Christian Beliefs
The Trinity
The Nature of the Trinity
The Oneness of God
Believing in one God is called Monotheism and believing in the oneness of God is the basis of Christianity.
Teachings of the bible (New and Old Testament) show that there is only one God.
In the 10 Commandments, the oneness of God is the first commandment (showing how important this is). They are God’s rules about belief and behaviour.
When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, 'Love one another as I have loved you.'
This is shown in the teachings of the Church, in the creeds, writings o the Church leaders. It is also shown in the universe that God has created.
Christians believe that the fact it is a universe working to a set of laws means it was created by one God.
The persons of the Trinity
Although Christians believe that God is one, he is experienced in the world as a Trinity. When Christians speak of God at work in the world, they refer to the three persons of God.
Christians feel that the belief in the Trinity helps them to understand the different ways that God has shown his presence in the world
Sources of authority:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Christian faith confesses that God is one in nature, substance, and essence.
Lord’s Prayer: the prayer Jesus taught his disciples that begins, ‘our father.’
Holy Communion: the Christian service of thanksgiving using bread and wine (also called the Eucharist).
The Creation of the universe and of humanity.
The biblical creation: All Christians believe that God is responsible for the creation of the earth and the whole universe. The Bible contains three accounts of how God created the universe.
Key points of creation
The Incarnation
Jesus, the incarnate Son of God.
The incarnation is the Christian beliefs that God became a human being in Jesus. Christians believe that when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden of Eden, they broke the previously perfect relationship between God and humankind.
As the only Son go God, most Christians believe that Jesus did not have a normal conception but that he did have a normal birth. As Jesus’ father was God, his mother (Mary) was a virgin when Jesus was born.
The virgin birth is important to Christians because it shows that if Jesus was not conceived of the Holy Spirit but was brought into the world by sex, he would not be God incarnate but just a man.
Why is the incarnation of Jesus important?
The Last Days of Jesus’ Life
The events leading to the death of Jesus from the basis of Christian faith.
Palm Sunday – Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He knew what was going to happen to him but he rode in anyway. The donkey symbolises his love of the poor.
Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper – The night before his crucifixion, Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples, which is known as the last supper. According to the bible (Luke) the meal, took placed in Jerusalem and Jesus prophesised that one of his disciples would betray him. Then at the end of the meal, Jesus took break and gave thanks and broke it. He said
This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.’
Jesus then prophesised that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed.
Maundy refers to the washing of the disciple’s feet. Jesus did this to show that we should help everyone.
Keyword: prophesised – predict the events in the future.
Good Friday
The four gospels all agree that Jesus was crucified on Friday. Bystanders mocked Jesus and challenged him to come down from the cross. It is called Good Friday not because it was a good day (it’s the most solemn day in the Christian calendar) but instead it’s because Jesus died for the good of humanity.
‘Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’
This is a key quote about forgiveness and the love of Jesus.
Easter Sunday
Early on Sunday morning, Jesus’ women followers went to anoint the body with spices, however when they entered the tomb they found it empty.
Jesus had risen from the dead, proving that he is the Son of God and that there is an afterlife.
The Nature of Salvation
Sin is an action that breaks God’s laws. Sin makes it difficult to have a relationship with God because sin separates a person from God.
Original Sin: this is inherited from the actions of Adam and Eve
Personal Sin: which is the consequence of a person’s own actions.
Sin - an action this is against God’s will
Salvation – the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
Many Christians believe that those who die with unforgiven sins will not be able to go to heaven.
Divergent Christian understanding of atonement
Roman Catholic – Jesus’ sacrifice is our salvation. We take the sacraments as part of this
Evangelical Protestants - Jesus died as God needed to punish sin. Salvation comes through faith in Christ
Liberal Protestants – Atonement is following the example of Jesus
Christian Eschatology
Eschatology refers to religious beliefs about death, judgement and life after death.
All Christians believe that God will reward the good and punish the bad in some form of life after death.
Resurrection of the Body
Some Protestants believe that when people die, their soul remains in the grave until the time when God will end the world. This is known as the Last Day which will follow the second coming of Jesus. This is the belief that Jesus will be raised and both the living and the dead will be given resurrection bodies.
Everyone will then appear before God for the final judgement. This judgement will be based on both what people believe that those Christians who have been born again and have repented of their sins will go to hell for eternity because they have rejected God’s love.
The Nature of the Trinity
- Christians believe that there is only one God
- Christians beliefs about the Holy Trinity are clearly stated in the Nicene Creed
The Oneness of God
Believing in one God is called Monotheism and believing in the oneness of God is the basis of Christianity.
Teachings of the bible (New and Old Testament) show that there is only one God.
