What Does The Koran Say About The Bible And Jesus

by Kerby Rials

In Sura 5:50-51 (46-47) Allah says, "And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was revealed before him and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that was (revealed) before it in the Torah -- a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off evil. Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed, such are evil-livers."

In Sura 4:162 (164) Mohammed wrote that "Allah spake directly unto Moses." Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible.

In Sura 3:40 (45) it is written "O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah)."

Jesus says in the Koran to "Keep your duty to Allah, and obey me, for Allah is my Lord and your Lord." (Surah 3:50-51 (44)).

What Is This Gospel That We Must Obey, As the Koran Says?

In Surah 19:31 (30), Jesus says, "I am the slave of Allah! He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a prophet."

Jesus, we know, was not a false prophet because the Koran says he was righteous and the Bible does as well. We also know that the Bible which Mohammed had during his lifetime (about 600 A.D.) is the same one that we have today. Copies of the books of the Bible have been discovered that were written hundreds of years before Muhammad was born (such as the Dead Se scrolls, found in 1948 in Palestine). When these ancient Bibles were compared with the Bibles we have today, no changes were found. God has protected his words from alteration.

God's words also predict the future. Jesus spoke prophecies which have come to pass in our lifetime. For instance, in Matt 24:14 Jesus predicted 2,000 years ago that the good news (Evangel) he teaches us would be preached in the entire world. Until recently that was not fulfilled, but today in former communist countries and all over the world the gospel of Jesus is being preached.

What is this gospel that we must obey, as the Koran says?

Jesus said it in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but by me." The importance of Jesus to our salvation is shown in Acts 2:37-41, after the Jews were convicted of their sins and asked the Apostle Peter what they should do. Peter said, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call. With many other words he warned them and he pleaded with them. Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Jesus said to Matthew the tax collector, "Follow me," and he left his office immediately to follow Jesus. Jesus said to the fisherman, "Follow me" and they left their nets and their boats and immediately followed Jesus. Today Jesus is speaking to you. "Follow me." What will your answer be?

To follow Jesus means to turn from our old life of sin and seek to live for God. You may think, as I did, that you cannot live a Christian life -- that you are too sinful. But I have good news for you! "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, and all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) The Bible says that when we come to God he washes our sins away and gives us a new heart, one that wants to do what is right. This is how you can live right -- God will change your evil heart.

Repentance and baptism is a serious step -- but without it we have no hope. Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3-5).

If you are ready to follow Jesus, then you can pray the prayer below:

Father in heaven, I come to you today in the name of Jesus. I believe that he died on the cross for my sins and that he rose again on the third day. I confess that I am a sinner. I ask you to forgive me. Give me a new heart that wants to do what is right. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. I commit my life to you and I trust you. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and meant it, then your sins are forgiven! You have eternal life! The Bible says, "I have written these things to you so that you might know that you HAVE eternal life." (I John 5:13). Now you need to grow in your walk with God. It is not enough to begin a race, you must finish it! You must live the rest of your life for God or you may lose this salvation that you have right now. And to do so you need the help of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Here is what we suggest you do: get a Bible and read it every day. Pray every day to God in the name of Jesus for at least 15 minutes. Pray from your heart. Tell others about Jesus, and meet at least once a week with other Christians to encourage, pray, and teach one another. God will help you. "For He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it." (Phil. 1:6)