Christian Beliefs Flashcards
(42 cards)
What do Christians believe about God?
God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists.
God works through history and inspire people to do God’s will.
People can have a relationship with God through prayer.
God is holy.
What is the Nicene Creed?
‘We believe in one God.’
What are the three main qualities of God?
Omnipotency Omniscience Omnibenevolence Omnipresence Just
Why do the problems of evil and suffering challenge belief in God’s positive qualities?
Why does God allow people to suffer?
Why does God not prevent evil and suffering?
Why does God allow injustice in the world?
What is the Trinity?
The relationship of love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit which are all a singular God that exists in different forms.
Who is God the Father?
Creator of all life, all-powerful, all-good, all-knowing and present everywhere.
Christians can not have a personal relationship with this God as they transcend time and space.
Who is God the Son?
God become incarnate through Jesus who is both God and human. Christians can have a personal relationship with Jesus as he is within time and space.
Who is God the Holy Spirit?
The unseen power of God in the world who influences, guides and sustains life on Earth.
What do Christians believe about Creation (Genesis 1:1-3)?
Many Christians believe that while it isn’t scientifically accurate, the story of creation in Genesis contains religious truth e.g God is the creator who made everything in six days and the Holy Spirit was present in the creation (hovering over the waters).
Quote from Genesis of Creation:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters and God said, “Let there be light” and there was light.
What do Christians believe about Creation (John 1:1-3)?
Everything was created through the Word (Jesus), who was both with God and was God.
Quote from John’s gospel of Creation:
‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’
Describe the incarnation of God:
Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and Joseph explaining that it was not an ordinary child: Mary was a virgin.
Through the incarnation, God showed himself as a human being for around 30 years.
What was Jesus?
Jesus was fully God and fully human which helps explain his miracles and resurrection. Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah but a spiritual rather than a political one.
Quotation for incarnation of God:
‘This is how the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, came about: his mother was pledged to be married to Joseph but before they came together she was found to be pregnant with the Holy Spirit.’ (Matthew 1:18)
What happened in the crucifixion of Jesus?
Although Jesus was fully God, he was also fully human so suffered pain and horror.
A Roman centurion acknowledged Jesus was innocent and said he was the son of God.
Joseph of Arimathea was permitted to bury Jesus in a cave-like tomb. Jesus’ burial was rushed because the Sabbath was about to begin.
Why is Jesus’ crucifixion important to Christians?
Gives hope to Christians that their sins will be forgiven if they sincerely repent.
Christians believe that God understands human suffering because Jesus who is God experienced it.
Christians accept that suffering is part of life just as it was part of Jesus’ life.
What happened in the resurrection of Jesus?
Early on Sunday morning, some of Jesus’ female followers research visited the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body but it wasn’t there. Over the next few days, Jesus appeared to several people including Mary Magdalene and his disciples. He told them he had risen from the dead as he predicted he would before the crucifixion
Why is the resurrection significant for Christians today?
Shows the power of good over evil and life over death.
Christians’ sins will be forgiven if they follow God’s laws.
Means Christians will be resurrected if they accept Jesus so there is no need to fear death.
What happened in the ascension of Jesus?
After meeting with his disciples and asking them to carry on his work, Jesus left them for the last time returning to the Father in heaven. This event is called the ascension.
Why is the ascension significant to Christians?
Shows Jesus is with God in heaven. Paves the way for God to send the Holy Spirit to provide comfort and guidance.
What are different Christians views about resurrection?
Some Christians believe a person’s soul is resurrected soon after death.
Other Christians believe the dead will be resurrected at some time in the future, when Jesus returns to judge everyone.
Some other Christians believe resurrection will be spiritual not only physical.
What does a belief in resurrection mean for Christians?
Life after death is real.
Inspires Christians to live life in the way God wants so they can remain in his presence in this life and the next.
Shows Christians that God loves them, gives confidence in the face of death and gives hope of a future life with Jesus.
Arguments for resurrection:
Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples.
Gospels insist he was not a ghost as he ate with men.
‘The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable ‘(Corinthians)
