Christian Beliefs

1B Christianity Section 1

Trinity

The Christian belief that God is one but exists as three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Nicene Creed

A statement of Christian beliefs that explains the Trinity and who Jesus is.

Monotheism

The belief that there is only one God.

God the Father

Creator of the world and loving parent of humanity.

God the Son

Jesus, God in human form

God the Holy Spirit

God’s power and presence working in the world today.

Baptism of Jesus

In the Gospel of Matthew, all three Persons of the Trinity appear together.

Creation

The belief that God made the universe and everything in it.

Genesis

The first book of the Bible, which describes creation.

Literal interpretation

Believing the creation story happened exactly as written.

Metaphorical interpretation

Believing the creation story teaches truths using symbols.

The Word (Logos)

Another name for Jesus, through whom God created the world (John 1).

Holy Spirit in creation

God’s Spirit bringing life and order to creation, hovering over the chaos in Genesis before the creation of the world.

Image of God (Imago Dei)

The belief that humans reflect God in a special way.

Stewardship

The responsibility to care for the world.

Incarnation

The belief that God became human in Jesus.

Fully God and fully human

Jesus is completely divine and completely human.

Son of God

A title showing Jesus’ special relationship with God.

Virgin Birth

The belief that Jesus was born through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Last Supper

Jesus’ final meal with his disciples.

Betrayal

Judas handing Jesus over to the authorities.

Crucifixion

Jesus’ death on a cross.

Resurrection

Jesus rising from the dead.

Ascension

Jesus returning to heaven.

Salvation

Being saved from sin and brought into a relationship with God.

Sin

Anything that separates humans from God.

Divine Law

God’s rules, especially the Ten Commandments.

Grace

God’s love and forgiveness, freely given.

Atonement

How Jesus’ death repaired the relationship between God and humans.

Substitution

The belief that Jesus took the punishment for sin.

Eschatology

Beliefs about death, judgement and the afterlife.

Resurrection

Life after death in a new body.

Judgement

God deciding what happens to each person after death.

Heaven

Eternal life with God.

Hell

Eternal separation from God.

Purgatory

Catholic belief in a place of cleansing before heaven.

Problem of Evil

The question of why a loving, powerful God allows suffering.

Omnipotent

All-powerful.

Benevolent

All-loving.

Natural evil

Suffering caused by nature (e.g. earthquakes).

Moral evil

Suffering caused by human actions.

Free will

God allows humans to make their own choices, even though this can lead to evil and suffering.

Free will theodicy

The explanation that suffering exists because God gave humans free will; without free will, love and goodness would be meaningless.

Soul-making theodicy

The explanation that God allows suffering because it helps humans grow spiritually and morally, developing faith and character.

Book of Job

A Bible story about innocent suffering and trusting God.

Prayer

Talking to God for help, strength and comfort.

Charity

Helping others who are suffering as a practical response to evil.

Trinity

A voice from heaven speaks at Jesus’ baptism, and says “This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased”

Trinity

“The Spirit of God descending like a dove.”

Creation

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

Creation

“Let there be light”

Creation

“God created mankind in his own image”

Creation

“In the beginning was the word [Jesus]… and through him all things were made.”

Incarnation

“The Word became flesh and dwelled among us”

Incarnation

“God appeared in the flesh”

Last days of Jesus’ life

“Holding a piece of bread: This is my body, do this in memory of me.”

Last days of Jesus’ life

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

Resurrection

"An angel in the garden says to Mary Magdalene: “He is not here; he has risen”

Ascension

“As the disciples watched: He [Jesus] was taken up into heaven”

Salvation & Atonement

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Salvation & Atonement

“Salvation is found in no one else”

Life after death

“An eternal house in heaven”

Life after death

“We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ”

The Problem of Evil

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, abounding in love”

The Problem of Evil

If God is all loving he would want there to be no suffering in the world. If God is all powerful, he would be able to stop suffering in the world. But there is still suffering in the world

The Problem of Evil

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away”

The Problem of Evil

“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him”

Trinity

“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Crucifixion

The centurion who crucified Jesus, when Jesus died, said “Surely this man was the Son of God”

Salvation & Atonement

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

Eschatology

Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life”

Problem of evil

“Trials… produce perseverance” (Soul making theodicy)