Christianity: Principal Christianity: Principal BeliefsBeliefs

•Divinity & humanity of Jesus Divinity & humanity of Jesus ChristChrist

•Death & resurrection of Jesus Death & resurrection of Jesus ChristChrist

•The Nature of GodThe Nature of God•The Nature of the TrinityThe Nature of the Trinity

The Nature of GodThe Nature of God

Christians believe that there is only Christians believe that there is only one God, who is the creator of all one God, who is the creator of all things.things.

They believe that God is expressed in They believe that God is expressed in three co-equal natures, the Father three co-equal natures, the Father (creator), the Son (redeemer) (creator), the Son (redeemer) and the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit (sanctifier)(sanctifier)

The TrinityThe Trinity

Triune nature is called the Holy TrinityTriune nature is called the Holy Trinity The Trinity is a ‘mystery of faith’The Trinity is a ‘mystery of faith’ Not treated the same way by all Not treated the same way by all

streams of Christianitystreams of Christianity The origin of the spirit and his role in The origin of the spirit and his role in

creation was one of the points of creation was one of the points of difference that led to the East-West difference that led to the East-West Schism of 1054Schism of 1054

RevelationRevelation

Christians believe in a God who has Christians believe in a God who has revealed himself to humanity and offers revealed himself to humanity and offers himself in loving relationship to allhimself in loving relationship to all

Christians believe God has revealed Christians believe God has revealed himself in creation, through the himself in creation, through the teachings and writings of the prophets, teachings and writings of the prophets, through the Holy Spirit and most fully in through the Holy Spirit and most fully in the person, life and teaching of Jesus the person, life and teaching of Jesus ChristChrist

Revelation 2Revelation 2

God’s revealing of God’s revealing of himself an his offer of himself an his offer of and unconditional and unconditional loving relationship are loving relationship are a continuing process a continuing process through which faithful through which faithful people are called to people are called to live according to his live according to his will and in will and in unconditional love unconditional love with all humankind.with all humankind.

Salvation Salvation

Christians believe that all people are Christians believe that all people are created in the likeness and image of created in the likeness and image of God with infinite potential for good.God with infinite potential for good.

Christians believe that people are Christians believe that people are created with ‘free will’ to choose created with ‘free will’ to choose good or to turn away in self-interest.good or to turn away in self-interest.

This potential to choose self over This potential to choose self over God turns people towards sin.God turns people towards sin.

Salvation 2Salvation 2

Christians believe that God freely offers Christians believe that God freely offers salvation in the person of Jesus Christ.salvation in the person of Jesus Christ.

J.C’s death and resurrection overcomes J.C’s death and resurrection overcomes the sinfulness of all who accept him as the sinfulness of all who accept him as saviour.saviour.

During the 16During the 16thth century the Catholic and century the Catholic and Protestant Churches alike affirmed that Protestant Churches alike affirmed that this saving grace of God is not merited this saving grace of God is not merited but proceeds solely from the love and but proceeds solely from the love and mercy of God.mercy of God.

The Death, Resurrection and The Death, Resurrection and Ascension of ChristAscension of Christ

Christians are Christians are sometimes described sometimes described as Easter people.as Easter people.

Christians believe Christians believe that Christ, in his that Christ, in his fully human nature, fully human nature, suffered the pain and suffered the pain and humiliation of his humiliation of his trial and crucifixion trial and crucifixion as redemption for as redemption for the sins of all people.the sins of all people.

……Continued…Continued…

In this loving act he brings all people In this loving act he brings all people back to the potential of a full and back to the potential of a full and loving relationship with God.loving relationship with God.

Christians also believe that after his Christians also believe that after his death, Christ, fully divine, rose from death, Christ, fully divine, rose from death and ascended into heaven to death and ascended into heaven to overcome the finality of sin and fulfil overcome the finality of sin and fulfil the promise of eternal life with God.the promise of eternal life with God.

Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Divinity and Humanity of Jesus ChristChrist

The question of Jesus’ nature as a The question of Jesus’ nature as a human figure and an incarnation of human figure and an incarnation of God was a question of some God was a question of some conjecture in the early church.conjecture in the early church.

Point of discussion at the Councils of Point of discussion at the Councils of Nicea (325), Ephesus (431) and Nicea (325), Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451)Chalcedon (451)

The Councils ruled that…The Councils ruled that…

Jesus was at once fully human and fully Jesus was at once fully human and fully divine, equal in nature and without sin.divine, equal in nature and without sin.

Council of Ephesus: bestowed upon Council of Ephesus: bestowed upon Mary the title ‘theotokos’ – mother of Mary the title ‘theotokos’ – mother of God.God.

This emphasised the complete This emphasised the complete humanity that brought the suffering of humanity that brought the suffering of Christ’s crucifixion to reality and the Christ’s crucifixion to reality and the divinity that brought about the glory of divinity that brought about the glory of the resurrection.the resurrection.