Similarities between Islam and Christianity

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As for the faith vs. works issue, not all Christians believe that salvation is by faith alone. The Bible itself contradicts itself on this issue. Revelation foretells a judgment of people "according to their works". Catholicism certainly stresses works while some Protestant apologists I've debated with believe salvation is by a blend of the two factors.

The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is by faith alone and that believers should work for God because we are already saved, not in order to obtain salvation. Ephesians 2:8-10 says,

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people who profess to be Christians but base their beliefs on something other than the Bible.

After salvation Christians will be judged for their works and will be rewarded for them but this will not affect whether they are saved or not. First Corinthians 3:12-15 says,

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Another question, then. Was Jesus born during the reign of Herod the Great (5 BCE or prior) or during the administration of Quirinius of Syria (6 CE or after)?

Perhaps you can find the answer here:
http://www.gotquestions.org/Quirinius-census.html