Expect it and don't let it bother you.
Do Muslims Ask Real Questions?
Sometimes you will find Muslims asking inappropriate questions, or behaving in a way that makes you question their sincerity. At this point it may be best to not continue discussing. You have to decide if what you are encountering a language barrier, or something cultural, or if your time and expertise is better spent elsewhere. You should not cast your pearls be fore the swine. Feel free to walk away.
Muslims almost always demand a much higher standard of proof from Christianity than they do from their Muslim sources.
It is common to encounter Muslims who say they used to be Christian. This is a way of discrediting Christianity. Some who know more about Christianity may claim to have been elders, youth pastors or pastors, or former Christian scholars who have seen the light. I have heard where Muslims convert to Christianity, marry naïve Christian women, then revert back to Islam.
Do Muslims Ask Real Questions?
Sometimes you will find Muslims asking inappropriate questions, or behaving in a way that makes you question their sincerity. At this point it may be best to not continue discussing. You have to decide if what you are encountering a language barrier, or something cultural, or if your time and expertise is better spent elsewhere. You should not cast your pearls be fore the swine. Feel free to walk away.
Muslims almost always demand a much higher standard of proof from Christianity than they do from their Muslim sources.
It is common to encounter Muslims who say they used to be Christian. This is a way of discrediting Christianity. Some who know more about Christianity may claim to have been elders, youth pastors or pastors, or former Christian scholars who have seen the light. I have heard where Muslims convert to Christianity, marry naïve Christian women, then revert back to Islam.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Salvation: What about Those Who Never Heard of Jesus? +
It seems obvious to me that the universe has an intelligent creator. Nothing like this world happens by chance. So I don't see why all people shouldn't seek and call out to him. Abraham did not come from a land that knew God, but God told him:
Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.
--Genesis 12:1
And so unfolded the story from Abraham, to David and to Jesus.
The Bible says:
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
--James 4:8
Paul says:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness”
--Romans 1:18
Paul says:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness”
--Romans 1:18
Sunday, December 20, 2015
The Resurrection: The Quran's weakness is our strength +
What is the most compelling reason to believe in Jesus? The resurrection!
An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
--Matt 16:4
All the Muslim scholarship (or propaganda) funded by all the Saudi oil money has yet to produce a good answer to the resurrection.
When a young Josh McDowell came to debate Ahmed Deedat (in Durban 1981), the result was so embarrassing for Deedat that the Islamic propagation center did not release a video of the event, although they organized it.
Ahmed Deedat vs Josh McDowell Debate: Was Jesus Christ Crucified? (Full)
https://youtu.be/cgUnalaJoTs
The debate between Mike Licona and Shabir Ally (in Virginia Beach, VA 2004) was so disappointing to Nabeel Qureshi, who was in the audience, that he left Islam and became a Christian apologist.
Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Michael Licona vs. Shabir Ally
https://youtu.be/FTyqQlBGX_4
Both these are the best two Muslim debaters in their time, and this shows the resurrection is a difficult problem for Islam and a battle-tested justification for believing in Christianity.
This being the case, you would think that the Quran would help out with some insight on how a critical mass of people came to believe the resurrection and endure the inevitable persecution.
However, in response all we find is forty Arabic words, which basically say that Jesus was not crucified but it just appeared that he did. That is not helpful. In fact I would say that it looks like the Muslims are doing all the work, not the Quran. That pretty much describes an idol.
I suggest that you study these two debates carefully, and you will have nothing to fear from the best Muslim debaters in history.
Muslims learn many polemics against Christianity, but it is impossible to train the average Muslim to respond to the resurrection without risk of them leaving Islam.
Questions for Muslims:
What evidence does Islam provide for itself? The resurrection shows that that Christianity is reasonable to believe in. Islam must bring something demonstrability more compelling?
Big claims need big evidence.
In principle, Islam should have a very compelling case because the Quran is written as a rebuttal to Christianity and Judaism. The person who writes the rebuttal is in a very strong position. That is why the defense in a court trial has the final word, in order to give them some advantage. What useful insights do you get from the Quran on the origin of Christianity?
