Christianity BTP Flashcards
Nature Of God
- Omnipotent, all powerful.
- Omniscient, all knowing.
- Transcendent, he exists out of space and time.
- Immanent, present throughout humanity’s existence.
- Eternal, without a beginning or end.
- Benevolent, he is loving.
- Fair, he is the righteous judge of humans.
Why is God a fair judge?
He knows all, sees all, and is benevolent, so he cannot make mistakes in his judgement, meaning he is fair.
Christianity - Quote for God’s love for humans
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son…”
Quote for there being only one God.
“You shall have no other Gods before me…”
What is the holy trinity?
The concept of God being made up of three distinct parts:
- The Father
- The Son
- The Holy Spirit
Describe the trinity.
- Each part of the trinity is God, and there is only one God.
- Each part is equal.
- Each part fulfils a different role.
- The Father is commonly referred to as God, The Son as Jesus.
- The Father and Holy Spirit are unseen, whereas Jesus lived on Earth.
Why do some Christians reject the holy trinity?
They believe it puts the monotheism of Christianity in danger, and that it goes against the 2nd commandment (Exodus 20:3)
Which Christian groups reject the trinity?
Unitarians and Christadelphians
Describe the role of The Father as the creator in Genesis.
- God brings order to chaos.
- By speaking aloud, he brings all things into existence, starting with light.
- Over the 6 days he fills the world with plants and creatures.
- Humans, the final part of God’s creation, were made in the image of God.
The role of the Holy Spirit in Genesis 1 and 2. (Quotes)
- The spirit is present in Genesis 1, “hovering over the waters”.
- When God created Adam, God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”. This description of breath can be translated as spirit.
The role of the Word in Creation [John 1]
- John 1 gives The Son the title ‘The Word’.
- The Word is present with God before the world’s creation.
- Through the Word life is given to all things.
In Christianity, describe the role and purpose of human beings. Include a quote. What was Adam’s role?
- Humans were given authority over the Earth.
- Humans were told to “be fruitful and multiply”, to populate the Earth.
- Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to take care of it, and Eve is his helper.
Did God create Adam and Eve with free will?
Yes, God gave Adam and Eve free will, and they made the decision to eat from the specific tree God forbade eating from.
What does ‘The Fall’ represent?
The end of a perfect relationship with God.
What is the ‘Original Sin’?
The very first sin that first entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience toward the rules set by God, from when they ate fruit from the forbidden tree of knowledge.
Describe the story of the fall.
- In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve are manipulated by ‘The Serpent’ (Satan) into questioning God’s rule, and eating from the tree.
- Eve is tempted and eats the fruit, sharing it with Adam.
- They have both now disobeyed God, and this is the original sin.
How has the fall affected the entire human race?
- Christians believe every person born is affected by this original sin.
- So Christians all need salvation to repair their broken relationship with God.
What things do all Christians agree about the story of creation in Genesis?
- God created the entire universe.
- Human beings are made in God’s image but are sinful and lack his perfection.
- God acted out of love and goodness, and he cares for his creation, even in its broken and sinful state.
What is the creationist approach to the story of creation?
- When Christians take the story of creation in the bible as the literal truth, as they believe the bible is the word of God.
- They reject any science indicating that the world was not made in 6 days.
- They argue that the world is approximately 5,700 years old.
What is theistic evolution?
The belief that life developed through the process of evolution, but that it was God who started this process.
View that the story of creation in Genesis is a myth.
- Some Christians believe that the accounts of genesis are not literal, as there is scientific evidence to show the earth is billions of years old.
- The 6 days referred to in Genesis 1 are in God’s time, not our time.
What is evil?
Everything that is the opposite of good; that which is wicked and causes suffering.
What is the problem of evil?
- If God is benevolent, then he should care enough to stop the suffering caused by evil, yet he hasn’t. Perhaps he is not omnipotent.
- If God is omnipotent and has the power to stop suffering, yet he doesn’t, he is not benevolent.
Moral Evil
- Evil that is a result of the sinful nature of humans.
- Suffering caused by the actions of human beings.
- Life is a test, to see how humans deal with human evil.
Natural Evil
- Suffering created through no direct fault of humans.
- This includes all natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods.
- Without natural disasters, there would be no opportunity to show love for others when people are in need.
Christian beliefs about Jesus
- Jesus was God incarnated.
- His conception was not natural but he was conceived by The Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit caused Mary to become pregnant without the need for a human father - this is Jesus’ miraculous conception.
Christian beliefs about Jesus as the Lord and Saviour
- After the fall, the relationship between humans and God was broken.
- Jesus was sent to Earth by God The Father to take the punishment for all human sin and restore this relationship, with his death as sufficient payment.
- Jesus then beat death, as he returned to life. This sacrifice gave Christians the chance of salvation so they can enter heaven.
What is the importance of Jesus’ teachings?
- They show how humans should live in obedience to God.
- Jesus was moved by compassion, and acted to help everyone.
- He healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed the hungry.
Christianity quote for why Christians should love all people.
“Love thy neighbour as you love yourself.”
What is sacrificial love? What is it called in the old testament?
