In comparing Christianity with Islam we find many areas where the differences are slight, and other areas where they are more profound. In understanding the Christian concept of sin and wrong doing, the Bible teaches us that we have a problem with our hearts. We humans have a sin nature - "original sin" in English and "Ursünde" in German. We cannot save ourselves by merely changing our actions – we need a new heart and a new life (Ephesians 2:1-5). The remedy for the human problem in Islam is to repent from evil and seek to do good. The Christian perspective goes much deeper, that we need an entirely new nature, new direction, new presence within us, and a new me and a new you. We gain this through Christ: "Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). The Islamic heaven is a sensual paradise where earthly desires are constantly fulfilled. The biblical teaching of heaven is a place where the evil desires of the human heart are removed and only God's will is desired and done. Troubles, sicknesses, and problems we have here are taken away, and they will remain removed because we will be changed: "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:8-9).
