nature of god, the trinity, the creation story, evil Flashcards
Describe how Christians view God
omnipotent, all powerful omnibenevolent, all loving omniscient, all knowing just, fair immanent, is involved with his creation transcendant, exists outside of worldly and spiritual boundaries
give scripture that provides evidence God is just
The Psalms say, “God is fair and just” (Psalm 25:8).
give scripture that provides evidence God is omnibenevolent
‘Nothing is impossible with God’
Luke 1:37
1 John 4:7, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love”
give scripture that proves God is just
“God is fair and just” Psalms
why does evil exist if God is all loving and powerful?
- humans have free will, he cannot interfere in any suffering humans experience as a result of choices they have made or consequences from the natural world.
- could be a test of faith. For example, in the Holy Bible, Job is tested on many occasions but still keeps his faith in God and ultimately receives a reward.
- Humans need evil to appreciate good. According to many Christians, balance is essential.
- God is beyond human understanding, but God is fair so the good will be rewarded in Heaven.
- Experiencing bad things is all part of God’s plan and humans should respond positively.
what is the holy trinity?
- Christians believe in one God but they believe he exists in three parts or ‘persons’. These are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, known collectively as the Trinity.
The Trinity defines three distinct divine persons that are not interchangeable, and yet they share the same divine substance, which is only present in these three divine persons.
give scripture about the trinity
“We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. … We believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God … of one Being with the Father … [who] was made man … he suffered death and … he rose again. … We believe in the Holy Spirit … the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son “
- nicene creed
Who is God the father?
the creator of everything
the sustainer of all
transcendent
Who is God the son?
- both fully divine and fully human
- immanent
- personal and so understands human suffering
- a model for Christian behaviour
- the Saviour
give scripture about the nature of jesus
St Paul described Jesus as having “equality with God” (Philippians 2:6).
give scripture about jesus’s incarnation on earth
IGospel of John makes clear that Jesus has always been God’s son, even from before his birth:
“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.”
John 1:1-3
Who is God the holy spirit
The Holy Spirit is the guiding part of the Trinity.
- the power of God at work on Earth. It is through the power and workings of the Holy Spirit that God is known today, and how Christians can know what God wants them to do
- a presence of God in the world today
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever - the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17)
- the immanent part of God guiding the Church
- a source of strength, courage and wisdom
scripture about the nature of God
‘I am the LORD your God, who brought
you out of Egypt, out of the land of
slavery. You shall have no other Gods
before me.’ exodus