- Selfless love that you show to all, where you place God, and other people, even enemies, above yourself. You do things for the benefit of others, without expecting anything in return.
- It is called agape love in the old testament.
What does 3 things does practising sacrificial (agape love) require Christians to do?
- Forgive each other.
- Help people when they are in need.
- Work to achieve peace.
What is evangelism?
Sharing Jesus’ message and persuading others to become believers, so they can achieve salvation through Jesus.
Liberal Christian beliefs about Jesus and his accounts of miracles
- Some Liberal Christians do not take biblical accounts literally.
- Many Liberal Christians believe that miracles are simply stories with meaning, not actual events that happened and broke the laws of nature.
Conservative Christian beliefs about Jesus and his accounts from the bible
- Conservative Christians believe that God can do anything as he is all-powerful, so anything is powerful.
- Thus, accounts from the bible are true, such as the virgin birth and miracles.
What does the word ‘beatitudes’ mean?
Blessings.
What did Jesus say in the passage Beatitudes? (Sermon on the Mount)
He described the attitudes/qualities God wants his followers to develop, that he will bless. These include:
- Meekness (Patient/Submissiveness)
- Mercy
- Peace
What was the Sermon on the Mount? What are the sections of it?
One of the most important speeches in Christianity, where Jesus tought people how to be the ideal Christian, and how to live in order to please God. It is divided into 6 sections:
- The Beatitudes
- Jesus and the law
- True discipleship
- True righteousness
- The narrow gateway
- Building on solid foundations
What did Jesus say in the passage Jesus and the law? (Sermon on the Mount)
- Moses brought the law of God originally to the Israelites. He does not get rid of this law, but changes the way that believers should understand it.
- He teaches obedience to the law must come from a person’s heart.
- Love not just your neighbour, but everyone.
- A person thinking of something is as bad as the action.
- Jesus demonstrated this love when he died for all of our sins.
What did Jesus say in the passage True Discipleship? (Sermon on the Mount)
- To be a true follower, be sincere in all you do, keep fasting/charity private, and don’t do outward acts of religion just to show others you’re righteous.
- Make your prayers straight and to the point, not complicated, as it does not make you more spiritual.
- He gave us the Lord’s Prayer.
What did Jesus say in the passage True Righteousness? (Sermon on the Mount)
Wealth:
- Be humble, and take your commitment to faith seriously. God will provide for you.
- You cannot love God and money at the same time.
Judging others:
- He criticised judgement and hypocrisy with the analogy of the plank and sawdust.
- No person is perfect, so you cannot judge anyone else.
- If you judge others, God will use the same standards to judge you.
- Focus on yourself, and how to get closer to God.
What did Jesus say in the passage The Narrow Gateway? (Sermon on the Mount)
- Being a Christian is difficult.
- In life, there are two gateways, The Narrow Gateway, and The Wide Gateway
- It is easier to walk through the wide gateway, but it leads to destruction.
- Life is difficult, but it leads to an eternity of rewards in heaven.
What did Jesus say in the passage Building on solid foundations (Sermon on the Mount)
- Jesus uses the analogy of a house built on sandy foundations compared with one built on solid rock.
- The rock one stands firm, the sand one is washed away.
- Faith (the rock house) allows a person to get through tough times.
What are the six main passages of the Sermon on the Mount?
- The Beatitudes
- Jesus and the law
- True Discipleship
- True righteousness
- The narrow gateway
- Building on solid foundations
What does ‘God Incarnate’ mean?
The concept of God as a man. Jesus was simply God in the form of a man, and so he was referred to as God incarnate.
Describe the incarnation
- The incarnation of God meant he was not affected by the original sin.
- Jesus as God Incarnate provides the perfect example how God wants every person to live.
- Jesus performed miracles, showing that he was God, and giving a glimpse of heaven, where there is no pain, disease, or suffering.
Describe the crucifixion
- Jesus suffered he full pain of human death, as Jesus.
- Christians believe that God understands human suffering, as he, as Jesus, suffered during his crucifixion.
Describe the resurrection, and what it proved.
- Jesus did not remain dead, and rose from the dead 3 days later.
- This demonstrated his power over death, and proved further Jesus was God Incarnate.
Describe the ascension.
- Some Christians believe that Jesus literally returned back up to heaven
- Some believe it symbolised the success of good over evil.
State all the stages of Jesus’ birth up until he returned to heaven.
- Incarnation
- Crucifixion
- Resurrection
- Ascension
Conservative Christian view on the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
- Some believe the events actually took place as they are described.
- Some believe the ascension for example, was metaphorical.
Christian use of the crucifix
- Some Christians use a crucifix in worship to focus on the meaning of the death of Jesus, and his sacrifice.
- However, the empty cross in protestant churches reflects on the Christian belief that the crucifixion was not the end, and that Jesus rose from the dead.
What is salvation? Before Jesus, where did salvation come from?
- Salvation is the act of keeping away from evil and being saved from sin, in order to reach heaven.
- Before Jesus, salvation had come from following the laws given to Moses in the Torah. When Jesus died on the cross, his death acted as a payment for the human sins that were a result of people disregarding God’s laws.