An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
--Matt 16:4
All the Muslim scholarship (or propaganda) funded by all the Saudi oil money has yet to produce a good answer to the resurrection.
When a young Josh McDowell came to debate Ahmed Deedat (in Durban 1981), the result was so embarrassing for Deedat that the Islamic propagation center did not release a video of the event, although they organized it.
Ahmed Deedat vs Josh McDowell Debate: Was Jesus Christ Crucified? (Full)
https://youtu.be/cgUnalaJoTs
The debate between Mike Licona and Shabir Ally (in Virginia Beach, VA 2004) was so disappointing to Nabeel Qureshi, who was in the audience, that he left Islam and became a Christian apologist.
Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Michael Licona vs. Shabir Ally
https://youtu.be/FTyqQlBGX_4
Both these are the best two Muslim debaters in their time, and this shows the resurrection is a difficult problem for Islam and a battle-tested justification for believing in Christianity.
This being the case, you would think that the Quran would help out with some insight on how a critical mass of people came to believe the resurrection and endure the inevitable persecution.
However, in response all we find is forty Arabic words, which basically say that Jesus was not crucified but it just appeared that he did. That is not helpful. In fact I would say that it looks like the Muslims are doing all the work, not the Quran. That pretty much describes an idol.
I suggest that you study these two debates carefully, and you will have nothing to fear from the best Muslim debaters in history.
Muslims learn many polemics against Christianity, but it is impossible to train the average Muslim to respond to the resurrection without risk of them leaving Islam.
Questions for Muslims:
What evidence does Islam provide for itself? The resurrection shows that that Christianity is reasonable to believe in. Islam must bring something demonstrability more compelling?
Big claims need big evidence.
In principle, Islam should have a very compelling case because the Quran is written as a rebuttal to Christianity and Judaism. The person who writes the rebuttal is in a very strong position. That is why the defense in a court trial has the final word, in order to give them some advantage. What useful insights do you get from the Quran on the origin of Christianity?
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Jesus, the Son of Man +
One very important concept to understand is Jesus' use of the phrase "Son of Man". Some Muslims will suggest that Jesus' frequent use of this title (81 times, actually) means he did not claim divinity for himself.
How can Jesus take this modest title and claim to be God at the same time? Well, the Jews were familiar with this passage from Daniel chapter 7:
I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
--Daniel 7:13-14
This passage is not discussed often enough in church, so please read it carefully.
Note how Jesus answered the high priest in Mark 14:
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest responds:
And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?
You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?”
And they all condemned him as deserving death.
--Mark 14:61-2
Let me clarify Jesus' use this title for himself. In fact Jesus uses this phrase in the third person. If he had applied it to himself in first person, he could have been arrested for blasphemy by his enemies.
At the end of his ministry, when his fate was sealed, he was more clear:
Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?
--Luke 22:48
How many people did Judas ever betray with a kiss in his life? Just one.
Is Jesus God?
In the current prevailing teaching on apologetics to Muslims, it is often suggested that we should say that "Jesus is God". But Jesus referred to himself as "Son of Man" much more often, and this title confers more useful insight on who Jesus is with the context of Daniel 7.
How can Jesus take this modest title and claim to be God at the same time? Well, the Jews were familiar with this passage from Daniel chapter 7:
I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
--Daniel 7:13-14
This passage is not discussed often enough in church, so please read it carefully.
Note how Jesus answered the high priest in Mark 14:
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest responds:
And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?
You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?”
And they all condemned him as deserving death.
--Mark 14:61-2
Let me clarify Jesus' use this title for himself. In fact Jesus uses this phrase in the third person. If he had applied it to himself in first person, he could have been arrested for blasphemy by his enemies.
At the end of his ministry, when his fate was sealed, he was more clear:
Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?
--Luke 22:48
How many people did Judas ever betray with a kiss in his life? Just one.
Is Jesus God?
In the current prevailing teaching on apologetics to Muslims, it is often suggested that we should say that "Jesus is God". But Jesus referred to himself as "Son of Man" much more often, and this title confers more useful insight on who Jesus is with the context of Daniel 7.
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