christian beliefs Flashcards
Jesus birth
Matthew gospel
- Born in a house.
- Visited by wise men from the East
- Followed a star
- Brought gifts frankincense, myrrh, Gold
- Visited Herod who told them to let him know where Jesus was born-told by an angel not to go back
Problem of evil by Epicurus
- if god is all loving and all powerful, wouldn’t he want to and be able to stop evil? so perhaps he isnt omnibenevolent or omnipotent
- concludes that God does not exist
how do Christians respond to the problem of evil
- Evil is a punishment from God by human sin- Augustine
- Evil is the work of the devil
- Evil allows humans to develop by showing qualities and virtues such as compassion and bravery to become more like God
- Evil is a result of abuse of free will (Irenaeus, Hick, Augustine)
- Evil is a test from God (Irenaeus, Hick)
Jesus birth
Lukes gospel
- Mary told she will give birth to the son of the most high by the Angel Gabriel
- Born in a manger in Bethelehem
- travelled there for a census but no room in the inns
- Shepherds told of his birth by a heavenly host of angels
- no gifts
Meaning of the incarnation and why Christians believe in it
Means God in flesh.
- Angel Gabriel says she will give birth to the “Son of the most High”.
- Jesus performed miracles (walked on water, virgin birth)
- Baptism God says “This is my son with whom I am well pleased.”
what happened before and during the crucifixion (holy week)
- Jesus foretells his death at the last supper
- betrayed by Judas
- arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane by the Roman soldiers and Jewish high priests
- illegal trial at night by the high priests
- chosen to die over Barabbas
- whipped and mocked by the roman soldiers.
- They drew lots over his clothes and gave him a crown of thorns.
what happened at the crucifixion
- Jesus was made to carry his cross and was helped by Simon of Cyrene.
- offered wine to drink but refused it
- Romans divided up his clothes by drawing lots
- nailed to the cross
- Those below mocked him and asked him to save himself if he really was the son of God.
- crucified between two thieves
- As he dies, he cries out to God “Why have you forsaken me?” and he is offered wine vinegar
- When he dies the earth shakes and the temple curtain comes down
- Many women mourned him
what is atonement?
To make humans and God one again
Christians believe that through Jesus’ death, he took the punishment for human sin so that God could be reconciled with humans again
Jesus was a sacrifice for the sins of humans.
why is incarnation important to christians
- Enabled God to atone for human sin-Jesus was the sacrifice-lamb of God. Made up for the Fall of Adam and Eve
- God could understand human suffering.
- God could show humans the perfect way to behave through Jesus and his teaching e.g. love thy neighbour.
why is the crucifixion important for christians
- Was the sacrifice for Adam’s sin and the Fall-lamb of God-Isaiah says “he was sent like a lamb to the slaughter”
- Atoned for sin and so reconciled humans with God-the goat-was the scape goat for evil just as the Jews used the scape goat to take on all their sins in the Old Testament
- Helped God to understand human suffering-went through it himself.
- Showed God’s grace-suffered to save humans ”For God so loved the world he gave his only son.”
- Showed Jesus was the Son of God-the tombs of the Holy men came open, there was an earthquake and the temple curtain came down.
- Crucifixion enabled eternal life to happen ”So that all who believe in him may have eternal life.”
why is atonement important for christians
- It shows God’s grace (love) because he sacrificed his son to bring humans back to him. “For God so loved the world….”
- “So all who believe in him may have eternal life.” “I am the way, the truth..no one can get to the Father except through me.”
- Jesus overturned Adam and Eve’s sin. St Paul refers to him as the second Adam. He is the lamb sacrifice. Last supper, Jesus says “This is my blood which I shed for you.”
- He fulfils Old Testament prophecy as Isaiah predicts that there will be a suffering servant who will die for the sins of others. “He was pierced for our transgressions.”
facts about the ressurection
• His tomb was found empty by three women-Mary, Mary the mother of James and Joanna
• The women were told by Two angels-why do you look for the living amongst the dead.
• In another account, Mary visits the tomb on her own and mistakes Jesus for gardener.
• The disciples did not believe the women. Peter has to go and look in the tomb himself
• Jesus appeared to the disciples and they only believed once he broke the bread and drunk the wine with them.
• Doubting Thomas asks to see Jesus’ wounds.
• In one account, there is an earthquake and the stone in front of the tomb rolls away.
• St Paul says that Jesus appeared to five hundred women and men after he had appeared to the disciples.
what is the ascension
40 days after Jesus’ resurrection, he ascends into heaven in front of his disciples. He tells his disciples that they must spread the message of good news and baptise in the name of the Father , Son and Holy Spirit.
important bible quotes for topic
- “for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that all who believe in him may have eternal life.”
- Jesus-“I and the Father are one.”
- “No one can get to the Father, except through me.”
- “This is my blood which I shed for you”
- “He was pierced for our transgressions.” Isaiah foretelling the suffering servant.
- Scape goat used by the Israelites to atone for their sin.
- Adam and Eve-the Fall.
why is the resurrection important for christians
- shows Jesus has defeated death and so they can defeat death and have eternal life. It offers hope. “No one can get to the father except through me.”
- evidence that Jesus was the Son of God.
- It shows God’s grace (love) that he sacrificed his son to offer eternal life to humans. “For God so loved the world he gave his only son, so all who believe in him shall not perish but may have eternal life.” St John’s gospel.
- It shows that the Fall has been overcome. Whilst all humans had inherited sin from Adam so were condemned to death and hell, Jesus’ resurrection shows that those who believe in him can have eternal life and be rid of original sin.
