Salvation

• Salvation


  The healing of a broken relationship between people and God
• Atonement


  A person atones when they show they are sorry for doing something wrong
• Christians believe that Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross to make salvation possible for humans
• Original sin


  Sin inherited from Adam and Eve, the first humans created by God, who broke the perfect relationship between God and humans by disobeying God's command
• Personal sin


  Sins that are the consequences of a person's actions, for example shoplifting would be considered a sin because it goes against a direct commandment from God not to steal
• Many Christians believe that people who die with unforgiven sins will not go to Heaven, and may go to Hell. Catholics believe these people may be sent to Purgatory
• For Christians, salvation is a crucial part of having a relationship with God while on Earth, and also in Heaven
• Role of Jesus in salvation

  Jesus came to Earth so that humans could receive salvation in a permanent way
• Before Jesus, salvation had come from following the laws given to Moses in the Torah
• When Jesus died on the cross, his death acted as a payment for the human sins that were a result of people disregarding God's laws
• Grace


  The gift of God's love and support regardless of whether or not a person has done God's will
• Salvation from sin was the purpose of Jesus' life, death and resurrection
• Christians must follow the teachings of Jesus if they are going to achieve salvation
• For Catholics, this might mean receiving the sacraments, such as being baptised or getting married. For Protestants, this might mean a personal acceptance of Jesus as the Lord and Saviour
• The ideas of salvation and atonement are very closely linked in Christianity. Atonement is the idea of the relationship between humans and God being healed, with God and humanity becoming united
• Christians believe that Jesus' death and therefore his salvation allowed humans to begin the process of atonement