When it comes to witnessing to Muslims about the Christian faith, there is one key truth that we must focus on – Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior. This is the crux of the difference between Christianity and Islam. Muslims reject Jesus as the Son of God, while Christians embrace this truth wholeheartedly. Here are some important points to cover when witnessing to Muslims:
1. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus refers to God as His Father and Himself as the Son (Matthew 11:27, John 10:36, John 14:13). He claims to have a unique, divine relationship with God that no other prophet or religious figure has ever claimed. This was radical and blasphemous to the religious leaders of His day, because claiming to be the Son of God is claiming equality with God (John 5:18). Jesus did not back down from these claims, even though He knew it would lead to His crucifixion.
2. Jesus’ divine identity was confirmed by God the Father
At Jesus’ baptism, God the Father spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). God would not say this about a mere prophet. Again at the Transfiguration, the voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). Over and over, Jesus’ identity as the very Son of God is confirmed from on high.
3. Jesus’ divine nature was evident in His miracles and authority
The Gospels record Jesus doing things that only God can do – controlling the weather (Luke 8:24), walking on water (Mark 6:48), raising the dead (John 11:43-44), and forgiving sins (Mark 2:5-12). Unlike previous prophets who did miracles by God’s power, Jesus had inherent power to do miracles because He possessed the divine nature. Jesus also spoke with an authority above any other prophet, declaring Himself “Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5) and forgiving sins by His own authority.
4. Jesus accepted worship
On multiple occasions, Jesus accepted worship from people (Matthew 14:33, John 9:38). A mere prophet would have refused this, as Peter and the angel did (Acts 10:25-26, Revelation 22:8-9). But Jesus accepted worship appropriate only for God, because He was God in the flesh (Matthew 28:9). His acceptance of worship while being in the form of a servant points to His true divine nature.
5. Jesus claimed power to take up and lay down His life
Speaking about His coming crucifixion, Jesus said “I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” (John 10:18). He claimed to have power over life and death, authority that God alone possesses. His resurrection from the dead proved this power definitively. After rising again, Jesus told His disciples “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18).
6. The resurrection confirms Jesus’ divinity
By powerfully raising Jesus from the dead, God validated all of Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God (Romans 1:4). A mere prophet could not have raised himself from the dead! Peter preached boldly, “God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). Jesus’ resurrection was God’s stamp of approval on His Son’s divine identity and saving work.
7. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature
The New Testament writers affirm over and over Christ’s true deity. John says “In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). God the Son took on human form while retaining full divinity. The writer of Hebrews explains that the Son “is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus displays God’s nature and glory in human flesh.
8. In Jesus, the fullness of God dwells
Paul writes of Christ that “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9). While on earth in human form, Jesus did not cease to be fully God. Paul also calls Jesus “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) and says all of God’s fullness was pleased to dwell in Christ (Colossians 1:19). The New Testament unequivocally equates Christ with Yahweh of the Old Testament.
9. Jesus claimed unity with the Father
Jesus continually talked about His unity with God the Father. “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:10). The disciples understood that Jesus was claiming to be God in these statements, which is why they accused Him of blasphemy on several occasions.
10. The divine name Yahweh is applied to Christ
Several Old Testament verses that use Yahweh (the divine name of God) are applied directly to Christ in the New Testament. Compare Joel 2:32 with Romans 10:13 and Isaiah 45:23 with Philippians 2:10-11. This indicates that Christ shares full deity with the God of the Old Testament, who is identified as Yahweh.
11. Jesus is the Messiah
While Muslims accept Jesus as a prophet, they deny that He is the Messiah, or Savior. However, the New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus is the promised Messiah sent to redeem the world. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (Mark 14:62), His followers believed He was the Messiah (John 20:31), and His miracles of healing and raising the dead proved He was the Messiah (Luke 7:18-22).
12. Jesus died on the cross for our sins
Muslims typically deny Jesus’ atoning death on the cross. However, this historical fact is confirmed by Christian and non-Christian writers alike who lived soon after the time of Christ. Jesus said His whole mission was “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Why would Christ need to die, if not to atone for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3)?
13. Salvation is through Christ alone
The Bible teaches clearly that salvation from sin is through faith in Christ alone, not by good works. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
14. Jesus gives eternal life
Jesus claimed to give eternal life to those who believe in Him (John 3:14-16, John 6:47). Either He is a liar, lunatic or Lord. If Jesus truly gives eternal life and forgiveness of sins based on faith alone, this is radically different from the Muslim view of salvation by works. We must receive Christ’s offer of eternal life, rather than trusting our own flawed efforts.
15. Jesus grants access to God
A huge dividing line between Islam and Christianity is that Jesus grants direct access to God through Himself, while Muslims have no certainty of salvation or access to paradise. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Because of Christ’s sacrifice for sin, Christians can come boldly before God’s throne by faith (Hebrews 4:16).
In summary, while Muslims respect Jesus as a prophet, they clearly do not understand or accept His divinity, incarnation, salvation through the cross, or power to grant eternal life. We must lovingly share these truths with Muslims, that they too may know God through trusting in Christ as Lord and Savior.