Christian Beliefs and Practices

• Monotheistic


  Christians believe there is only one God
• Evidence that there is only one God


  • It is in the teachings of the Old and New Testaments
  • It is in the 10 Commandments
• Trinity


  Christians believe the one God is experienced in three persons: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit
• God the Father


  • Creates the universe, showing his power and creativity
• God the Son


  • In the person of Jesus, Christians can see the love of God as Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins
• God the Holy Spirit


  • Shows that God is present in the world, his spirit is with us
• The Word


  Means Jesus
• Jesus was with God in the beginning, is God's Word, and helped God create the universe. He became flesh (became a man) and lived among us, giving up his body for us as a sacrifice where we can receive him in the bread at Church.
• How Christians show they believe in the Trinity

  1. They make the sign of the cross

  2. They state their belief in the Nicene Creed
• All Christians believe the universe and life within it was created by God. The creation story is to be found in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible.
• The creation story states


  1. God created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh

  2. God created by his word: 'God said let there be light and there was light' (Gen 1:3)

  3. He created humans in his own image, as the most precious of his creation: 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness' (Genesis 1:26)

  4. God's creation was perfect, showing he was perfect: 'God saw that all he had made was good' (Genesis 1:31)
• Different Interpretations of the Creation story

  • LITERAL
  • CONSERVATIVE
  • LIBERAL - METAPHORICAL
• LITERAL


  • Everything in the Bible is literally true
  • God created the universe in 6 literal days
  • Scientific theories like the Big Bang or evolution, that disagree with the Genesis story, should be rejected
• CONSERVATIVE


  • The Bible is Word of God but not his actual words
  • The Bible is a book about faith, not science
  • The story should not be understood literally but as communicating a deeper meaning
  • Each day might represent an entire era
  • Accepts the Big Bang/evolution
• LIBERAL - METAPHORICAL


  • Not God's Word.
  • Written by normal people - there may be mistakes/contradictions.
  • Bible still contains great truths and we can learn a great deal from Genesis story.
  • Genesis 1 and 2 is a metaphor about how powerful God is/his love for his creation.
  • Accepts Big Bang/evolution.
• Christians believe that the Word (meaning Jesus) was with God the Father during the creation of the universe. Christians also believe that the Holy Spirit continued to work in the world today.
• Incarnation


  The belief that God became a human in the person of Jesus.
• Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came down to earth to live as a man from around 5BCE – 27CE. Jesus is the incarnation of God. This was necessary because by being full human, through his life, death, and resurrection Jesus was able to heal the relationship between God and man that was ruined by man's disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
• The Virgin Birth


  This was a prophecy made in the Old Testament book of Isaiah that Christians believe was fulfilled. Mary has become pregnant by the holy spirit and will give birth to a son who will be given the name 'God with us'
• John's Gospel


  Jesus was with God in the beginning, and Jesus is God.
• John's Gospel


  Jesus became human and he lived among us and spread his message among us. Further meaning: Christians every Sunday receive Jesus in the bread and wine which represents Jesus' body and blood.
• The Incarnation shows God's love that he cared for us enough to take human form, to undergo suffering and death so humans can get to heaven. It is what makes Christians distinct from Jews and Muslims who do not believe this. It shows that Christians must follow the teachings of Jesus as he has the authority of God.
• The events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus, as told in the Gospels, are essential to the beliefs of Christianity. These events took place in what is known as Holy Week.
• Last Supper


  1. Gathers with his disciples one last time for a meal

  2. He prophesied that one of his disciples will betray him (Judas) and tells them that he will die

  3. He shared the bread and said 'this is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me' (Luke 22:19) He did the same with the wine and said 'this is my blood given up for you.'
• Last Supper significance


  • Jesus' death is foretold and explained: his death is for the forgiveness of human sin
  • Christians today celebrate the last supper in Holy Communion when they gather in churches. They are following Jesus' command: take it and eat it, do this in memory of me.
• Crucifixion


  1. Crucified on Good Friday in Jerusalem for blasphemy (offending God) after an unfair trial

  2. On the cross he said about his enemies: 'Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing' (Luke 23:34)

  3. When he died he gave his soul to God: 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit' (Luke 23:46)
• Crucifixion significance


  • Jesus' death allows for the sins of humanity to be forgiven
  • This atonement means that humans can have a relationship with God again after the Fall and get to heaven.
• Resurrection


  1. Jesus' body is placed in a tomb and on the third day he rose again

  2. He appears to Mary Magdalene, his disciples, and many others

  3. Eventually he ascends to heaven to join the Father (the Ascension)
• Resurrection significance


  • Jesus defeats death
  • Proves he is the Son of God
  • Therefore if we believe in Jesus, and we receive his body and blood in Holy Communion, then we too can defeat death, and have immortality and life after death with God
• The Last Supper is the basis of the Eucharist/Holy Communion. Christians believe Jesus' death brought about salvation from sin. The Resurrection is the basis of Christian belief in life after death. If Christ was raised, so can we if we believe in him.
• Sin


  An act that is against God's will. Sin makes it difficult to have a relationship with God and for us to enjoy all the good things that this brings.
• The Fall


  According to Christianity humans have a selfish nature because they share in the original sin of Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. When they did this the perfect relationship was broken. Humans have since found it difficult to be good, to put God's will first.
• The role of Jesus in salvation

  At the last supper, Jesus explained that his death was for the forgiveness of human sin. His death enabled the relationship between God and man to be repaired, and has enabled grace to be given to humans to help them be good and to achieve salvation.
• Atonement


  Christians use the word atonement to describe how Jesus' action repaired the relationship and brought reconciliation between God and man. To access the grace that Jesus' sacrifice provided, many Christians (e.g. Catholics) believe that we must receive the sacraments which bring grace. For other Christians (e.g. some Evangelical Protestants) it is by faith alone that we receive this grace. For some Christians (e.g. Liberal Protestants) it is by simply being kind and good to one another.
• For most Christians, the atonement enables humans to have a good relationship with God again which is where ultimate happiness lies. For liberal Christians they are inspired to live a good life because this will lead them to heaven.
• Eschatology


  The part of theology concerned with death, judgement, and life after death.
• Christian teachings about life after death


  • Resurrection
  • Immortality of the soul
  • Catholic Teachings about Life After Death
• Resurrection


  • The belief that after death the body stays in the grave until judgement at end of world
  • Some Christians believe in the resurrection of our bodies, which will happen at the Second Coming of Jesus
  • The dead will be raised, there will be judgement and those who repent will go to heaven, those who do not will go to hell for eternity.
• Immortality of the soul

  • The idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body
  • Some Christians believe that the soul, which is non physical, will survive the death of the body. The afterlife is a kind of spirit world where good Christians go to a spiritual heaven, and everyone else goes to a spiritual hell.
• Catholic Teachings about Life After Death

  • Mixture of resurrection and immortality
  • At death, Christians with perfectly pure souls go to heaven, those with unforgiven sins that believe in Christ (and maybe good and faithful members of other religions) go to purgatory, and evil doers go to hell.
  • At end of world, God will judge everyone and make a new heaven and new earth where resurrected souls from heaven and purgatory will live, but those in hell will remain.