Basic Christianity - Doctrinal Overview of the christian faith Flashcards
(34 cards)
WHat is a creed?
A statement of faith a confession of what someone believes (from the latin word “credo” which means I believe.
WHat is a heresy?
(a false or misleading teaching, a departure fromt he acccepted religious understanding)
What does the creed do to christians?
The creeds helped the christains unify around a common understanding in spite of poor communication and large geographic dispersion.
What is arianism?
Was a theological doctrine attributed to Arius of <alexandria. Arius taught that jesus was not fully god, but rather a creation of God’s
WHat is Gnosticism?
A doctrine that taught only the spritual realm could be pure, that the physical realm was corrput. <thus they concluded that jesus could not have been truly human, but only y appeared to be human
WHat is the problem between the two heresis Arianism and <gnosticism?
Only as god can jesus have the power to offer forgiveness, salvation and eternal life to all people, and only as a human can jesus fully relate to us. to our struggles, suffering and death. without jesus’ death there could not be a resurrection, so both aspects of <jesus’ nature need to be affirmed according to christains throughout the centuries.
What is the aposiles creed divided into?
3 articles
What do the 3 articles deal with in the apostles creed?
the trinity
What are the different aspects of the trinity?
One God, yet three persons
1. Father/ creator
2. son/savior
3. Spirit/ sustainer or comforter.
(the first of the terms is relational, the 2nd is vocational)
what are the 3 articles?
- mystery
- Expansive
- Revealed/singular
What is the relational term in the apostles creed?
Father
to picture God as the one who provides, protects, supports, and mentors like a parent.
What does the term almighty?
It implies that God is all powerful that is to sau thay God has the necessatu power to both create the universe and then protect those whom hod has created
What is the vocational term in the apostles creed?
Creator
INdicarted what god does.
To say god is creator is tl say hthat God us resoibsuvke i=fir akk that we see around us (the visible) as well as those thing we do not, or cannot sre (the invisble). God provides us with a place to live and everything necessary for life the term creator indicates purpose not process
WHat is the first artical of the aplostles creed?
talks about God in both relational and vocational terms.
“I beleive in god the father almighty creator of heaven and earth.
WHat is the second artical of the aplostles creed?
To show the full divinity and full humanity of jesus christ
it shows the interconnection jesus has with god the father and <god the holy spirt by indicating that jesus was conveived by the holy spirit, and is seated at the right hand of the dather, this reinforces the cocept of the trinity and jesus’ part in it.
WHat does lord mean?
The one who had ultmiate authoriy over you> In jesus’ time this title was most often associated with the Roman Emperor, but christians used this term with <Jesus instead.
Is jesus’ job to punish those who sined?
NO
He will be the one who will set things right, justice not revenge
WHat is the third artical of the aplostles creed?
The person and work of the holy spirit.
WHat is the third artical of the aplostles creed divided into what 6 phrases?
- I believe in the holy spirit
- The holy catholic church
- the communion of saints
- the forgiveness of sins
- The resurection of the body
- and the life everlasting
I believe in the holy spirit meaning?
In the original Hebrew the word spirit (ruach) literally means breath (life force) or wind (a powerful, but invisible, force in nature). The word holy means of God or divine in this context.
The Holy Spirit is the power or ‘life-force’ of God which gives life to people and the church.
As with wind, the Holy Spirit is a power that is invisible (not seen directly), but rather through its impact (for example at Pentecost when the power of the Spirit turned the disciples of Jesus from a fearful group with no purpose into the dynamic and courageous leaders of what became the early Christian church - see Acts chapter 2 and following). This power or breath of God is a living force, functioning in an ongoing relationship with the world.
The holy catholic church meaning?
The word holy literally means set apart (by God or for God) - thus Christians believe that they have been set apart by God as a group of people with a special purpose and identity. The word catholic literally means universal. Thus this phrase refers to the connection all Christians have with each other, wherever they are in the world. Christianity is not a religion bound to one region or cultural group - it transcends all human borders and divisions (everywhere). The word church does not refer to a building, but rather a community of people who share faith as a common denominator. Christians believe that their connection with God puts them in relationship with one another. This church, the gathered people of faith, is created through by the Holy Spirit’s work and with the Holy Spirit’s power.
the communion of saints meaning?
This expands the image to include all people of God - past, present and future and the supportive connection they have with each other through God’s Spirit. Early Christians used the term ‘saint to refer to any believer in Jesus. This phrase indicates that Christians have a connection with one another not only throughout the world, but throughout time - that physical death does not end the relationship.
The Apostle Paul talks about the “great cloud of witnesses” cheering fellow Christians on (similar to spectators at a sporting event), with this analogy he is referring to the people of faith who have already passed away, but still exist in the spiritual realm. This is why Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe in praying to the Saints. The communion of saints refers to the relationship people of faith have with each other, a connection which transcends time and mortality (everytime or all time).
the forgiveness of sins meaning?
The literal meaning of the Greek word translated into English as ‘sin’ is ‘missing the mark.’ It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sinfulness. This is what is sometimes called our conscience, the inner voice that tells us when we are doing or thinking of doing is something that is wrong. It is also the work of the Holy Spirit to convince us of God’s forgiveness. To be assured of forgiveness is a source of comfort. Believing that one is truly forgiven and that the offended party is not holding a grudge is often difficult - sometimes we find is hardest to forgive ourselves.
The resurection of the body meaning?
Christians did not believe in an eternal soul only, rather the whole person (physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual) has an eternal existence. The resurrection body, however, does not have the same limitations as our current bodies do. Jesus’ post-resurrection body could enter a locked room and ascends into heaven according to the New Testament writers.
“Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there- the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:20-21
The primary emphasis here is that our identity and presence are not bound by time, we can maintain relationships beyond death. Thus the resurrection of the body is less concerned with flesh and blood and more concerned with the integrity of the person past the point of death.
