Christian Beliefs Flashcards
Key attributes describing the nature of God
- Benevolent
- Omniscient
- Omnipotent
- Monotheistic
- Judge
- Eternal
- Transcendent
- Immanent
- Personal
- Forgiving
Biblical evidence for God’s benevolence and forgivingness
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Biblical evidence of a monotheistic faith
- “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3)
- “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below” (Exodus 20:4)
- “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name” (Exodus 20:70
- “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8)
What is the trinity?
The belief that God is presented as a Holy Trinity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Why can Christianity be a monotheistic faith, but still maintain beliefs about the trinity?
All though all 3 persons of the trinity are distinct, perfect and equal, they are the 3 different parts of God.
Why might some Christians not believe in the trinity?
They believe it would make Christianity as polytheistic faith, and would go against the ten commandments, e.g. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3)
Give one example of a denomination that does not believe in the trinity
Unitarians such as the Christadelphians
Biblical evidence about the trinity
John 14:16–17
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed and the trinity
Both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed are split into 3 sections - 1 section about belief in God the Father, 1 section about belief in God the Son and the final section about belief in God the Holy Spirit.
God the Father in Genesis
God the Father speaks in Genesis, and God the Holy Spirit carries out his commands.
Biblical evidence of God the Father’s commands
Genesis 1:10
“God called the dry land ‘Earth’”
What does God’s commands show about God’s relationship
It shows God has authority and power over the world
Biblical evidence for God’s relationship with the world
Genesis 1:31
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”
God the Holy Spirit in Genesis
The Holy Spirit carries out God the Father’s commands in Genesis
Biblical evidence for God the Holy Spirit in Genesis
Genesis 1:2
“the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”
Biblical evidence for God’s relationship with humanity
Genesis 2:7
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being”
- Could be interpreted as the Holy Spirit being breathed into Adam
Was the trinity present in Genesis?
Yes. There is clear evidence for God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. According to John 1, the “Word” was present in the creation, and we can interpret the “Word” to be God the Son.
Biblical evidence of Jesus in Genesis
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
Biblical evidence that humans have authority over the Earth
Genesis 1:28
“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”
What are the 3 different types of interpretation of the Bible?
- Fundamentalism (Creationism)
- Conservatism
- Liberalism
What do all 3 types of Christian believe about Genesis?
- God created the universe
- God acted out of love and goodness, even in the sinful state of humans
- Humans are made in God’s image but lack his perfection
What are the elements of the inconsistent triad?
- God is omnibenevolent
- God is omnipotent
- Evil exists
One of these must not be true, as if God loves us enough to get rid of evil and is powerful enough to do so, but he has not done so
Who proposed the inconsistent triad?
J.L. Mackie
What is moral evil?
Suffering caused by the actions of human beings
What is natural evil?
Suffering not caused by humans, e.g. natural distasters
What is the free will theodicy?
The free will theodicy states that moral evil can exist due to the free will God granted us, which is the most benevolent thing God could have done
Who proposed the free will theodicy?
Augustine
What is the soul making theodicy?
God purposely made us imperfect so that we have the opportunity to grow towards God and perfection.
Who proposed the soul making theodicy?
Irenaeus, but it was later adapted by ohn Hick
How does the soul making theodicy justify natural evil?
We need a corresponding evil to compare good to, for example, you can’t know how it feels to be full if you’ve never been hungry
What are the 4 key roles of Jesus?
- Son of God
- Messiah
- Lord
- Saviour
What are the key beliefs about ‘Jesus as the Son of God’
- Jesus was God incarnate
- Jesus was conceived by the holy spirit
What does ‘Messiah’ mean?
‘Anointed one’ (Chosen one)
What are the key beliefs about ‘Jesus as a Saviour’
God the Father sent Jesus to Earth with the purpose of the atonement sacrifice to atone for original sin (to allow humans to enter heaven), and to provide reconciliation between humans and God.
Biblical evidence about Jesus’s incarnation
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel”
What does ‘Immanuel’ mean?
God with us
What does ‘Agape’ mean?
The highest form of love or charity
What are the 2 greatest commandments?
Matthew 22:37–39
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’”
Biblical evidence of Jesus’s miracles as agape
Matthew 8:3
“Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”
Biblical evidence that we should dedicate ourselves to God?
Luke 10:27
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’”
What happens in the parable of the good Samaritan?
A Jew is attacked, robbed, and left to die. A priest walks by and ignores him. A Levite does the same. A Samaritan (Samaritans and Jews were enemies) walks past and helps the man. Jesus tells the expert in the law to do the same.
What does practising agape love require?
- Forgiveness
- Helping others in need
- Working to achieve peace