Christianity Flashcards
identify the importance of the Bible in Christianity
The Christian Bible is made up of several texts, some Christian, others borrowed from the Jewish religious tradition.
Many Christian people consider the Bible to be inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and it is thus often referred to as ‘the Word of God’, through which God speaks to his followers via the different authors.
Christianity is the only religion that reads from the New Testament. This shows how Jesus is considered the fulfilment of the Hebrew Bible.
The New Testament retains a strong focus on the last three years of the life of Jesus. It demonstrates to believers that he was not only a religious revolutionary, which includes political dimensions, but also the incarnation of God on Earth.
Christians use the Bible in their own spiritual development, for their devotional lives and their understanding of God.
The Bible also has a role in guiding Christian behaviour and in the practices of Christian people, such as personal prayer and liturgical worship.
the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments (known as the Decalogue) are the laws revealed by God to Moses (Ex 20:1-17 and Deut 5:6-21).
They are broken into two types of commandments that relate to the Commandment to love. While all the commandments may not be literally relevant today they have underlying timeless values.
The commandments should be viewed as life principles and actioned through everyday life.
The Decalogue is an important basis for structuring and living a Chrisitan life. It calls Christians back to loving God alone and loving their neighbours as themselves.
Ten Commandments
First three commandments explain one’s relationship with God
Remaining seven relate to one’s relationship with others
If one is to follow the ten commandments and keep this covenant with God, you will be rewarded and have a relationship with God
– the Beatitudes
New Testament ethical teachings are expressed differently from those of the Old Testament. The language speaks of what is valued or blessed in the interaction with others. New Testament ethical teachings are those outlined by Jesus in his ministry to the people who heard him preach and believed in him. In the Sermon of the Mount (Mt 5:1-12), Jesus says that certain people will be ‘blessed with happiness’. Some of the Beatitudes (Latin for Blessed) also appear in Luke’s Sermon on the Plain (Lk 6:2–26). ‘Beatitudes’ have their origins in the Jewish Scriptures. The beatitudes teach Chrisitan adherents how to live a good life.
Beatitudes lived expression
Christ Mission Possible is a Pentecostal organisation who strive to provide beds and food for the homeless people living on Sydney’s streets. Their initiative “Free Food Shops” provides over 15 000 people each week with free meals. They address this beatitude as they are driven by their Christian beliefs to seek out unjust situations such as homelessness and do something to make a positive change in someone’s life.
– Jesus’ commandment of love
The commandment of love is a summative statement that draws together all the ethical teachings that went before. Jesus’ teaching is about God’s love for human beings and their opportunity for salvation through the love of God and neighbour. A central action that Christians have to channel their love of neighbour is through social justice activities.
The Nature of God and the Trinity
To fulfil God’s plan and to bring forth the Kingdom of God, He sent His Son, the redeemer to restore humanity back to God. Then, God sends the Holy Spirit to assist adherents by sustaining their faith and navigates them throughout their daily lives. The Holy Trinity is centred on a close relationship between God and humanity and it aims to link the Creator with the Redeemer who, with the Holy Spirit keeps humanity binded to the Father.
The Death of Jesus Christ
Chrisitians find importance from Jesus’ Death as it can answer the existential questions Chrisitian adherents pose. Jesus’ Death links to their concept of salvation, as He suffered and sacrificed His life for adherents’ own sins and wrongdoings. In Isaiah 53:5, “he was pierced for our wrongdoings, he was crushed for our injustices’ ‘ the words ``pierced” and “crushed” signify the deadly experience Jesus faced due to adherents’ own fault. This passage reveals Jesus’ agape love He had for His people and the sacrifices He made for Christians to be granted with eternal life. He engaged with the human experience of suffering.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Adherents of Christianity can understand the importance of Jesus being raised from the dead. The Resurrection demonstrates how adherents have eternal life with God because Jesus came back and told His followers about the Kingdom of God which is created because of His sacrifice for Chrisitian adherents. Jesus’ Resurrection reveals how Jesus is fully human and fully divine as He comes to Earth as the flesh of God and resurrected as a divine being to fulfil God’s promise. 1 Corinthian 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” His resurrection brings purpose and meaning to the lives of Chrisitan adherents and significance of their faith. His resurrection emphasises how good prevails against evil and reveals a sense of hope for Christians.
The Humanity of Jesus Christ
Born of a woman, Mother Mary
The Kingdom of God was brought down to humanity when Jesus was human
Through His humanity, he lives in all of us
Jesus’ blood shed was necessary for our salvation
Through His trials he is able to sympathise with us
Allow him to connect to us more than animals or angels
He is able to sympathise and relate to humans and his blood was she for our sins
Jesus sacrificed his human life for those who believed in him
God completely understands the human experience
Jesus relates to human realities
Jesus Cried - John 11:35
Salvation
Salvation refers to redemption and the deliverance from sin. Sin is anything that disconnects people from God
Salvation refers to heaven but is not just limited to heaven - it is all ideas of redemption and what sets a Christian person free and the incarnation and life of Jesus bridges the divide between God and humanity.
The Death of Jesus is seen as a sacrifice made for the atonement for sins - sacrifice being offered. Jesus is taking that place of the sacrifice.
Revelation
God revealed himself to the world in three ways:
- Through creation
- Through scripture
- Through Jesus: Jesus is the primary revelation of God
The Divinity of Jesus Christ
He rose from the dead
He was fully God and fully man
The belief that Jesus was God but not human is docetism
His human blood was she for our sins
Jesus has come in the flesh is the mark of a spirit from God
Jesus was born as a human being while still being totally divine
Jesus healed - Matthew 8:3
Jesus forgave sins
Jesus predicted the future
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT
POLITICAL:
The Roman government practised syncretism, accepting that all religious beliefs, philosophical teachings, and government systems are ultimately compatible, or a reflection of, a larger system – the Roman system.
The Jews understood the world to be divided into two types of people: Jewish and Gentile (non-Jew). The Jews worked hard to disassociate themselves from the Gentiles.
The Jewish religious and governing system was divided between two parties: the Pharisees – the ‘people’s party’, taught the law and traditions of Israel’s patriarchs, and were strictly conforming to Jewish law;
and the Sadducees – the wealthy and conservative leaders who rejected the traditions in favour of political and religious cooperation with the Romans.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT
ECONOMIC:
Tax collectors were local employees considered to be outcasts and traitors.
upper class was made up of the temple priests and priestly aristocracy
middle class was composed of traders and merchants, artisans - The Pharisees (another Jewish sect), sages, scribes, and teachers were also a part of the middle class.
lower class was made of laborers, lepers, crippled etc
