Part 1 – Bridging Beliefs at En-Joy Ministries
by Pastor Barron Greenwalt

Islam is the world’s second-largest religion, second only to Christianity. Like Christians, Muslims believe that sin is the root of humanity’s problems, but they differ sharply on its origin and solution. Islam teaches that people are born sinless and only choose to sin later through free will. Christianity, however, declares that people are born sinners because of Adam’s fall.

The Bible teaches in Romans 5:12–14:
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—for until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”
This passage makes clear that when Adam sinned, he did so as the representative head of the entire human race.

Islam’s proposed solution is to live in submission to Allah, following the Five Pillars of Islam and (for some) striving in jihad, to earn His mercy and enter paradise. Christians likewise believe we are to obey the perfect law of the Lord. Psalm 19:7 declares, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimonies of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple.” This verse speaks to the complete trustworthiness of the Bible as our absolute guide for faith, belief in God, and daily life and behavior. John 7:17 further teaches that obedience to God is part of the solution to sin: “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” In other words, those who are determined to obey the Lord will recognize the truth of Jesus’ teachings.

Yet Islam does not provide the same assurance of salvation that Christianity does. In Islam, salvation ultimately depends on good works outweighing bad ones, plus Allah’s compassion on the Day of Judgment. The Bible gives believers glorious certainty: Romans 8:16–17 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…” The Holy Spirit Himself grants us the inward assurance that we truly belong to God—a clear and precious distinction from Islam.

Sin as the ultimate problem, being born sinless versus being born a sinner, free will, obedience, and the assurance of salvation are all excellent conversation topics when sharing the gospel with Muslims. Additionally, the reverence Muslims already have for Jesus (Isa al-Masih) as a prophet and the Messiah in the Qur’an can serve as a powerful starting point. Muslims recognize Jesus as the Word of God, a Spirit from God, born of a virgin, and a worker of miracles. Christians can gladly affirm those truths and then gently introduce the full gospel, which offers the assurance of salvation they long for. John 14:6 is especially helpful: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” This stands in beautiful contrast to the lack of assurance most Muslims live with.

One of the greatest contradictions in Islamic theology—and one of the most powerful bridges the Holy Spirit gives us—is this: Muslims sincerely call Jesus “al-Masih” (the Messiah) eleven times in the Qur’an and believe He is sinless, virgin-born, the Word of God, and a Spirit from God, yet they completely reject what the term “Messiah” actually means in the Scriptures that came before the Qur’an.

In the Jewish Scriptures that the Qur’an itself says are the inspired Word of God (Surah 5:46–47; 10:94), the promised Messiah must be

• the mighty God and everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6)
• the virgin-born Son whose name is Immanuel, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14)
• the divine-human King who sits on David’s throne forever (Psalm 110:1; Daniel 7:13–14)
• the One who bears the sins of His people and is pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53; Zechariah 12:10)

If Jesus is truly the Messiah promised to the Jews, then He must be the divine Son of God who died for sins and rose again. The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day rejected Him for the very same reasons Islam does: He claimed to be God and was crucified.

So, we can lovingly ask our Muslim friends: “Since we both believe Jesus is the true Messiah, and since the earlier Scriptures say the Messiah has to be God Himself and has to die for the sins of His people… how can He be the real Messiah if He is not the divine Son and did not die on the cross?”

Most Muslims have never wrestled with this question. It is not an attack; it is an invitation to think through what the title “Messiah” actually requires. The contradiction is real, it is massive, and the Holy Spirit loves to use it to draw sincere hearts to the true Jesus of Scripture.

