CHRISTIAN BELIEFS & TEACHINGS

God is omnipotent | God is all-powerful and able to do anything.

God is loving | God shows unconditional love (agape) to all humans.

God is just | God is fair and judges right and wrong.

Problem of evil | The challenge of explaining how evil exists if God is omnipotent and loving.

Free will | God allows humans to choose good or evil, which explains moral evil.

Natural evil | Suffering caused by nature, e.g. earthquakes or disease.

Soul-making | Suffering helps people grow spiritually and become closer to God.

Oneness of God | Christians believe there is only one God.

Trinity | One God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Father | Creator and sustainer of the universe.

Son | Jesus Christ, God in human form.

Holy Spirit | God’s presence and power in the world today.

Genesis 1:1 | “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Creation by Word | God created the world through speaking (Genesis).

John 1:1 | “In the beginning was the Word…”

Role of the Word | Jesus was involved in creation.

Role of the Spirit | God’s Spirit was active in creation.

Literal creation | Belief that Genesis is historically accurate.

Symbolic creation | Belief that Genesis teaches meaning, not science.

Resurrection | Rising from the dead after death.

Life after death | Belief that the soul continues after physical death.

Judgement | God decides whether a person goes to heaven or hell.

Heaven | Eternal life with God.

Hell | Eternal separation from God.

Importance of afterlife | Encourages Christians to live moral lives.