Summary
Highlights
Shamoun stresses not judging Christianity based on the behavior of those who claim to be Christians. He asserts that true Christians follow the scriptures, which demands that they repent and live godly lives.
Sam Shamoun explains the importance of being prepared to answer objections to Christianity, referencing 1 Peter 3:15, which commands Christians to defend their faith. He highlights the need to take objections captive for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Shamoun outlines common Muslim objections to Christian beliefs, including the Trinity, the incarnation of God, and the authority/preservation of the Bible. These are key areas that Christians must be ready to discuss.
Shamoun suggests using the Quran to argue for the authority of the Bible, pointing out that the Quran tells Muslims to confirm the scriptures of Jews and Christians. He uses Quran 2:40-43 and 5:43-48 to show that the Quran says the Bible is authoritative and has never been changed.
Shamoun challenges the assumption that God can only have a son through physical means, referencing Quran 6:101. He uses the virgin birth of Jesus, which Muslims also acknowledge, to highlight the inconsistency in this logic.
Shamoun addresses the misconception that the Trinity implies three gods, explaining that there are three persons in one God. He suggests using analogies and communicating the Trinity as God, His Eternal Word (Jesus), and His Eternal Spirit.
Shamoun acknowledges that Jesus never explicitly said 'I am God, worship me,' but points out that Muslims accept that Jesus is the Messiah, the Word of God, and a Spirit from Him, even though Jesus never said these things in the Quran. He referenced Hebrews 1:8-12.
Shamoun clarifies that God didn't *have* to kill someone. God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, came to pay the debt of sin out of infinite love. He explains that mankind could never be good enough to pay the debt of sin, so God voluntarily chose to die in order to save everyone from His wrath.
Shamoun states that the Bible does not prophecy about Muhammad. The bible says he is an antichrist because he denies that God is the father and Jesus as the son
Shamoun refutes the idea that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. He emphasized that the God they love is triune Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Shamoun mentioned that the similarities would not prove that they're the same God because one of things that Allah said about himself in more than one occassion that he's the best of all deceivers. Therefore, according to Shamoun, Allah is Satan in disguise.
Shamoun discusses the similarities and differences in the Quran. Emphasizing that those similarities in both scriptures does not mean the Islamic Jesus is the True Jesus of History. A concept of Jesus in Islam is that he wasn't killed or crucified.
Shamoun explains why there are those contradictions, the Quran has two parts, Meccan Period and Medinan Period. During the Meccan period, he had verses where teaching tolerance, but when he migrated to Medina, his army was willing to kill and be killed.
Shamoun, quoting scriptures from two or three witnesses a matter is settled in His wisdom and providence made sure He didn't give one account, but four accounts inspires by the Holy Spirit.
Shamoun stresses that Jesus didn't abolish the law because our Lord said in Matthew 5:17-18, 'He didn't come to abolish but fulfill.' That basically meant he came to perfect and complete the spirit and essence of all law.
Shamoun suggests that crucifixion was needed fotr God to both perfectly just and loving/compassionate. As judge, everyone is guilty of sin, but in a father's love, he forgave and in the the person of Jesus Christ/His Son paid the debt for the people.