Christianity-Beliefs and teachings, the nature of God

Question 1

List the 6 attributes of God.

Answer 1

-atemporal, transcendant, immanent, benevolent, omnipotent, omniscient

Question 2

Define ‘atemporal’

Answer 2

-without beginning or end, God is outside time and in control of time and space

Question 3

Define ‘omniscient’

Answer 3

-All knowing, able to see the past present and future

Question 4

Define ‘transcendant’

Answer 4

-existing outside time and space, above all created things

Question 5

Define ‘immanent’

Answer 5

-He involved in the world and human lives

Question 6

Define ‘benevolence’

Answer 6

• God being immanent results in Him being able to demonstrate his benevolence
• all loving

Question 7

Define ‘omnipotent’

Answer 7

-all powerful

Question 8

Outline the Plymouth Brethren view on the nature of God.

Answer 8

• focus on the holiness of God and his purity. They believe only those part of the Brethren are able to know the oneness of God
• they live separate from the rest of the world to remove themselves from evil

Question 9

Outline the Amish community’s view on the nature of God. (4)

Answer 9

• separate themselves from sin
• believe that whilst God has provided salvation through death of Jesus, they believe they must practice salvation through their own works
• believe God is forgiving but also believe living in accordance with the laws and commands present in the bible is necessary for salvation
• linked to the parable of the sheep and the goats

Question 10

Outline the Hillsong church’s view on the nature of God. (3)

Answer 10

• focus on the grace of God and his forgiveness
• do not believe that anything a person can do can lead to salvation
• believe the acceptance of God’s benevolence as a gift is all that is required for salvation

Question 11

Outline free church’s views on the nature of God.

Answer 11

• Teach that God is directly accessible to all believers
• do not believe priests are necessary to fulfil this role
• They emphasise on the personal and accessible nature of God which is shown when Jesus uses Abba to speak to God, meaning daddy.

Question 12

What is meant by the term ‘agape’?

Answer 12

• a sacrificial love for the benefit of another excepting anything in return
• Jesus used the word in the 2nd great commandment in Matthews gospel
• not a feeling but an action
• the type of love Jesus showed when helping other people