Christianity-Beliefs and Teachings

Question 1

What do Christians believe about God?

Answer 1

There is only one God

God is holy

God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists and people can have a relationship with him through prayer

Question 2

Important quotes about the oneness of God

Answer 2

“We believe in one God” The Nicene Creed

“You shall have no other gods” Exodus 20:3 NIV

Question 3

What characterises do Christians believe God possesses

Answer 3

Omnipotent
Omnibenevolent
Just
Eternal
Omniscient
Transcendent
Immanent

Question 4

What are the problems of evil and suffering?

Answer 4

If God is omnibenevolent, why does God allow people to suffer and to hurt other?

If God is omnipotent, why does God not prevent evil and suffering, such as the suffering caused by natural disasters?

If God is just, why does God allow injustice to take place?

Question 5

How does God show his benevolence, according to Christians?

Answer 5

By sending his son, Jesus to live among humans

Creating humans and caring for them

Question 6

What are some of the things Christians say in response to the problems of evil and suffering?

Answer 6

Suffering was brought into God’s perfect world by Adam and Eve’s disobedience

It is the result of free will and is also a test of faith

God can always see the bigger picture so something may look bad in the moment but it could result it a much better thing later

Without suffering, people can’t show positive qualities such as compassion

Question 7

What is the role of God the Father?

Answer 7

The creator of the world and the ruler of heaven and hell

Question 8

Important quotes about the Trinity

Answer 8

“For there are three; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” John 5:7

Question 9

How does the belief in creation by God influence Christians today?

Answer 9

They value every human being as a creation of God

They believe people should look after the natural world

Question 10

What is the creation story according to Genesis?

Answer 10

God creates the world in 6 days.
Day 1: Light and darkness
Day 2: Sky
Day 3: Oceans, land and plants
Day 4: Sun, moon and stars
Day 5: Creatures of water and sky
Day 6: Land animals and humans
Day 7: God rested

Question 11

Important quotes about the creation story

Answer 11

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth” Genesis 1:1

“God said let there be light’ and there was light” Genesis 1:3

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was with God” John 1:1

Question 12

What is the incarnation?

Answer 12

Mary was made pregnant by the Holy Spirit through a miracle

The virgin conception is evidence for the Christian belief that Jesus was the Son of God, part of the Trinity

Question 13

Quotes about the incarnation

Answer 13

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (shows that Jesus was God)

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit” (Jesus was born to a virgin)

Question 14

Important quotes about Jesus’ crucifixion

Answer 14

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (This shows Jesus was fully human as well as being fully God and therefore felt pain and can understand humans)

Question 15

Why is Jesus’ crucifixion important to Christians?

Answer 15

Jesus’ sacrifice gives hope that their sins will be forgiven if they sincerely repent

God understands human suffering because he himself experience it through Jesus

Christians accept that suffering is part of life

Without the crucifixion he wouldn’t have risen from the dead (the resurrection)

Question 16

What was the resurrection of Jesus?

Answer 16

Some of Jesus’ followers went to go anoint Jesus’ body but when they went, his body was not there

Either a man or two men, who may have been angels, told the women that Jesus had risen from the dead

Over the next few days, Jesus appeared in front of several people

Question 17

What are some quotes about the resurrection of Jesus?

Answer 17

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive”

This quote says that if the resurrection had not happened, Christianity would have never existed because it showed the divine nature of Jesus. Had it not happened Jesus wouldve been passed off as an ordinary man

Question 18

What was the ascension of Jesus?

Answer 18

After meeting with his disciples and asking them to carry on his work, Jesus left them for the last time, returning to the father in heaven.

Question 19

Important quote about the ascension

Answer 19

“While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven”

Question 20

What was the significance of Jesus’ resurrection for Christians today?

Answer 20

Shows the power of good over evil and life over death

Means Christians’ sins will be forgiven if they follow God’s law

Means Christians will be resurrected if they accept Jesus, so there is no need to fear death

Question 21

What was the significance of the ascension for Christians today?

Answer 21

Shows that Jesus is with God in heaven

Paved the way for God to send the Holy Spirit to provide comfort and guidance

Question 22

What impact does the belief in resurrection have on Christians?

Answer 22

Means life after death is real

Gives hope of a future with Jesus

Gives confidence in the face of death

Shows Christians how much God loves them

Inspires Christians to live life in the way God wants them to so they can remain in his presence in this life and the next

Question 23

What do Christians believe about the afterlife?

Answer 23

Resurrected and receive eternal life but is dependant on faith in God

Judged by God which will happen very soon after death or on the Day of Judgement

Question 24

What do Christians believe about judgement?

Answer 24

God will judge them based on their actions during their lifetime

The parable of the Sheep and the Goats described how God will judge people.

