The site's creator, Glenn, has written a series directed toward Muslims, which concludes with this article. I think it is quite a helpful article, not just for Muslims, but for believers in Christ Jesus as well. For one thing, it clarifies what faith is and what it isn't.
Article excerpt:
All the work required to be done for our redemption from the penalty of our sins, for our forgiveness, for us to be given eternal life, and for us to be adopted as children of God was done by Jesus, on the Cross, in His death--at the command of God the Father.
We receive all this bundle of gifts (forgiveness, eternal life, new relationship with God, ransom from penalty) by simple faith or trust. We do not work, obey, or submit to God to earn forgiveness or to merit eternal life --we work, obey, and submit to God because He has already given to us (for free) this forgiveness and this eternal life.
In fact, as odd as it sounds, we do not ASK God for salvation--we TRUST Him for salvation. We take Him at His word, that He paid the penalty for our sins and that therefore, there is no penalty left for us to pay when we die. We believe His message that He has done this for us for us on the Cross, and the moment we begin to understand, realize, and then rest in that fact--He gives us our new status as forgiven, our new spirit with eternal life in it, our new 'name' before the angels as His adopted children.
Let me be clear what this faith or trust includes (or requires):
- Faith includes a confidence in God that the death of Jesus did exactly what it was meant to do--pay for our sin-debt
- Faith includes a heart-to-heart trust in Jesus (and God the Father through Him) as the One who will take us to heaven someday
- Faith includes the recognition that our rescue from punishment is solely the work of God through Jesus
- Faith includes the understanding that our rescue does not depend upon anything good we are or do--it only depends upon the perfect work of God in repairing the problem our sin caused in our relationship with Him. We 'turn to God' for our salvation, and 'turn away from' trusting our own good deeds or character for our hope for the future.
- Faith includes a 'change of perspective' (repentance) toward God--we take His judgment seriously, and we take His provision for our salvation seriously.
Faith does NOT include (or require):
- Prayer (People can pray to God without actually trusting Him)
- Public confession of Christ (There are people who make public profession who do not actually trust God; and there are 'secret disciples' who are called believers in the New Testament)
- Joining a Christian church, or leaving the synagogue or mosque
- Enduring persecution when there is a different option (e.g., the bible talks about prophets of the Lord hiding in caves to avoid being killed by evil rulers, and Jesus taught us to 'flee from a city' when persecuted)
- Commitment to 'be good' (this can be something we do AFTER we come to faith, and will result in service to God and others--but it is a result of trust, not a part of trust).
- Sorrow or guilt over the past (this is an emotional experience that often comes BEFORE faith--helping us realize we need the rescue from penalty that Jesus provided on the Cross--but it is not a part of trust or faith in Christ.)
All of these are good things--many of which God desires for us to do after we have trusted Him for salvation--but they are not part of the faith or trust that God requires of us for eternal life and for forgiveness.
Trust is an internal attitude, a choice or realization one comes upon. When you realize and begin to believe that Jesus was who He (and God the Father) said He was, and that He did the things for our salvation that He (and the prophets) said He did, then your confidence (that this is true) is the core of biblical faith.
Here, again, is the article quoted above.
If you're looking for the rest of the series, it begins here.
