What is Islam?
Fast Facts on Islam
Origins of Islam
In the sixth century A.D., a trader named Mohammed claimed to have visions of the angel Gabriel, who laid out the precepts and practices of the Islam faith.
Islamic Beliefs
Muslims, who believe there is one God whom they know as Allah, accept the Old Testament prophets. “Islam” actually means “submission to God.”
The Holy Book of Islam
The Quran, which they believe Gabriel dictated to Mohammed
Who Jesus Is to Muslims
They view Jesus merely as a prophet, and they do not acknowledge His death and resurrection.
How Many Followers
More than 1 billion people worldwide follow Islam, and its followers are generally found in what’s known as the 10/40 window, the area between 10 degrees latitudinal north and 40 degrees latitudinal north ranging from the eastern side of North Africa to the western side of Asia.
Islamic Teachings on Salvation
Islam is a works-based religion, and salvation can be achieved – though is not guaranteed – through strict obedience to God’s law and Muhammad’s doctrine. A Muslim’s path to heaven requires following the five pillars: confessing faith in Allah and his messenger, Muhammad; praying five times daily; giving to the work; fasting throughout Ramadan; and making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Islamic Path to Accept Jesus Christ as Savior
One True God
You believe there is one god, and you believe God demands and deserves wholehearted obedience. You believe Jesus was sent to earth by God. On these points, you share common ground with Christ-followers.
You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble! (James 2:19)
Who God Is
Like you, we believe in one god, and that He expresses Himself through the persons of the God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus is fully God:
In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2:9).
As God, Jesus is eternal, and He came to earth as a man to show people the way to God:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)
Why Jesus Came
Jesus came because God is holy, perfect, loving and just. He desires a relationship with each and every one of us. He desires a relationship with you. And instead of requiring you strive continually to come to Him, He has come to you.
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory or the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Because God is just, He will not allow sin to go unpunished. But we are all sinners, and we can never be made sinless – unless One who is without sin takes our place. That’s what Jesus did for us.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
How We Are Saved
Jesus’ death and resurrection are facts testified to not just in the Bible but in recorded history. He died so we can live; He rose again so we can have victory over death for all eternity. If we believe that Jesus is God’s Son, that He took our punishment for us, we can know that we will live eternally with Him.
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4,5).
God is also a generous but jealous God. He has given Himself freely for our sake, but we must acknowledge that faith in Him alone through Jesus Christ is the only way we can be saved.
I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6).
It Is Finished
When Jesus drew His last breath, He uttered, “It is finished.” Redemption was accomplished. Revelation of God has ceased.
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3).
He sat down because He was done. It is finished. And now it’s time for your new beginning.
The Freedom You Can Know
You can be set free from the burden of your sins, from the burden of wondering where you will spend eternity. Jesus has made a way for you, a way paved by His great love and unearned favor. Just as people like you all over the world are coming to know Him through dreams and visions, you can come to know Him too. You can start your new life now.
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