It teaches that in serving others, they are serving Jesus and this is the way they should live their lives

Jesus told his disciples that having faith in him and following his teachings was essential for being able to enter heaven

Question 25

Why do some people not believe in hell?

Answer 25

A loving God would not condemn people to hell

God is forgiving so would offer everyone a second chance to repent

Question 26

What is original sin?

Answer 26

Original sin is the concept that humans are born with an in-built tendency to sin.

Came from Adam and Eve’s disobedience of God-result of their sin was separation from God and intro of death into world

Question 27

What is salvation?

Answer 27

Salvation means to be saved from sin and its consequences and to be granted eternal life with God. It repairs the damage caused by sin

Question 28

How does salvation come about?

Answer 28

Through doing good works (made clear in Old Testament)

Through grace-salvation is given freely by God through faith in Jesus

Question 29

Quotes about salvation

Answer 29

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”

“For it is by grace you have been saved”

Question 30

What was Jesus’ role in salvation?

Answer 30

Made up for the original sin and Jesus’ (an innocent man) death was needed to restore the relationship between God and believers and bring them salvation

It shows that goodness of Jesus defeated the evil of sin and It was proof that God has accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on behalf of humankind

Question 31

Quote about Jesus’ role in salvation

Answer 31

‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved’ The apostles creed

Shows that no one other than Jesus can save humankind

Question 32

What is atonement?

Answer 32

Removes the effects of sin and allows people to restore their relationship with God

Question 33

Jesus and atonement

Answer 33

Through sacrificing his life, Jesus took the sins of all humanity on himself and paid the debt for them all. He atoned for the sins of humanity

Question 34

What is the role of God the Son?

Answer 34

God the Son (Jesus) came into the world to spread God’s message and offered forgiveness for human sins

Question 35

What is the role of God the Holy Spirit?

Answer 35

God’s invisible presence on earth who comforts, guides and protects humans and is responsible for God’s miracles on Earth

Question 36

‘The trinity is a helpful way of describing God’

FOR

Answer 36

It helps humanity understand the complex nature of God

It is useful to Christians as it helps them understand the nature of God and the roles he plays

The Trinity helps Christians to understand the way in which they might encounter God.

The trinity is a helpful idea because it describes God as a loving relationship of persons

The love of God the Son is shown in Jesus’ mission and sacrifice

Question 37

‘The trinity is a helpful way of describing God’

AGAINST

Answer 37

The Trinity seems contradictory

If God is One, then how can God have three persons?

Jesus was a Jew and believed in the oneness of God

The trinity is not helpful to people of other faiths as they may think that Christians believe in three different Gods

Question 38

Explain two ways in which belief in creation by God influences Christians today

Answer 38

They value every human being as created by God

They believe people should look after the natural world (stewardship)

Question 39

‘The afterlife is a good way to get people to behave themselves and help others’

FOR

Answer 39

The promise of heaven would encourage good behaviour

The threat of hell would prevent bad behaviour

Belief in heaven takes away the fear of death

People want to be with Jesus when they die so they follow his teachings

It gives hope that people will experience eternal happiness even if their life on Earth has been hard

Question 40

‘The afterlife is a good way to get people to behave themselves and help others’

AGAINST

Answer 40

Atheists don’t believe in heaven or hell but still have moral principles

No one can be sure there is an afterlife, so it is not a good way to get people to behave

Most people do not consider belief in the afterlife when deciding how to behave

An atheist would question how a loving God could punish people forever in Hell

Morality is formed in childhood by parental teaching

Question 41

‘Salvation is God’s greatest gift to humans’

FOR

Answer 41

Everyone needs forgiveness from God

Without salvation, humankind would have to pay the price of human sin

God shows his great love for people by sending his Son to save us

Humans should be grateful every day of their lives for Jesus’ sacrifice on their behalf

Question 42

‘Salvation is God’s greatest gift to humans’

Against

Answer 42

People may doubt the truth of Jesus’ resurrection so that they don’t see the need for a belief in salvation

Some people may question whether God is loving if God demands the death of his Son in payment for human sin

Even some religious people may think there are greater gifts to humans, such as nature or life itself or maybe even Jesus

Question 43

Explain two Christian beliefs about salvation

Refer to sacred writings or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer

Answer 43

One Christian belief about salvation is that salvation can be gained through good works

These good works may be following teachings such as the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule and ‘love your neighbour’ worshipping and praying regularly also help Christians to earn salvation

‘In the same way, faith by itself’

A second Christian belief about salvation is that it is gained through grace

God gives salvation to people who have faith in Jesus. It is a gift for the faithful.

‘For it is grace that you have been saved’

Paul wrote in his letter that is it through grace, which is a gift from God, that people are saved, not simply through their good works