CHRISTIANITY - BELIEFS AND TEACHINGS Flashcards
What are the three qualities of God? Explain?
Omnipotent - God is all-powerful. God can do anything because of his power. Evidence - the creation of the world (genesis). Miracles performed by Jesus eg raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead.
All-loving - God loves all, without exception and without prejudice. Evidence - sacrificing his own son to make atonement for the sins of humans.
Just - God is fair and will not act unjustly. God will give everyone equal value and rights, without prejudice or favour. Evidence - God will judge us when we die. In the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, Jesus talks about that just judgement. Also, Book of Job “God is fair and just”.
What is The Trinity?
Christians believe there is only one God. However, they believe that God is revealed in three distinct ways (‘Three Persons’).
God the father - loving creator and sustainer of the universe.
God the son - saviour who became incarnate (human), lived, was crucified and then resurrected, Jesus Christ.
God the holy spirit - source of strength which Christians find at work in their hearts.
If God is just, why do we suffer?
Moral evil - the devil tempts people (eg Adam and Eve), humans have free will which they abuse and so hurt people.
Natural evil - suffering is allowed for punishment of wrong doings. It is a test of faith. In the story of Job, it is needed so we can appreciate good. We learn to help others and look after our world by seeing/experiencing suffering.
What are the Christian beliefs about the creation?
God pre-existed the world, hence being able to create it.
Hod is transcendent (outside space and time). As such he created the world and is not controlled by it.
What are the different interpretations of genesis?
Literally true - every word is the word of God.
Contains truth but not dictated by God - God inspired the writers.
Written by a person whose sense of God in the world inspired them to write. Man-made document.
What do Christians believe death is?
Something that separates life on earth (temporary) from life with God (eternal). It is not something to be feared.
What do Christians believe about resurrection?
God will resurrect them before Judgement Day.
What do Catholics believe about life after death?
Purgatory. A state between death and afterlife. A soul will go to purgatory where it is purified enough to go to Heaven.
How do Christians view Heaven?
State of being rather than a physical place. It is being with God outside time and space.
How do Christians view Hell?
The Bible pains a picture of hell via the metaphor of an unquenchable fire. This idea was historically used to frighten people into obeying church rules. However, now it is seen as an eternal separation from God.
What quote in the Bible suggests that God took human form as Jesus? (His incarnation, Jesus the son)
John 1:14 says “the Word became flesh and lived among us”.
Discuss the crucifixion.
Jesus’ life on earth lasted about 3 years. He was convicted of blasphemy by the Jewish authorities and put to death for treason under the Jewish law. He was crucified at Golgotha - the place of the skull. It took 6 hours for him to die. Mark says at the point of death the temple curtain tore in two. It is believed by some that Jesus’ death had destroyed the barrier of sin that separated man from God. Therefore, making it possible to access God.
How does the crucifixion show salvation and reconciliation?
God gave his only son so that humans could be saved in eternal life (salvation)
Jesus’ death atoned (made up for) human sin.
Discuss the resurrection.
Joseph was given permission to take Jesus’ body from the cross and bury him in a rock tomb he owned. However, the burial was delayed as it was the Sabbath day of rest. When the woman returned on Sunday morning the stone was rolled away as the body had gone. Jesus appeared, not recognisable at first, over forty days.
Discuss the ascension.
40 days after the resurrection the text described the ‘ascension’ of Jesus. Jesus blessed his disciples before being taken up to Heaven. ‘A cloud received him from their sight’.
