Christian Beliefs

Question 1

agape

Answer 1

selfless love shown by Jesus when he was crucified for humanity’s sins

Question 2

omnipotent

Answer 2

all powerful

Question 3

omnibenevolent

Answer 3

all loving

Question 4

omniscient

Answer 4

all knowing

Question 5

transcendent

Answer 5

the belief that God is beyond human understanding

Question 6

ascension

Answer 6

being lifted from earth into heaven

Question 7

trinity

Answer 7

the father, the son & the holy spirit

Question 8

salvation

Answer 8

being saved from sin and allowed to access heaven

this was brought about by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross

Question 9

atonement

Answer 9

to restore the relationship between God and humanity

brought about by Jesus’ death on the cross

Question 10

incarnation

Answer 10

God became flesh in the person of Jesus

Question 11

original sin

Answer 11

the state of sin which humanity was born in after the fall of Adam and Eve

Question 12

moral evil

Answer 12

evil brought about by human beings

Question 13

natural evil

Answer 13

evil brought about by nature, without human involvement

Question 14

purgatory

Answer 14

a waiting place, where your soul is cleansed before you can go to heaven

Question 15

the inconsistent triad

Answer 15

if evil exists and God is omnipotent then he cannot be omnibenevolent because he has the power to stop evil but chooses not to.

if evil exists and God is omnibenevolent then he cannot be omnipotent because he is loving so would want to stop evil but does not have the power to do so.

Question 16

arguments to justify why evil exists

Answer 16

1. devil exists -> links to serpent from Adam and Eve
2. free will -> God allows us to choose between good & evil, our life has purpose
3. evil exists so we earn our way to heaven -> God testing how we respond to suffering
4. original sin -> prove ourselves
5. Gods plan -> we can’t understand

Question 17

what did God create on the 1st day?

Answer 17

light

Question 18

what did God create on the 2nd day?

Answer 18

sky

Question 19

what did god create on the 3rd day?

Answer 19

dry land, seas, plants & trees

Question 20

what did God create on the 4th day?

Answer 20

sun, moon & stars

Question 21

what did God create on the 5th day?

Answer 21

birds & sea creatures

Question 22

what did God create on the 6th day?

Answer 22

land animals & humans

Question 23

4 arguments supporting the incarnation

Answer 23

1. both Matthew & Luke’s gospel says an angel appeared + explained Mary would give birth to Gods child -> appears in more than one gospel
2. all four gospels mention resurrection + jesus appeared to 500 witnesses after his resurrection
3. christianity is largest religion, 2.2b followers -> built on idea of incarnation
4. historical evidence jesus existed, lived in Nazareth & crucified by Romans

Question 24

4 arguments against the incarnation

Answer 24

1. inconsistencies in gospels -> in Matthew’s angel appears to Joseph, in Luke’s appears to Mary
2. Jesus body stolen from tomb (by either followers / romans -> who feared his tomb would become a POW
3. in Britain 50% pop = no religion, number of Christian’s decreasing
4. just because there’s evidence of Jesus existing - doesn’t mean he was necessarily God

Question 25

how did Jesus die?

Answer 25

-arrested & questioned by Romans -> found guilty of treason for his claim to be King of the Jews
-put to death by crucifixion -> took 6hrs for him to die ✝️

Question 26

reasons why Jews wanted Jesus dead

Answer 26

-many believed he was Messiah (predicted by Old Testament)
-> he healed the sick
->broke rules of Torah (working on Sabbath)

-jewish council concerned about large following Jesus was gaining

-concerned about claims to have Gods powers & authority (blasphemy)

Question 27

reasons why Romans wanted Jesus dead

Answer 27

-Jesus asked ‘are you king of the jews’ and he responded ‘you say I am’ -> viewed as treason

-Jesus gained large following which posed threat to Roman rule

Question 28

similarities between the resurrection accounts

Answer 28

-all gospels claim the tomb was empty when visitors arrived 3 days after he died

-all gospels claim that Jesus appeared to his followers and had a body after he had risen

-all gospels state Mary Magdalene was amongst those who visited Jesus & saw his body was missing

Question 29

differences between the resurrection accounts

Answer 29

-gospels differ on who came to tomb + witnessed that Jesus body had disappeared
->Matthew: Mary Magdalene & other Mary
->Luke: Mary Magdalene, Joanna & Mary the mother of James

-Matthew’s gospel the women met an angel who says Jesus had risen whereas Luke’s gospel the women men two met in dazzling white clothes

Question 30

what do Christians believe happens when we die?

Answer 30

-some believe soul goes to heaven immediately
-some believe in a day of judgement:
-> body will be resurrected & united with the soul where they will both be judged

Question 31

the parable of the sheep and the goats

Answer 31

Jesus explains that people will be separated into two groups:
-those who have lived good lives and believed in God will be put on one side and have a place in Heaven

-those who have rejected the belief in God and sinned in their lives will be placed on the other side and will go to Hell

Question 32

quote about heaven

Answer 32

‘my fathers house has many rooms…
…I am going there to prepare a place for you’ (John 14:2-3)

Question 33

quote about hell

Answer 33

‘the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murders, the sexually immoral… and all liars - they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur.’ (revelation 21:8)

(CUV MSL)

Question 34

quote about agape, crucifixion, incarnation, salvation & omnibenevolence

Answer 34

‘for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that sins could be forgiven’ (John 3:16)

Question 35

quote about creation

Answer 35

‘god saw what he had made and it was very good’ (genesis 1:31)

Question 36

quote about Gods omnipotence

Answer 36

‘nothing is impossible with God’ (luke 1:37)