Christianity and Islam: A Brief Comparison

Question

Can you briefly compare and contrast Christianity and Islam? I enjoy all your charts on Thirdmill. Perhaps you can use one in your answer?

Answer

While any compare and contrast would be very general in nature, perhaps this will help.

Topic	Christianity	Islam
Angels	Created non-human beings made by God. Some good, some fell and are evil.	Created from a luminous origin and some from other substances by god. The majority of Islamic scholars consider all angels sinless.
Atonement	Jesus Christ died for and atoned his people's sin alone.	There is no atonement in Islam, just a confession of sin and repentance.
Bible	Inspired, inerrant, authoritative, and infallible in its original manuscripts.	Though respected, it is considered corrupted and is correct only insofar as it agrees with the Koran.
Crucifixion	Jesus atoned for the sins of His elect alone upon the cross.	Jesus did not die upon the cross.
Devil	A fallen evil angel.	Iblis, a fallen jinn. Jinn are not angels, but created beings made from fire.
Eternity	Christians will be upon the new heavens and new earth for eternity and the unrepentant in an eternal hell.	Paradise for faithful Muslims and hell for those who are not.
God	God is Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.	God is Allah, one person.
Heaven	God's dwelling place and one day it shall join the new heavens and new earth for the glory of God.	Paradise is a place of unimaginable bliss for Muslims.
Hell	A place of eternal punishment and torment from the presence of God.	A place of eternal punishment and torment.
Holy Spirit	God, third person of the Trinity, who created the universe, inspired Scripture, regenerates, gifts, etc.	The archangel Gabriel who gave the words of the Koran to Muhammad.
Jesus	God/Man, second person of the Trinity, the eternal savior of God's elect.	A great prophet, second to Muhammad. Jesus is not the only begotten Son of God or divine.
Judgment Day	Occurs the day of resurrection by God/Christ; Christians go to heaven and the unrepentant go to hell. Based upon faith alone in Christ which leads to good works in Christ and his glory.	Occurs the day of resurrection by Allah; Muslims go to paradise and the unrepentant go to hell. Based solely upon one's deeds.
Koran	Uninspired work of Muhammad. It is not Scripture.	Final revelation of God to all of mankind; given by the archangel Gabriel to Muhammad.
Mankind	Made in the image of God; God breathed life into man.	Made in the image of god; Allah breathed life into man.
Muhammad	Uninspired ruthless sinful man who started the Islamic religion and wrote the Koran.	The last and greatest of all the prophets of Allah whose Koran is the greatest inspired book.
Original Sin	Originated from the Fall in the garden.	Original sin doesn't exist. All are born sinless until they rebel against God.
Practices	Lord's Supper; baptism; prayer; worship in church, reading Scripture, acts of charity.	Five pillars of Islam: Testament that there is one god and Muhammad is his messenger; prayer five times daily; fast during Ramadan; charity to the poor; pilgrimage.
Resurrection	Bodily resurrection, some to heaven, some to hell.	Bodily resurrection, some to paradise, some to hell.
Salvation	A free gift of God to his people which is not earned or merited by works.	Forgiveness of sins is obtained by Allah's grace without a mediator. Muslims must believe Allah exists, that Muhammad is his prophet, and follow the commands given in the Koran.
Son of God	Phrase used to refer to the fact that Jesus is the God-man.	Phrase used to refer to the literal son of God. Jesus is not the son of Allah.
Trinity	One God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.	The Father, Jesus, and Mary.
Word	Jesus is the Word become flesh.	Allah's command of existence which brought about Jesus being formed in the womb of Mary.
Year Founded	Before the very beginning within the covenant of grace.	610 A.D.