christianity key beliefs

• omniscient


  all-knowing
• all-loving


  omnibenevolent
• solutions to the problem of evil

  1 - human abuse of free will

  2 - suffering serves a greater purpose beyond our understanding, god thinks it’s necessary

  3 - god may be unable to stop suffering
• the father is…


  the creator of all things in heaven and earth
• the son…


  he existed at the moment of creation, but became flesh through jesus christ (the incarnation). the son is how god revealed himself and offered salvation.
• genesis is the...


  first book in the bible and tells the story of creation.
• some christians, especially creationists will take the genesis account literally.
• the jewish leaders were not allowed to execute jesus so handed him over to the...

  romans
• several key events happen during the crucifixion story:


  1 - jesus is mocked by passersby, "if you're the king of the jews, save urself"

  2 - jesus promises one of the robbers next to him that he'll be saved, "truly i tell you, today you will be with me in paradise"

  3 - darkness comes over the land and the sun stops shining, the curtain of the temple is torn in two and the roman centurion says, "surely this was a righteous man".
• jesus was aware he was going to be crucified but allowed it for 3 reasons

  1 - it showed an example to others of obedience to god

  2 - it inspired those who were also suffering

  3 - it provided atonement for sin.
• what happened forty days after the resurrection?

  it's called the ascension, according to the NT, jesus predicted the holy spirit will continue his work and is taken up into the sky and hidden by a cloud. according to the gospel of luke, he blesses his disciples and is taken to heaven. the ascension shows christians that jesus remains the highest authority in heaven and earth and his planning to return to earth one day in the future.
• mortal sin


  severe sins which break our relationship with god
• venial sin


  lesser sins which damage our relationship with god
• original sin


  everyone has it until baptised, caused by adam and eve eating the forbidden fruit
• parable of the sheep and goats

  judgement of going to either heaven or hell in the book of matthew