4Discernment.com

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Dear Muslim Friends,

Some have asked, since the Bible says that a Christian's sins past, present and future are forgiven, doesn’t that give them a license to sin?  I can’t help but wonder what is it that this person would like to do if they did not believe they were constrained by a threat of hell?  Are they so set in a desire to do evil that no promise of reward nor threat less than hell itself could serve as a deterrent to them? Sometimes this question says something about the person asking it.  If they had a “license to sin” would they want to employ it night and day breaking God’s commandments?  Do they love sin and merely want to escape the punishment of it?  Do they believe that would bring them joy or benefit? 

The same Bible that tells me my sins are forgiven, tells me: 1) God’s commandments are for my benefit, and there are rewards for obedience 2) That sin is bad for me and will make me miserable 3) That God will discipline me for my disobedience and His discipline is not pleasant 4) If we truly believe we have been forgiven then we should respond in thankful and loving obedience.  

1.  God’s commandments are not grievous they are really good, and good for us!  Why would I want to break them? 

1 John 5:3 KJV ​"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

Psalm 19:7-11 KJV "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (8) The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  (9)  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  (10) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (11)  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."

2. Sin is not good for us

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- Sin is a form of bondage 

-  John 8:34 KJV "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, ​Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
- Sin made Cain miserable, and sin comes to master us when we commit it.
- Gen 4:4-7 KJV "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  (5)  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  (6)  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? (7)  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."

​- The way of the transgressor is hard: 
- Pro 13:15 KJV "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
- Example: unworthily partaking of a ceremony recounting the sacrifice of Jesus, caused people to get sick and die.

 - 1 Co 11:29-32  "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

3.   Just because our salvation is not lost, does not mean there are no consequences, God disciplines His children and when God disciplines His children it can be very tough

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-Heb 12:5-11 KJV  "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  (6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (7)  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  (9)  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  (10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.  (11)  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

- Psalm 38:1-5 KJV  "A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.  (2)  For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.  (3)  There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.  (4)  For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. (5)  My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness."

(Read the rest of the Psalm on your own)

- Psalm 39:11 KJV  When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

- The joy of ones salvation can be taken but not their salvation

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​- Luke 7:36-50 KJV "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.  (37) And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,  (38)  And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.  (39)  Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.  (40)  And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.  (41) There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. (42)  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?  (43)  Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.  (44) And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  (45)  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.  (46) My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  (47)  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.  (48)  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.  (49)  And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?  (50) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

In this age of "tolerance" and fear to offend others, some have adopted a view that the god of Islam and the God of the Bible are the same. While both Christians and Muslims claim their God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob only one view can be correct. May the chart below show you that Yahweh of Christianity and Allah of Islam are very distinct in many aspects and we are not to confuse the two.

A great resource is Answering-Islam.org

Allah

Creates good and evil (Sura 4:78; 113:2)

Loves only Muslims (Sura 2:195; 2:190; 2:276)

Changes his mind frequently (Sura 16:101, 13:39; 17:86;
87:6-8)

Guarantees hell for a time for believers (Sura 19:71-72)

Lies when convenient (Sura 3:54; 8:30)

​Leads astray whom he wills (Sura 7:178-179; 13:31; 95:4-5, 4:142; 39:57; 18:17)

Is a simple unity (Sura 4:171; 5:73)

​Doesn’t demand eternal justice (Sura 7:8; 21:47; 23:101-103; 53:32; 5:39; 11:114; Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadith No. 17, 504)

Forgives believers when he pleases (Sura 2:284; 3:129; 4:48, 116)

Does not have a son (Sura 112:3-4, Sura 72:1-5, 19:92)

Many times refuses atonement and intercession (Sura 2:186; 6:51, 94, 10:18; 32:4; 19:95)

Demands sin (Muslim, Book 37, Hadith No. 6622 & 6621;
Book 33 Hadith No. 6421)

Is unknowable an impersonal; a master of slaves (Sura 4:172; 5:118; 6:18; 7:194; 15:49; 19:93)

Yahweh

Creates only good (Genesis 1:1; 1 Timothy 4:4; James 1:17)

Loves all mankind (John 3:16)

Does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17)

Guarantees heaven for believers (John 6:47; 10:28; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:11-13)

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Does not lie; He stands by His promises (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29)

Leads people in the path of life (Psalm 23; 139:24; John
14:6)

Is a complex unity: such as infinity + infinity + infinity = infinity (John 10:30; 14:9; Romans 8:9-11)

Demands eternal justice (Ezekiel 18:4; Isaiah 65:6; Psalm 37:28; Isaiah 30:18; 42:1-4; 61:8; Jeremiah 9:24; Matthew 16:27)

Always forgives believers (Colossians 2:13; 1 John 1:9)

Has a son (Psalm 2; Proverbs 30:4; Matthew 3:17; 17:5)

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Provides atonement and intercession (Deuteronomy 32:43; Isaiah 53:12; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25)

Hates sin (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Numbers 19:1-2; Exodus 19:6; Psalm 119:142, 160; Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 1:15-16)

Is a personal God (Jeremiah 24:7; 1:24; John 10:14; 4:9; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; Revelation 21:7)

Islam