Day 6 Evangelizing Muslims from Abraham to Jesus Christ

Evangelizing a Muslim using Abraham as a focal point can be a highly effective approach, as Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic) is a significant figure in both Islam and Christianity. In Islam, Abraham is revered as a prophet, and his life and faith play an important role in Islamic teachings. By focusing on the shared respect for Abraham, you can open a path for deeper conversations about the nature of God, faith, and ultimately, the gospel message. Here are steps for evangelizing a Muslim using Abraham:

Start with Common Ground: The Reverence of Abraham

• Shared Reverence: Muslims believe that Abraham (Ibrahim) is a prophet and a key figure in their faith. He is seen as a model of obedience to God (Allah) and is mentioned extensively in the Qur’an. Christians also revere Abraham, seeing him as the father of faith, who trusted in God’s promises even in difficult circumstances. This common reverence for Abraham forms a natural bridge for dialogue. Both the Qur’an and the Bible agree that Abraham was called by God to leave his homeland and journey to a land that God promised him (Genesis 12:1–3, Qur’an 2:124). His faith and obedience to God are emphasized in both texts.

Highlight the Covenant God Made with Abraham

• The Covenant in Islam and Christianity: Both Muslims and Christians recognize the importance of the covenant God made with Abraham. In the Qur’an (2:124–141), God promises Abraham that his descendants will become a great nation. This is a common point where Muslims and Christians agree. However, the understanding of this promise and how it applies to salvation is a significant difference.

• The Promise of a Descendant: Christians believe that God’s promise to Abraham was ultimately fulfilled through Jesus Christ, the descendant of Abraham, who brought salvation to the world. Muslims, however, believe that the descendants of Abraham include both the Jewish people (through Isaac) and the Arab people (through Ishmael), but they do not recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Key Verse to Share: In Genesis 22:18, God promises Abraham that “through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” Christians interpret this as pointing to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of this promise, the one through whom salvation is offered to all people.

Emphasize Abraham’s Faith and Obedience to God

Faith, Obedience, and Trust in God’s Plan: Abraham’s life demonstrates radical faith and obedience to God. In both the Bible and the Qur’an, Abraham’s willingness to trust God in everything—especially when asked to sacrifice his son (Isaac in the Bible, and traditionally considered Ishmael in the Qur’an)—is highlighted as a key aspect of his relationship with God.

In the Bible: Genesis 22 narrates the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and Abraham obeys without hesitation, trusting that God would provide. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul points to Abraham as the father of faith (Romans 4). In the Qur’an: Surah 37:100-113 recounts Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son (Ishmael), but Allah intervenes, providing a ram to be sacrificed instead.

By focusing on Abraham’s unwavering trust in God, you can draw a parallel to the Christian understanding of faith in Jesus Christ. Just as Abraham trusted God even when it seemed impossible, Christians believe that they must trust in God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. This is a powerful way to transition into the message of the gospel.

Point to the Ultimate Sacrifice: Jesus as the Fulfillment of Abraham’s Faith

The Sacrifice of Isaac/Ishmael: In both the Bible and the Qur’an, the near-sacrifice of Abraham’s son is an essential moment of testing and obedience. Christians believe that God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac, symbolizing God’s provision for salvation through Jesus, the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. Christians believe that Jesus’ death on the cross is the fulfillment of God’s provision for humanity’s sins—just as the ram was provided as a substitutionary sacrifice in the story of Abraham.

Key Concept to Share: In Christianity, Jesus is often referred to as the “Lamb of God,” who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Christians believe that just as Abraham’s faith and obedience led to God’s provision of a sacrificial lamb, God’s ultimate provision is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Connecting to Islam: Muslims revere Jesus (Isa) as a prophet, and they believe in his miraculous birth and his ascension to heaven. While they do not accept the crucifixion of Jesus, you can use this shared reverence to explain that Christians believe Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham—both as a descendant of Abraham and as the one who provides salvation for all people through His sacrifice.

The Promise of Blessing to All Nations

• God’s Promise of Blessing to Abraham’s Descendants: The promise that through Abraham’s descendants all nations would be blessed is a key theme in both Islam and Christianity. Christians believe this blessing comes through Jesus Christ, who, as a descendant of Abraham, offers salvation to all nations, not just to Israel or Arabs.

Key Verse: Galatians 3:8-9—“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

Christians believe that through Jesus Christ, the promise made to Abraham to bless all nations is fulfilled. You can explain that through faith in Jesus, individuals from all nations can receive God’s blessing—salvation and eternal life.

Address the Concept of the Sacrifice of Jesus as the Ultimate Fulfillment

• Understanding the Atonement: While Muslims do not accept the Christian doctrine of atonement through Jesus’ death, they do believe that Allah is just and merciful. You can explain that Christians believe Jesus’ death on the cross was the perfect atonement for sin—He was both the Lamb of God (the perfect sacrifice) and the High Priest (the one who intercedes between God and humanity).

• Why Jesus Had to Die: Help a Muslim understand that, in Christian belief, Jesus’ death on the cross was not only a demonstration of God’s love, but also a means by which God’s justice was satisfied and humanity was reconciled to God.

Invite to Faith in Jesus as the Fulfillment of Abraham’s Faith

• The Ultimate Test of Faith: Abraham’s faith was tested by God, and his willingness to sacrifice his son is seen as the ultimate expression of trust. In the same way, Christians believe that trusting in Jesus Christ—who sacrificed His life for the forgiveness of sins—is the ultimate act of faith.

• Faith in the Promised Savior: Emphasize that just as Abraham trusted in God’s promise of a descendant who would bring blessings to all nations, Christians believe that Jesus Christ is that promised descendant who fulfills the hope of salvation for all people.

I hope I have been able to show that by using Abraham as a point of contact for evangelism Christians can have an effective witness because of the shared reverence for him in both Islam and Christianity. By starting with the similarities between the two faiths, you can build a bridge to discussing deeper theological differences, particularly the role of Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. Through patient and respectful dialogue, you can invite Muslims to explore how Jesus fulfills the promise of a blessing to all nations, leading them to the gospel message of salvation through Christ alone.