Prayer is of utmost importance in both Christianity and Islam. In Christianity, we are called to live in God’s presence by cultivating a lifestyle of prayer. The Bible instructs us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without ceasing.” These three simple words carry profound meaning. The Greek phrase does not mean non-stop talking but constantly recurring prayer—punctuating our days, hours, and minutes with communion and fellowship with God. The Islamic practice of prayer is performed five times daily with great devotion and discipline. Christians can sincerely commend this commitment and then explain how Christian prayer fosters a personal relationship with God through koinonia—intimate fellowship and communion with the Father through the indwelling Holy Spirit. 1 John 1:3–7 beautifully describes this reality:
“…that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ… If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

” Koinonia is the special bond of fellowship brought about by the Holy Spirit. As Pastor Jack Hayford has said, it is the intimate union that cements the believer to the Lord Jesus and to every other member of the body of Christ.

These scriptural truths, shared with love and respect, open doors for the Holy Spirit to reveal the surpassing beauty of Jesus Christ to our Muslim friends.

Key Theological Differences We Cannot Compromise

1. The Identity of God
   The Bible reveals God as an eternal Father who has an eternal Son, Jesus Christ, and who eternally proceeds as the Holy Spirit—one God in three Persons. Islam emphatically denies the Trinity and the deity of Christ (Surah 4:171; 5:73; 112:1–4). Many faithful Christians, after careful study of Scripture and the Qur’an, conclude that the Allah revealed in the Qur’an is not the same as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. While Muslims use the generic Arabic word for God (“Allah”), the character and attributes taught in the Qur’an differ sharply from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob revealed in the Bible. We must hold this conviction with humility, but we do not hide it.
2. The Nature of Man and Sin
   Islam teaches that every person is born sinless and sins only by personal choice (fitrah). The Bible declares that through Adam’s disobedience, sin and death spread to all mankind, and every human being is born with a sinful nature (Romans 5:12–14; Psalm 51:5). This is why no amount of good works or religious observance can justify us before a holy God.
3. The Way of Salvation
   Islam teaches salvation by sincere obedience to the Five Pillars plus Allah’s mercy on the Day of Judgment—leaving most Muslims without assurance. Christianity proclaims that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 8:16–17). The Holy Spirit Himself bears witness that we are children of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
4. The Person and Work of Jesus
   The Qur’an honors Jesus (Isa) as a virgin-born prophet and Messiah, but explicitly denies that He is the Son of God and denies His crucifixion (Surah 4:157). The Bible declares that Jesus is the eternal Word who became flesh (John 1:1, 14), that He died for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), and that He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Practical, Respectful Ways to Share the Gospel

• Begin with a genuine relationship and respect. Muslims deeply value hospitality and family. Accept invitations to meals, ask sincere questions, and listen well.
• Use the reverence Muslims already have for Jesus. Since the Qur’an speaks highly of Jesus as Messiah, Word of God, and sinless prophet, we can begin there: “I’m glad we both honor Jesus so highly. May I share with you what He says about Himself in the Injil (Gospel) that was written decades before Muhammad was born?” [Injil is the Arabic name for the Gospel of Jesus (Isa). This Injil is described by the Quran as one of the four Islamic holy books which was revealed by Allah.]
• Highlight the assurance of salvation. Gently ask, “Do you know with certainty that you will enter paradise?” Then contrast the uncertainty of the Scale on Judgment Day with the confidence given by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13).
• Commend their devotion in prayer and fasting, then point to a relationship. “I admire your five daily prayers. In Christ we are invited into something even deeper—constant fellowship (koinonia) with God through the Holy Spirit who lives inside every believer (1 John 1:3–7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).”
• Offer to read the Bible together. Many Muslims have never read the New Testament. Offer a modern translation in their language and read the Gospel of John or Luke side-by-side.
• Pray with confidence. Privately intercede that the Spirit of truth will open blind eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4) and that the Lord will draw them to Himself (John 6:44).

Closing Charge

We do not have to pretend the differences are small—they are eternal in consequence. Yet we are called to proclaim the exclusive, saving truth of Jesus Christ with clarity and compassion. The same Paul who boldly declared “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) is the same Paul who became “all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

May the Lord give us wisdom to speak the truth without arrogance, love without compromise, and boldness without fear—for the glory of Christ and the salvation of many precious Muslim souls.

In His joy and service,
Pastor Barron Greenwalt, En-Joy Ministries