Introduction: Before 9/11 Americans knew very little about Islam. Since 9/11, Islam is the most famous religion, apart from Christianity. Islam is the religion of N. Africa, Indonesia and the Middle East. There are also many Muslims in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and to the South of Russia.
Well-meaning, peace-seeking people have downplayed the differences between Christianity and Islam, in order to bring about harmony in American society. Kindness, fair treatment, and charity is a good thing. However we must not fall into the trap of thinking that Muslims and Christians worship the same God under different names. Allah and Jehovah are not the same God.
Psalm 96:2-5 says:
"Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens."
"All the gods of the nations are idols."
Allah is just another false God, just another idol, worshipped by people who have rejected the God of the Bible, or maybe never even heard the Gospel, and are ignorant of the one true God.
Allah inspired the Koran. Jehovah inspired the Bible.
Allah made His covenant with Ishmael. Jehovah chose Isaac.
Allah especially loves Muslims. Jehovah's chosen people are Israel.
Allah has no son. Jehovah has His only begotten Son, Jesus.
Allah says to convert the world by the sword. Jehovah says to convert the world by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Allah is a simple unity. Jehovah is the Triune, three in one God.
Today, as we continue Christianity 101, I want to tell you a little bit about the Trinity.
Definition: There is only one God. However there are three Persons in the Godhead. Each Person is a separate individual. Each is fully God, just as much as the other two. Yet there is only one God. Three in One, and One in Three.
There are many illustrations which try to explain the Trinity. For example........
an apple: skin, white meat and core--each is "apple." Each is separate. Yet there is only one apple.
an egg: shell, white, and yolk
None of these explanations is perfect, but you get the idea. The Bible supports the doctrine of the Trinity.
There is only one God, according to the Bible:
Rom 3:29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
Rom 3:30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
1. The Bible says that Jesus is God.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
2. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is God.
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
Acts 5:4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
3. Jesus taught that the Father is God.
Mat 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Mat 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Mat 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Mat 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Incidentally, there is another difference between Allah and the God of the Bible. According to Islam, Allah has 99 names. Not one of them is "Father." Yet as Christians we constantly think of God as our loving Heavenly Father.
4. The Bible sometimes gives us scenes in which all three members of the Trinity are there, acting as God, and yet acting independently of each other. For example, on the Mount of Transfiguration, or at Jesus' Baptism:
Mat 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
Mat 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Father: all are active here.
The Old Testament hints about the Trinity:
Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image,
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.
Prov 30:4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (God with us.)
SO WHAT? What difference does it make if we have knowledge about the nature of God as the Triune God? Some people have no time for doctrine! Why do I need to know this? What real difference does it make?
First, let me caution against an attitude that heaps scorn upon Biblical knowledge.
In Matthew 22:29 Jesus criticized the Pharisees:
Mat 22:29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
The Prophet Isaiah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said this:
Isa 5:12 They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of his hands.
Isa 5:13 Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst.
Every part of the Word of God is valuable and important, and it should be our delight as Christians to read it, and study it. And we will profit from it, too. God wasn't just wasting time by telling us about the Trinity.
The greatest practical aspect of the Trinity is that, because of the Trinity, we have a Savior. We have all sinned, and come short of God's glory. We cannot buy salvation. We cannot earn salvation. We need a perfect sacrifice to purchase salvation for us. Who can do that? Can any man die and be my Savior, or your Savior? No. Only a perfect sacrifice, of infinite value, will be acceptable. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, the spotless Son of God, became also the spotless Lamb of God. GOD died for you and me.
Conclusion: There is a wonderful passage by the Apostle Peter, which tells how all of the Trinity took part in our salvation:
1 Pet 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
1 Pet 1:2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
1. God the Father chose us from all eternity to be His children.
2. God the Son redeemed us by His blood.
3. God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, past, present and future.
May God bless our hearts as we recognize the Triune nature of the one true God. Amen.