Christianity Beliefs and Teachings

Omnipotence

God is all-powerful. Example ~ “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” Genesis

Omnibenevolence

God is all-loving. Example ~ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son” John

Just

Psalms ~ “God is fair and just”

Omniscience

God is all-knowing. Example ~ “His understanding is infinite.” Psalms

Solutions to Problem of Evil

• God gave humans free will because he loves them (omnibenevolent)

• Bad experiences are a test of faith ~ “All the while my breath is in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils” Book of Job OLD TESTAMENT

• All part of God’s plan, humans should respond positively. God is beyond our understanding (transcendant) ~ “my thoughts are not your thoughts” Isaiah

Trinity

God is one, yet exists as 3 ‘persons’

Oneness ~ Jesus said “I and My Father are one” John

Beyond understanding - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” Genesis

not interchangeable, yet the same

God the Father

“My Father is greater than all” John

God the Son

“God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son” John

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John

The Holy Spirit (God the Spirit)

Imminence - guides the Church as a sense of strength

~ ”the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” Genesis

Incarnation

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John

Angel Gabriel visited Virgin Mary

Jesus had a human birth. He taught Christians the way of life and performed miracles ~ “Pick up your mat and walk” the cripple was healed John

Baptised at the age of 30 by John the Bapstist

Last Supper

Jesus knew Judas would betray him ~ “This is my body… This is my blood.” Mark

“Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke

He was soon arrested for blasphemy - Garden of Gethsemane

Crucifixion

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

Roman governer Pilate convicted him

• Died as a sacrifice to forgive humanity of its sins

Resurrection

“He is not her; He has risen!” Luke

Greeted and blessed his disciples for 40 days after (before ascension)

Ascension

~ “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” Luke

Creation

• “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis

• God is the sole creator and the creation took six days and on the seventh “God rested”

• “God created mankind in his own image”

Dominion

~ “let them have dominion over the fish of the sea… and over everything that creeps on the earth” Genesis

humans should be in charge of what God created (perhaps use them as resources however they wish)

Stewardship

~ “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis

humans should take care of the world and everything in it which is God’s creation

Role of Trinity in Creation

Son of God ~ “Through Him (the Word) all things were made.” John

Spirit ~ “The Spirit of God was hovering over the water” (before God said let there be light)

Christian Interpretations (of Creation and the Bible)

• Literal - everything is the word of God and is thus completely true in a literal sense

• Inspirational - the Bible was inspired by God (but had inconsistencies like the days in Genesis)

• Metaphorical - Christians that accept science that the Bible is a group of symbolic descriptions to convey a message to followers

Afterlife and Judgement

~ “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” John

• Judgement “He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” The Parable of the Sheep and Goats

Second Coming

Some Christians believe Jesus will return to earth and everyone will be resurrected

Heaven and Hell

Judgement decides which ~ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” Matthew

Sin

An act against God; an act of evil because God gave free will.

To be free of sin, God offered salvation through the sacrifice of Christ.

Original Sin

Adam and Eve were tempted by the devil and committed the original sin which some Christians believe have been passed down.

“When the woman saw the fruit of the tree she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband and he ate it.” Genesis

Salvation

Humans souls can be saved from eternal punishment through salvation:

• through law - follow God’s teachings and carry out good deeds

• through grace - unconditional love of God “it is by grace you have been saved” Ephesians

• through spirit - make amends and ask for forgiveness (repent), accepting God’s existence