Christianity: Belief In God Flashcards
What is the Trinity?
Christian belief of God as one being, but in 3 ‘persons’ (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
Each of these are fully God, but they are not three Gods- they are one God.
What is the Nicene Creed?
A statement of belief in the Trinity that reveals the nature of each of the 3 persons, which many Christians recite in Church
What does the Nicene Creed say about:
God the Father
- Watches over us
- Creator of the universe
- ‘Almighty’ (having complete power)
What does the Nicene Creed say about:
God the Son
- Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, ‘Lord’
- Forgiver
- Spreads the word
- Updated message of God
- ‘Sheperd’ (Son of man, also human with human faults)
What does the Nicene Creed say about:
God the Holy Spirit
- Part of us
- Faith on Earth
- Leads you to God
- ‘Giver of Life’ (He is spiritually active in the world, helps them to know God and worship him, equips and empowers believers)
QUOTE: The Bible highlights the importance of each person of the Trinity and how they can be understood and worshipped by Christians today.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.”
How is the Trinity reflected in worship and belief today?
- Christians believe the Trinity is a loving relationship with each of the 3 persons relating to the others like a family
- This helps Christians to understand more about relationships and love because the Trinity is very similar to the way they live
- This ‘oneness’ is reflected in Christian songs and hymns, E.g. Shine, Jesus, Shine
What is the Incarnation?
The Christian belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
This is God becoming a man on earth in order to be more accessible to humanity.
QUOTE: The Bible teaches that God the Son came into the world to live among people, show them what God was like and enable them to have a relationship with him.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
*One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’
Why is Jesus the ultimate lamb?
Jews used to kill innocent lambs at Passover to remove their sins. Jesus acted as this.
Why is the incarnation important to Christianity?
- Shows us that God loves the world and the people in it (they celebrate this during Christmas)
- As a human, Jesus could understand humanity and its problems, and identify with their suffering
Reason why the incarnation could be TRUE:
- God wanted to forgive us
- God wanted us to have a relationship with him
- God wanted us to know what he was like
- Jesus performed miracles
Reasons why the incarnation could be FALSE:
-There is only one God and he is the creator, but we never see him
What is the Last Supper?
The evening before he died, Jesus and his disciples had a meal together, where Jesus spoke of his forthcoming death.
Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for the future.
He said when he was gone he’d send the Holy Spirit.
QUOTE: During the Last Supper, Jesus gave his disciples bread and wine to represent his sacrifice. This was called the Eucharist.
“This is my body given for you.”
QUOTE: Jesus knew one of his disciples would betray him, and he told them this during the Last Supper.
“The hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.”
Why is the Last Supper important to Christianity?
-Highlights that Jesus’ teachings has begun to come true: he knew what was going to happen
What is the Arrest and Trial?
Jesus and his disciples spent the night in a garden (Gethsemane).
In the middle of the night, Judas Iscariot brought armed authorities to take Jesus away, identifying Jesus by kissing him.
Jesus was taken to the Jewish High Council (Sanhedrin) who found him guilty of blasphemy.
The Sanhedrin took Jesus the the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who sentenced him to death.
QUOTE: During the Arrest and Trial, Pontius Pilate thought Jesus was innocent but sentenced him the death anyway.
“I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty.”
Why is the Arrest and Trial important to Christianity?
- Jesus did not give up his beliefs and was willing to die for them
- Pontius Pilate recognised Jesus’ innocence, but let him die anyway
What is the Crucifixion?
Jesus was nailed to a cross and left to die, crucified between two criminals.
The sky went dark from midday until around 3pm when he died.
QUOTE: When Crucified, Jesus was willing to die showing his faith in God.
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Why is the Crucifixion important to Christianity?
- Jesus’ death was proof of his humanity: he truly was God incarnate
- Christians believe Jesus’ death was a sacrifice: his death brought about the forgiveness of humanity’s sins
What is the Resurrection?
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after he died.
Jesus really was God and overcame death.
QUOTE: The Resurrection showed that all of what Jesus foretold became true.
“He has risen, just as he said.”
Why is the Resurrection important to Christianity?
- All Jesus taught is true
- Humanity’s sins are forgiven, so people can have a true relationship with God again
- Shows that death is not the end
- If Christians believe in Jesus and follow his teachings, they will receive eternal life and be reunited with God
What is the Ascension?
After Jesus was resurrected, he spent time teaching his disciples that he would soon be taken up to heaven, but they would not be alone.
The Holy Spirit would come into the world and help them to spread the word of God.
When Jesus was taken up to heaven, this was called ascension.