christianity: beliefs and teachings Flashcards
what are the different branches of christianity?
- catholic: based in Rome and led by the Pope
- orthodox: split from catholicism in 1054 CE and practised in Eastern Europe
- protestant: split from catholicism in 16th century and branched into different denominations e.g. baptist, pentecostal, methodist etc (protestants agree Bible is only authority for Christians)
what do christians believe about god?
- there’s only one god
- god is creator and sustainer of all
- god works throughout history and inspires people to do god’s will
- people can have relationship with god through prayer
- god is neither male nor female but has qualities of both
- god is hold(set apart for special purpose and worthy of worship)
- Jesus is god’s son (true representation of god on earth)
give a reference to scripture about christians belief in one god
“We believe in one God” - the Nicene Creed
what do christians believe are some of god’s qualities?
- omnipotent
- god is Supreme Being who is all-powerful
- has unlimited authority - benevolent
- uses power to do good
- shows love by creating humans and caring for them
- showed love by sending Jesus to earth - just
- just judge of humankind
- never supports injustice, ill-treatment, prejudice or oppression
how do the problems of evil and suffering challenge belief in god’s qualities?
(omnipotent, benevolent, just)
- if god is omnipotent, why doesn’t he prevent evil and suffering e.g. suffering caused by natural disasters?
- if god is benevolent, why does he allow people to suffer/hurt others?
- if god is just, why does he allow injustice to occur?
why do christians trust god even when things seem to be going wrong?
christians believe a just god treats people fairly, so they trust god even when things seem to be going wrong
what is the trinity?
christians believe there are three persons in one god: father, son and Holy Spirit
how is god understood by christians?
as a relationship of love between father, son and Holy Spirit
what are features of god the father?
- creator of all life
- acts as a good father towards children
- omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient, omnipresent
what are features of god the son?
- became incarnate through Jesus who was both fully human while on earth and fully god
- Jesus called son of god to show special relationship to god the father
what are features of god the Holy Spirit?
- unseen power of god at work in world
- influences, guides and sustains life on earth
where in the bible is the Holy Spirit active in the creation?
Genesis 1:1-3
what does Genesis 1:1-3 say?
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
what does Genesis 1:1-3 lead Christians to believe about creation?
- many believe story of creation in genesis isn’t scientifically accurate but contains religious truth
- some believe god made the world in 6 days
- god created everything out of choice and created everything ‘good’
- christians believe god continues to make new life today
- god the father referred to as creator, Holy Spirit was active in creation
where in the bible was the son active in creation?
John 1:1-3
what does John 1:1-3 say?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
what does John 1:1-3 lead Christians to believe about creation?
- everything created through the word, who was both with god and was god
- the word refers to the son of god who entered history as Jesus
- christians believe the son of god was involved in the creation
give some references to scripture about the incarnation
“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.” - Matthew 1:18
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” - John 1:14
information about Jesus
- son of god, messiah, christ
- fully god and fully human which helps explain miracles and resurrection
- words, deeds and promises have authority as they are the word of god
- most jews expected a messiah who would come to save Israel and establish an age of peace, but don’t believe Jesus was that person
- christians believe Jesus is the messiah, but a spiritual leader rather than a political one
- gospel writers refer to Jesus as the christ but Jesus warned his disciples not to use the term, possibly since his opponents could have him arrested for blasphemy
what does christ mean?
‘anointed one’ or messiah
Jesus’ crucifixion: what happened?
- although Jesus was fully god, he was also fully human so suffered pain and horror
- roman centurion acknowledged Jesus was innocent and said he was the son of god (mark 15:39)
- roman guards made sure Jesus was dead
- Joseph of arimathea was permitted to bury Jesus in a cave-like tomb and blocked the entrance with a large stone
- burial rushed as Sabbath about to begin
what were Jesus’ last words before dying?
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” - Luke 23:46
why is Jesus’ crucifixion important?
- Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross gives hope to christians that their sins will be forgiven if they sincerely repent
- christians believe god understands human suffering because Jesus experienced it
- christians accept suffering is part of life as it was a part of Jesus’ life
Jesus’ resurrection: what happened?
- early on Sunday morning, some of Jesus’ female followers, including Mary Magdalene, visited tomb to anoint the body
- Jesus’ body wasn’t there
- either a man or two men, who may have been angels, told the women to spread the news that Jesus had risen from the dead
- over the next few days, Jesus appeared to several people including Mary Magdalene and his disciples; he told them he had risen from the dead, as he predicted he would before the crucifixion
what is a quote about the resurrection?
“And if Christ had 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.” - 1 Corinthians 15:14, 20, 22
“And if Christ had 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.” - 1 Corinthians 15:14, 20, 22
what does this quote show?
- that christianity wouldn’t exist without the resurrection
- it also shows that the resurrection is important because it is significant evidence for christians of the divine nature of Jesus
the ascension of Jesus: what happened?
- after meeting with his disciples and asking them to carry on his work, Jesus left the for the last time, returning to the father in heaven
- this event is called the ascension
what is a quote about the ascension?
“While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” - Luke 24:51
what is the significance of the resurrection for christians today?
- shows the power of good over evil and life over death
- means christians’ sins will be forgiven if they follow god’s laws
- means christians will be resurrected if they accept Jesus, so there is no need to fear death
what is the significance of the ascension for christians today?
- shows Jesus is with god in heaven
- paves way for god to send Holy Spirit to provide comfort and guidance
what are some different christian views about resurrection?
- some believe a person’s soul is resurrected soon after death
- some believe the dead will be resurrected at some time in the future, when Jesus will return to judge everyone who has ever lived
- catholic and orthodox christians believe in bodily resurrection; meaning resurrection is both spiritual and physical: the physical body lost at death is restored and transformed into new, spiritual body
- some christians believe resurrection will just be spiritual, not physical as well
what does 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 say about resurrection?
