THE GOD OF THE BIBLE VS. THE GOD OF ISLAM: A CALL TO DISCERNMENT
A Preaching Article / Sermon
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Scripture Reading
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
— 1 John 4:1
Introduction: The Battle Is Not Emotional, It Is Theological
Beloved, the greatest spiritual battles are not fought with swords, armies, or anger—they are fought with truth and discernment. The Bible commands us not to be silent, not to be naive, and not to confuse tolerance with truth. We are told to test spirits, examine teachings, and measure every claim against God’s revealed Word.
In our generation, one of the most aggressive theological claims is this: “Allah is the same God as the God of the Bible, and Jesus Himself was a Muslim.” This claim is repeated often, confidently, and publicly—but repetition does not make something true. The question is not how loud the claim is, but whether it aligns with divine revelation.
1. You Cannot Redefine God and Still Claim Him
The God of the Bible reveals Himself clearly, consistently, and personally.
He speaks in covenant (Exodus 6:7)
He reveals His name (YHWH)
He enters relationship with His people
He acts in redemptive history
He ultimately reveals Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.”
— Hebrews 1:1–2
Islam denies this final revelation. It denies God’s fatherhood. It denies incarnation. It denies the cross. It denies the resurrection. Yet it still wants to claim identity with the God who revealed Himself through these very acts.
Church, you cannot deny God’s revelation and still claim His identity. A god without covenant, without incarnation, without redemption is not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—it is a theological substitute.
2. Jesus Cannot Be Rebranded Without Being Rejected
Islam speaks of Jesus, but it does not honor Him. It mentions Him, but it empties Him of His glory.
The Bible declares:
Jesus is the eternal Word (John 1:1)
Jesus is God manifested in flesh (1 Timothy 3:16)
Jesus is crucified, risen, and exalted (Philippians 2:8–11)
Islam denies all of this.
“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either.”
— 1 John 2:23
Calling Jesus a “Muslim prophet” is not respect—it is rejection. Any Christ who is not Lord, Savior, and Redeemer is another Jesus, and Scripture warns us strongly about that.
3. Borrowed Language Is Not Shared Revelation
Many Muslims insist that reading the Bible will lead Christians to Islam. But Scripture teaches the opposite:
“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
— Psalm 119:130
The Bible is not a fragmented text. It is a unified redemptive narrative—from creation, to covenant, to Christ, to consummation. The Qur’an, by contrast, does not present a continuous salvific story but scattered references, partial retellings, and repeated corrections of biblical theology.
Borrowing biblical figures while rejecting biblical meaning does not establish continuity—it exposes dependence without authority.
4. Moses Warned Against Foreign Conceptions of God
God warned Israel clearly:
“If a prophet arises… and says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ you shall not listen to him.”
— Deuteronomy 13:1–3
Any god who contradicts prior revelation is not a continuation—it is a replacement. Any theology that rejects God’s redemptive plan while claiming His prophets is engaging in spiritual contradiction.
The issue is not ethnicity, culture, or geography. The issue is faithfulness to revealed truth.
5. True Worship Is Not Ritual Without Relationship
Jesus declared:
“The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”
— John 4:23
Biblical worship flows from regeneration, understanding, and love. It is inward before it is outward. It transforms the heart before it disciplines the body.
Where worship becomes primarily ritual, performance, and legal compliance—without intimacy, assurance, and grace—religion replaces relationship.
Conclusion: Truth Needs No Imitation
The Christian faith does not need to borrow authority, rebrand prophets, or revise revelation. The gospel stands complete, coherent, and confirmed by history, prophecy, and resurrection power.
Islam’s repeated attempts to claim biblical identity while denying biblical truth reveal not confidence, but contradiction. Truth invites examination. Error demands imitation.
Church, we are not called to hate—but we are called to discern. We are not called to insult—but we are called to proclaim. And we are never called to surrender truth for the sake of false unity.
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
— John 17:17
Final Pastoral Exhortation
Stand firm. Know your Scriptures. Love people—but never compromise truth. For when truth is silenced, deception grows bold. And when Christ is diminished, salvation itself is endangered.
Jesus Christ is Lord. Not a prophet. Not a revision. Not a footnote.
Lord.
Amen.
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