Salvation

• Sin


  Any action or thought that separates humans from God, that is, an action or thought against God's laws and wishes or against the principles of morality God requires his people to follow
• Sinful thoughts


  Can lead to sinful actions
• Sinful actions


  • Assault
  • Murder
  • Adultery
  • Rape
• Some sinful actions are illegal, others are not
• Christians believe all humans commit sins as nobody is perfect
• Original sin


  An in-built tendency to do wrong that humans are born with, introduced in the story of Adam and Eve
• Story of Adam and Eve


  1. God gave an instruction not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil

  2. Adam and Eve broke this instruction

  3. They became aware of sin through their own sinful action

  4. Result was separation from God and death
• Many interpret the serpent that tempts Eve as representing Satan, a force of evil
• Christians recognise humans are tempted to do things that displease God
• Free will


  God gave humans free will to choose how they live their lives, but this does not mean they can do whatever they want
• If people use their free will to make choices God would not approve of, these will be sinful and separate them from God
• Guidance for Christians to use their free will wisely

  • The Ten Commandments
  • The Beatitudes
  • Other Christian teachings
• Salvation


  To be saved from sin and its consequences, and be granted eternal life with God
• Main Christian ideas about how salvation can come about


  • Salvation through good works - faith in God and obeying God's law
  • Salvation through grace - salvation given by God through faith in Jesus, not earned or deserved
• While salvation by works is a predominantly held viewpoint, many Christians dispute this and argue that elsewhere in the Bible there is evidence of salvation by grace alone