In the 10 Commandments, the oneness of God is the first commandment (showing how important this is). They are God’s rules about belief and behaviour.
When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, 'Love one another as I have loved you.'
This is shown in the teachings of the Church, in the creeds, writings o the Church leaders. It is also shown in the universe that God has created.
Christians believe that the fact it is a universe working to a set of laws means it was created by one God.
The persons of the Trinity
Although Christians believe that God is one, he is experienced in the world as a Trinity. When Christians speak of God at work in the world, they refer to the three persons of God.
Christians feel that the belief in the Trinity helps them to understand the different ways that God has shown his presence in the world
Sources of authority:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Christian faith confesses that God is one in nature, substance, and essence.
Lord’s Prayer: the prayer Jesus taught his disciples that begins, ‘our father.’
Holy Communion: the Christian service of thanksgiving using bread and wine (also called the Eucharist).
The Creation of the universe and of humanity.
The biblical creation: All Christians believe that God is responsible for the creation of the earth and the whole universe. The Bible contains three accounts of how God created the universe.
Key points of creation
- God said, ‘let there be light, and there was light.’
- Male and female were made at the same time and were in the image of God.
- Humans were also made to have authority over the world (stewardship)
- Humans have free will to make their own choices
The Incarnation
Jesus, the incarnate Son of God.
The incarnation is the Christian beliefs that God became a human being in Jesus. Christians believe that when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden of Eden, they broke the previously perfect relationship between God and humankind.
As the only Son go God, most Christians believe that Jesus did not have a normal conception but that he did have a normal birth. As Jesus’ father was God, his mother (Mary) was a virgin when Jesus was born.
The virgin birth is important to Christians because it shows that if Jesus was not conceived of the Holy Spirit but was brought into the world by sex, he would not be God incarnate but just a man.
Why is the incarnation of Jesus important?
- It shows Christian that God cared so much about the world that he sent his son to show humans what God is like and to teach the how to live
- It is the basis of the Christian faith, without the incarnation of Jesus Christian, the Son of God, there would be no Christianity
- Through the incarnation, God began the process of salvation from sin, so making it possible for humans to have a full relationship with him and god to heaven after death.
The Last Days of Jesus’ Life
The events leading to the death of Jesus from the basis of Christian faith.
Palm Sunday – Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He knew what was going to happen to him but he rode in anyway. The donkey symbolises his love of the poor.
Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper – The night before his crucifixion, Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples, which is known as the last supper. According to the bible (Luke) the meal, took placed in Jerusalem and Jesus prophesised that one of his disciples would betray him. Then at the end of the meal, Jesus took break and gave thanks and broke it. He said
This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.’
Jesus then prophesised that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed.
Maundy refers to the washing of the disciple’s feet. Jesus did this to show that we should help everyone.
Keyword: prophesised – predict the events in the future.
Good Friday
The four gospels all agree that Jesus was crucified on Friday. Bystanders mocked Jesus and challenged him to come down from the cross. It is called Good Friday not because it was a good day (it’s the most solemn day in the Christian calendar) but instead it’s because Jesus died for the good of humanity.
‘Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’
This is a key quote about forgiveness and the love of Jesus.
Easter Sunday
Early on Sunday morning, Jesus’ women followers went to anoint the body with spices, however when they entered the tomb they found it empty.
Jesus had risen from the dead, proving that he is the Son of God and that there is an afterlife.
The Nature of Salvation
Sin is an action that breaks God’s laws. Sin makes it difficult to have a relationship with God because sin separates a person from God.
Original Sin: this is inherited from the actions of Adam and Eve
Personal Sin: which is the consequence of a person’s own actions.
Sin - an action this is against God’s will
Salvation – the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
Many Christians believe that those who die with unforgiven sins will not be able to go to heaven.
Divergent Christian understanding of atonement
Roman Catholic – Jesus’ sacrifice is our salvation. We take the sacraments as part of this
Evangelical Protestants - Jesus died as God needed to punish sin. Salvation comes through faith in Christ
Liberal Protestants – Atonement is following the example of Jesus
Christian Eschatology
Eschatology refers to religious beliefs about death, judgement and life after death.
All Christians believe that God will reward the good and punish the bad in some form of life after death.
Resurrection of the Body
Some Protestants believe that when people die, their soul remains in the grave until the time when God will end the world. This is known as the Last Day which will follow the second coming of Jesus. This is the belief that Jesus will be raised and both the living and the dead will be given resurrection bodies.
Everyone will then appear before God for the final judgement. This judgement will be based on both what people believe that those Christians who have been born again and have repented of their sins will go to hell for eternity because they have rejected God’s love.
