One of the major tenants of Islam is that Jesus is not God. There is no sin greater in this false religion than to say that someone is equal to Allah. They also teach that, because we believe in the Trinity, Christians are polytheists. They say we believe in three gods. They believe that the Trinity is composed of the Father, the Son, and Mary. Yes, you read that right. The reason the get this wrong is, Muhammad’s contact with Christianity was mostly with a form of Catholicism. We know that Catholicism worships Mary, although they the call it veneration, which means worship.

Along with this is the false teaching that Jesus did not die on the cross, nor did He raise from the grave. If they were right that He did not die on the cross, it would be normal to believe that He did not raise from the grave. This is an extremely important issue because Christ died for our sins, and rose again for our justification.

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The following two verses in the Qur’an are used to teach that Jesus did not die on a cross. They claim Allah rescued Isa (Jesus) and took Him to heaven.

Surah 4:157-158

“And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so like Isa ……and they killed him not for sure. Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; …”

Many Muslim scholars suggest that the image of Jesus was taken off of Him and put on Judas, who went to the cross to fool everyone into thinking that Jesus died on the cross. They say that the disciples either bribed or overpowered the Roman soldiers and stole the body of Judas, which they thought was Christ’s, in order to make everyone believe that Christ resurrected from the grave.

If this is true, here are the implications:

1. We must blame Allah for the fact that Christians believe Christ died on the cross. Allah is responsible for billions of people believing something contrary to Islam. This is a serious flaw in the Qur’an making Allah responsible for the grand deception that is the hallmark of the Christian faith.
2. There is another contradiction here because there are two passages in the Qur’an that tell us Jesus died. In Surah 3:144 the Qur’an says that all the prophets before Muhammad have died. Jesus is not specifically mentioned in that verse, but He is included as one of the prophets who existed before Muhammad. However, in Surah 5:75 we clearly find that Jesus died.

The Messiah [Jesus], son of Mary, was only a messenger; messengers before him [Muhammad] had indeed passed away.

Which is it? Was Jesus rescued into heaven by Allah or did He die? We have a contradiction.

3. We can turn to a number of sources that validate the Biblical record about the crucifixion. A number of secular historic records authenticate the crucifixion.

• • Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews – Book 18,20
  • Testimonium Flavianum
  • Roman Records – Annals of Pontius Pilate
  • Greek archeologist Vasilius Tzaferis (1968)

We also have the validation of the disciples’ testimony and actions. Twelve times Christ made public and private appearances after His death and resurrection.

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)

Paul tells us that the resurrected Christ was seen of Peter (Cephas), the twelve, more than five hundred brethren at once, of James, then all of the apostles, and finally, of Paul, himself. At the time Paul wrote this, most of the five hundred were still alive, and he challenged them to check it out with these eye witnesses.

The resurrection had such an effect on the disciples that they were changed from a cowering group who were hiding for fear of being killed, to being prepared to face tortuous deaths for this truth. The burden of proof lies upon Muslims to explain why the disciples gave up their lives for a hoax. They have no proof to offer, except the contradictory evidence mentioned above from the Qur’an.

Here is what the Bible says about the resurrection:

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. (1 Corinthians 15:12-20)

This passage lays out some very important principles. Either there is no resurrection from the dead, and Christ is not risen. If there is a resurrection from the dead, then Christ is risen. From this we learn that not only are Christians without hope without the resurrection of Christ, the Muslims are also without hope because they will not rise either if there is no resurrection. If the only hope we have is in this life, we are of all men most miserable. Death is not the end of things, there is more to come. One of the things to come is the judgment.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)

The righteous, those who are in Christ and have His righteousness, will have their works judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Those who die without Christ will stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment and be condemned to an eternity in the Lake of Fire.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell1 delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

As you can see, the issue of Christ’s death on the cross, and His resurrection, is no small matter. Our eternal destiny stands on the fact that God sent His only begotten Son to die and pay the sin debt we are unable to pay. His resurrection is the basis of our justification. Without these two things, there is no hope after this life. It is important that we get the message of the Gospel out to the whole world, including those who are devout in some other religion. Islam is the one that most opposes the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the one we must work the hardest to reach. There are some 1.7 billion Muslims in this world who will spend an eternity in the Lake of Fire if we don’t reach them with the truth.

Let us not fear, we have the truth and the power of God on our side. If we lift of Christ, He will draw them to Himself.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach2 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. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me. (John 12:32)

It is time we roll up our sleeves and get to work. Let me close with this one last verse:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)