Christian Beliefs

God’s qualities

omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient, just, immanent, transcendent

What does immanent mean

God is present

What does transcendent mean

God is beyond human understanding

How is God’s omnipotence presented

God created the universe, and Jesus demonstrated God’s power through his miracles

Bible quote on God’s omnipotence

“Nothing will be impossible without God” (Luke)

How is God’s justness presented

He is all-loving so he will never support injustice and ill treatment of his creations, and he gave Moses the Decalogue outlining how people should behave, and Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (God will judge us based on how we cared for others)

How is God omnibenevolent

He loved the world so much he gave us his only son (he was willing for Jesus to be crucified in order to save humanity

Quote on God’s omnibenevolence

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John)

How is God immanent

Christians believe that God is present in all of creation while remaining distinct from it

Quote on God’s immanence

“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians)

How is God transcendent

God is outside of humanity’s full perception, experience and grasp

Quote on God’s transcendence

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah)

Why is Omnipotence important to Christians

Christians will show determination and resilience when faced with a problem; God has a plan for everyone. Therefore, Christians should trust in, and be guided by God

Why is Justness important to Christians

Christians will work for justice in society to demonstrate God’s qualities of being just and compassionate; they will think about the consequences of their actions as they will want to be rewarded by God on the Day of Judgement. They believe that any wicked actions will be addressed and made fair

Why is Omnibenevolence important to Christians

* Christians will try to love each other* (agape) in their daily lives by following the Golden rule

Why is Immanence important to Christians

God's immanence gives him the awareness of and compassion for our suffering and sin, Christians believe that God is present and this provides comfort

Why is Transcendence important to Christians

God's transcendence gives him the power to heal, rescue, and redeem. It means he is beyond the limits of all we understand, he can perform miracles to change the fortunes of those who are struggling

Problem of evil

Christians believe God is omnipotent, omni-benevolent and omniscient, so evil should not exist

What possibilities arise from evil existing

God is not powerful enough to stop evil, or does not know it is happening, or does not love us enough to want to stop evil

What philosopher used the inconsistent triad

J.L Mackie

How do Christians respond to evil and suffering

1. Free Will Defence: People have free will, so people can choose to do evil, which causes suffering

2. Hick’s Soul-Making Theodicy: Belief that from suffering arises Christian qualities like courage, compassion, forgiveness, and patience

3. Or life is a test and how we respond to suffering and evil determines whether we go to heaven or hell (eg, Book of Job → how Job responds to suffering in the bible)

4. Or ‘God works in mysterious ways’ and has reasons for letting evil and suffering happening, but humans will never be able to understand that God has a plan

What do Christians do to respond to evil and suffering

Follow the teachings and actions of Jesus, who taught his followers to respond in certain ways; Like prayer (called intercession: when Christians ask God to help those who are suffering), or Service (actively helping those who suffer, like in hospitals, charities, raising money for developing countries)

Quote on the Holy Trinity

“We believe in one God, the Father the Almighty … We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God … We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life” (The Nicene Creed)

How does belief in the Trinity influence Christians (Father)

God is loving, so Christians may feel loved and demonstrate love to others, eg by giving to charity

How does belief in the Trinity influence Christians (Son)

God was incarnate (in human form); he lived and died among humans, so Christians know that God can understand our experiences

How does belief in the Trinity influence Christians (Spirit)

God is a source of spiritual strength. Christians can feel the Spirit at work in their lives and this strengthens/supports them

Quote on the creation of the universe

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis)

What do literalists think about the creation of the universe

the biblical account of creation happened exactly as it was written; it is infallible

What do non-literalists think about the creation of the universe

scripture contains religious truth but God caused scientific processes like the Big Bang to happen by choice; the message of scripture is more important (eg, how God deliberately created the world, so we must have a purpose to live)

Quote on human creation

“God created man in His own image” (Genesis)

What did God give humans

dominion/stewardship

Quote on dominion/stewardship (can be argued either way)

“Rule over the fish…and over every living creature” (Genesis)

The original sin on the topic of evil

Christians believe that Adam and Eve disobeyed God, tainting humankind with a tendency to disobey God, leading to evil and suffering entering the world

God did what to cancel the original sin

Offered salvation and the promise of eternal life

Christians believe that Jesus’ suffering and death gained what for humans

Forgiveness and redemption

Quote on the original sin

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man…death came to all people” (Romans)

