Christian Beliefs

Omnipotent

God is perfect and has unlimited authority. Christians can aspire to follow his example.

Quote for omnipotency

“Nothing is impossible with God”—Luke 1:37

Omnibenevolent

God wants the best for mankind as he loves us, creating us in his own image.

Omnibenevolent quote

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16

Just

God is the judge of human character. Christians prevent wrongs when they can as God will never support injustice, He treats all fairly, meaning he is trustworthy.

Just quote

“For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice, the upright will see his face”—psalm 11:7

The inconsistent triad

The Holy Trinity

• not 3 Gods joined together

• not 3 people joined to make one God

• not 1 God split into 3 parts

God(the father)

• creator of the universe

• powerful and transcendent

• loving parent of all, like a parent

God(the father) quote

“Our Father who art in heaven”—Lord’s prayer

God(the son)

• always existed but became human incarnate to redeem humanity of their sins

• fully god and fully man - hypostatic union

God(the son) quote 1:

“And a voice came from heaven : ‘You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased’”—Mark 1:11

God(the son) quote 2:

“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed one?” “Yes, I am.” — Mark 14:6-12

God(the holy spirit)

• can take any form

• influences, guides and sustains life on earth/ earth itself

• unseen power of God within the world

• brings people to God, comforts people, shows people when they are wrong

God(the holy spirit) quote

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” Acts 1:8

Sin

any action or thought that separates humans from God

The fall

By succumbing to the snake’s temptation and eating the fruit, Eve disobeyed God and Adam & Eve were kicked out of the garden.

Original sin

the idea that the sin of Adam & Eve is inherited(passed down to their descendants)

Original Sin quote

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." —psalm 51:5

free will

God wants us to obey him by choice. It is by sin that we separate ourselves from God

e.g. 10 commandments, beattitudes.

incarnation

God becoming human/flesh, with hypostatic union meaning fully God & fully human

Incarnation quote

“The Word became flesh & made his dwelling among us”—John 1:14 (jesus)

Miraculous conception

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, without a father, while Mary remained a virgin. 

• the belief explains Jesus’ actions on earth, the belief itself is more important than birth details.

Miraculous conception quote

“She was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit”—Matthew 1:18

Salvation

to be saved from sin & its consequences

• to be granted eternal life with God

Salvation through good works

achieved by having faith in God & obeying his law

• “Faith without action is dead”—James 2:17

Salvation through grace

given by God through faith in Jesus, not earned, rather a gift from God.

• “For it is by grace that you have been saved”—Ephesians 2:8

atonement

something that pays for or makes amends for doing something wrong

• God came to earth as Jesus & died as a sacrifice, taking the punishments of humans. His life given for human forgiveness.

Atonement quote

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins…and the sins of our whole world”—John 2:1

Judgement

God decides the fate of those who die, taking into account the life of the person & their belief in him.

• The afterlife either begins upon death or the Day of Judgement when Jesus will come again to judge the living & the dead.

Judgement quote

“He will come again in glory to judge the living & the dead and his kingdom will have no end”— Nicene creed

Heaven

described as eternity in the presence of God.

Heaven quote

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” —Jon 14:1-4

Hell

eternity in the absence of God, traditionally

depicted as a place of eternal fire.

Hell quote

“The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented...”

— Luke 16:22

(rich man and lazarus, wherein the rich man desired nothing but material possessions while lazarus was faithful.)

Purgatory

where people are cleansed of all sins before going to heaven

Purgatory quote

“but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of Heaven” — Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church para 1030, 1992.

Before the crucifixion

• Judas betrays Jesus, who is then arrested in the Garden of Gellsemane

• He is trialed for blasphemy and sentenced to death by Pontius Plate

• Jesus is forced to carry his cross to Golgotha where he is crucified

Crucifixion

form of execution in which a person was nailed or bound to a cross. the crucifix has jesus on it while the cross does not

Crucifixion quote(human)

“My God, my god, why have you forsaken me”— Mark 15:34

(understanding human pain and suffering)

Crucifixion quote

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’…he breathed his last”—Luke 23:46

(understands he needs to sacrifice himself for mankind)

Ressurection

Rising from the dead, Jesus appeared to several people

Ressurection quote

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.”—Mark 16:6-7

Ascension

40 days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to heaven, body & soul.

Ascension quote

“While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven”—Luke 24:51

• paved the way for the holy spirit.

Sabbath quote

• “the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God”

Six days quote

• “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth”

Seventh day quote

• Genesis 2:2 "And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done”