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
what does this quote explain?
- some of the differences between a living body and a resurrected body
- for catholics and orthodox christians, it suggests there is a physical element to resurrection, as it talks about the resurrected body being a ‘body’, even if it is a spiritual one
what is the impact of the belief in resurrection?
a belief in resurrection…
- means life after death is real
- gives hope of a future life 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
what are some christian beliefs about the afterlife?
they vary but many believe that:
- they will be resurrected and receive eternal life after they die
- this is a gift from god, and dependent on faith in god
- they will be judged by god at some point after they die, and either rewarded by being sent to heaven or punished by being sent to hell
- this judgement will happen either very soon after death or on the day of judgement; this is a time in the future when the world will end and christ will come again to judge the living and the dead
what does the apostles’ creed say about the afterlife?
“He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead: I believe in… the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.”
what do christians believe about judgement?
- christians believe after they die, god will judge them on their behaviour and actions during their lifetime, as well as their faith in Jesus as god’s son
- in the bible, Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats describes how god will judge people
- this parable teaches christians that in serving others, they are serving Jesus, so this is the way they should live their lives
- before he died, Jesus told his disciples he would prepare a place for them in heaven with god
- he also made it clear that having faith in him and following his teachings was essential for being able to enter heaven
what is a quote that shows how having faith in Jesus and following his teachings is essential in order to enter heaven?
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6
what happens after god’s judgement?
- christians believe they will either experience eternal happiness in the presence of god (heaven) or be unable to experience god’s presence (hell)
- catholics believe some people may enter intermediary state, called purgatory, before they enter heaven
- knowledge of these states is limited and linked to imagery from the past
what is heaven?
- thought to be either a physical place or spiritual state of peace, joy, freedom from pain and a chance to be with loved ones
- traditional images of heaven often show god on a throne with Jesus next to him and angels all around him, or a garden paradise
who is allowed into heaven?
christians differ in views about who’s allowed into heaven, where there may be:
- only christians (believers in Jesus)
- christians and other religious people who have pleased god by living good lives
- baptised christians, regardless of how they lived their lives
what do many christians believe heaven is a reward for?
both faith and actions, not just one of these, as the parable of the sheep and the goats seems to show
what is purgatory?
- an intermediate state where souls are cleansed in order to enter heaven (this is a catholic belief)
what is hell?
- seen as opposite of heaven (state of existence without god)
- often pictured as place of eternal torment in a fiery pit ruled by satan (a name for the devil), who is the power and source of evil
why do beliefs about hell differ?
many people question whether a loving god would condemn people to eternal pain and torment in hell
for people who question a hell of eternal pain etc, what is hell?
- an eternal state of mind of being cut off from the possibility of god
- hell would then be what awaits someone who did not acknowledge god or follow his teachings during their life
what is a sin?
a sin is any thought or action that separates humans from god; sinful thoughts (such as anger) can lead to sinful actions (such as murder)
- some sins, like murder or assault, are illegal
- some sins, like adultery, are not illegal but are against the laws of god
what is original sin?
christians believe that all humans commit sins; some christians (particularly catholics) also believe humans are born with an in-built tendency to sin, called original sin
what does the idea of original sin come from?
- Adam and Eve’s disobedience of god, when they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil which was forbidden by god; this was the first (original) sin
what was the result of Adam and Eve’s original sin?
the result of their sin was separation from god, and the introduction of death into the world
what do christians believe god have people?
free will
what do christians think people should use their free will/freedom for?
to make choices god would approve of, otherwise they will separate themselves from god
what are examples that can be used for the belief that god provides people with the guidance to make good choices in his law?
- the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-19)
- the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)
what does salvation mean?
to be saved from sin and its consequences and to be granted eternal life with god
what does salvation do?
repairs the damage caused by sin, which has separated people from god
what are the two main christian ideas about how salvation can come about?
- through doing good works
the Old Testament makes it clear that salvation comes through faith in god and obeying god’s law - through grace
salvation is given freely by god through faith in jesus; it is not deserved or earned, but is a free gift of god’s love
give a quote to support the idea of salvation through doing good works
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
- James 2:17
give a quote to support the idea of salvation through grace
“For it is by grace you have been saved…”
- Ephesians 2:8
who do christians believe gives them grace?
christians believe it is the holy spirit who gives grace to christians and continues to guide them in their daily lives, to help them achieve salvation
what do christians believe had a crucial role to play in god’s plan for salvation?
jesus’ life, death and resurrection
why do christians believe that jesus’ life, death and resurrection had a crucial role to play in god’s plan for salvation?
- jesus’ crucifixion made up for the original sin of adam and eve
- the death of jesus, as an innocent man, was necessary to restore the relationship between god and believers, to bring them salvation
- jesus’ resurrection shows goodness of jesus defeated evil of sin (proof god had accepted jesus’ sacrifice on behalf on humankind)
- jesus’ resurrection means humans can now receive forgiveness for their sins
- jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for all who follow his teachings to gain eternal life
what does atonement do?
removes the effects of sin and allows people to restore their relationship with god
what do many christians believe jesus did through the sacrifice of his death?
many believe that through the sacrifice of his death, jesus took the sins of all humanity on himself and paid the debt for them all (he atoned for the sins of humanity)
what do many believe jesus’ sacrifice makes it possible for?
this sacrifice makes it possible for all who follow jesus’ tecahings to receive eternal life with god
what is a quote to support the role of jesus in salvation?
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of god is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 6:23
what is a quote to support the idea of atonement?
“if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
- 1 John 2:1-2