How does the creation story influence Christians

belief that the universe was not created by chance so human lives have meaning and purpose; humans were made in God’s image so we should remember that all human life has potential and we should treat all of God’s creation with love and kindness; Christians have been given stewardship to protect the planet and God’s creations

What do Christians believe in after death

That although the physical body dies, the soul can live on after death (immortality of the soul), and that the body will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement

How does Jesus’ resurrection impact what humans believe in the afterlife

that humans will also be resurrected

Quote on Jesus’ resurrection and belief of the afterlife

“I believe in…the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting” (John)

What do Christians believe about God’s judgement in the afterlife

That he will judge you to decide if you should go to Heaven or Hell

Quote on God’s judgement in afterlife

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ” (Corinthians)

What is the second coming

When Jesus will return to Earth in the future, and everyone who has died will be resurrected

Quote on the second coming

“In Christ all will be made alive” (Corinthians)

How does belief in the afterlife affect Christians

They are comforted knowing that this life is not the only life; gives Christians meaning and purpose for htis life - will live according to the Bible to be rewarded and not punished at death

Quote about Jesus’ incarnation

“By the Holy Spirit [he] was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man” (Nicene Creed)

What does incarnation mean

When God becomes a human being as Jesus Christ

Jesus was both what

Fully God and fully man

What do Christians believe about God’s incarnation

He was showing that he loves the world and everyone in it

What do Christians do knowing the incarnation of Jesus

Use Jesus as an example of how to live

What happened in the crucifixion of Jesus

Jesus and his disciples had a Passover meal in Jerusalem (the Last Supper); he gave his disciples bread (representing his body) and wine (representing his blood) before he was crucified in Golgotha for blasphemy. While dying, he forgave those who had put him there and suffered.

Quote about the last supper

“Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke)

Quote about Jesus forgiving whilst on the cross

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke)

Quote about Jesus suffering whilst on the cross

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Mark)

What does the crucifixion mean to Christians

that God understands suffering, and will forgive everyone no matter what they had done

Without the crucixion what what would humans not be able to do

Reunite with God and enter heaven

What did Jesus’ death at the crucifixion do

Atone for our sins as we had strayed from God’s ways and separated ourselves from him

How do Christians remember the crucifixion

the Eucharist service

What happened in the resurrection of Jesus

After he was crucified, he was put in a tomb. However the tomb was empty so Christians believe Jesus was resurrected. During the following 40 days, Jesus appeared to his followers, taught about the kingdom of God, and restored his followers

Quote about the resurrection

“The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon” (Luke)

What does the resurrection mean to Christians

It shows there is life after death, and by accepting Jesus, they can also be resurrected and should not fear death; God will forgive their sins if they follow the teachings; Shows how powerful God is; Proof that Jesus is the Son of God

What do Literalist Christians believe about the resurrection

that the bible account should be taken literally and that Jesus came back to life in bodily form

What do Non-Literalist Christians believe about the resurrection

the resurrection was spiritual and not physical, meaning Jesus was not brought back to life in a physical form

What happened in the ascension of Jesus

Jesus ascended to heaven after 40 days, and sits at the right hand of God the Father

Quote about the ascension

“Then Jesus was taken up” (Acts)

What does the ascension mean to Christians

The ascension shows the divinity and power of Jesus as part of the Holy Trinity; Proves Jesus not only overcame death but that he is alive with the Father in heaven

What does the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension together show about Jesus

that he is fully human and divine

What guide should Christians follow

the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus in the Bible

Quote about the atonement of humans through Jesus

“For God did not send HIs Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John)

What is salvation

Belief that Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of humankind, allowing us to be reunited with God after death in Heaven

Does God show Grace to everyone?

Yes

The Holy Spirit helps Christians do what

Follow God’s teachings and keep faith to find salvation

Why is atonement important

Jesus’ death was the only way to bring salvation to humanity, making reconcilliation possible

Means of salvation: Grace

idea that God loves everyone unconditionally, so we will all be saved

Who believes in grace as a means of salvation

Universalists

Quote about grace as a means of salvation

“For it is by grace that you have been saved” (Ephesians)

Means of salvation: Law

Rules established by God, like the 10 commandments

Who believes in following God’s law as a means of salvation

Some Christians believe that by following God’s law, we avoid sin in the first place

Quote on law as a means of salvation

“Those who do the will of my father will enter heaven” (Matthew)

Means of salvation: Sola fide

Faith alone is enough for us to be saved

Who believes in sola fide as a means of salvation

Protestants believe that faith alone makes one righteous

Quote about sola fide

“He who believes in me will live even if he dies” (John)