Christianity beliefs & teachings

What do Christians believe about the nature of God?

God is omnipotent

God omnibenevolent

God is one

God is just

A quote to support that God is omnipotent…

“In the beginning God created the heavens & the earth… God said ‘let there be light’ & there was light”- Genesis 1 (The Creation story)

A quote to support that God is omnibenevolent…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his 1 & only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” - John 3:16

“Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love” - John 4:8

A quote to support that God is one…

“You shall have no Gods before me” - 10 commandments

A quote to support that God is just…

“Do to others what you would have them do to you” - Matthew 7:12 (The Golden Rule)

How does the nature of God influence Christians?

- They worship & pray to him

- They have hope that their sins will be forgiven

- They follow God’s commandments & teachings to prepare for judgement day

What is the problem of evil?

How can God be omnipotent & omnibenevolent when evil & suffering exists

What is theodicy?

A defense of God

How can the problem of evil be justified?

Freewill → God gifted us freewill & therefore moral evil can exist

Original sin → Evil & suffering is punishment for disobeying God in the story of Adam & Eve

Karma → Evil & suffering is the result of doing immoral things, God’s way of being just

God’s plan → We need evil in order to develop the goodness required to enter heaven

Atheism → There is no God so there is no problem with evil

A quote to support that evil is caused by freewill…

“A runaway horse is better than a stone” - St Augustine

A quote to support that evil is caused by original sin…

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world” - St Paul, Roman 5:12

A quote to support that evil is caused by karma…

“For whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap” - Galatians 6:7

A quote to support that evil is part of God’s plan…

“Suffering produces perseverance” - St Paul, Romans 5:3

Evaluate “it is impossible for God to be all-loving & all-powerful when evil & suffering exists”

What is the trinity?

God as 1 being with 3 parts

The Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit

The Father…

God as creator / sustainer

“In the beginning God created the heavens & the Earth”

The Son…

Jesus, God as man / incarnate

“The word became flesh & dwelt among us”

The Holy Spirit…

God’s power at work in the world

“the Spirit descending on him like a dove”

Evaluate “trinity is the most important Christian belief”