Beliefs & Ethical Teachings

Key Beliefs of Christianity:

! Nature of God
! Salvation
! Death and Resurrection: Death is human etc plus JEsus is more human because
he suffers. Resurrection is divine.
! Humanity and Divinity: God becoming entirely human through Jesus. Remained
divine through the pioneering towards salvation carried out by God through Jesus.

-The Commandment of Love is a summaritive statement that draws together all the ethical
teachings of Christianity
-Agape: Love of God
-Ethical Sources: Bible, Papa Authority, Church Tradition & Natural Law
-Ethical Teachings: Hebrew Scriptures (Ten Commandments & Covenant) as well as
Christian Scriptures (Jesus, Beatitudes, Commandment of Love)

Examples of Beliefs
! Old Testament Exodus 20 1-17 The Ten Commandments are given. Link to the
belief of awareness of Godwhilst detailing his wish for humanity to build healthy
relationships.
! New Testament Mark 16 1-8 The Death and Resurrection of Jesus is detailed. Links
to divinity and salvation
! New Testament Mark 14 22-26 The Lords Supper is the first Communion linking to
rituals and ceremonies. It is an example of divinity and humanity in that through the bread
and the wine Jesus is divinely present connecting humanity with divinity.
! Acts 2 1-13 Pentecost. The coming of the Holy Spirit referring to the nature of God.

Principal Beliefs
-Christianity affirms the full divinity and complete humanity of Jesus Christ
-Christian doctrine of the Incarnation is that Jesus was God yet became a full human whilst
remaining fully divine
-2nd Person of the Holy Trinity
-Jesus of history. Born to Jewish woman Mary during time of Emperor Augustus crucified
under Pontius Pilate
-Taught about the Kingdom of God and Godʼs love for all
-Suffering and Death - Human traits. He suffered them through his crucifixion
-Miracles. Resurrection, Ascension into heaven. These examples of divinity recognise his
relationship with God.
-Holy Trinity: 1 God. 3 Different divinities. 3 but 1
-God has interacted with the world in 3 different ways through what is known as The Trinity
! -God the Father, the Creator of the Universe. -Old Testament
! -God the Son, Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Sustainer of Life. -Gospels
! -God the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier. Maintains relationship with God and Son
! through the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. -Other books of New Testament
-Nicene Creed about 3 persons
Revelation
-Given through creation
-Example includes Godʼs spoken promise to Abraham
-Given through the person of Jesus Christ
-Given through the Holy Spirit interacting with the world
-Revelation also involves a commitment from us. It is not complete without
acknowledgement of God

Salvation
-Main theme of Bible is salvation
-Means deliverance from sin obtained through a relationship with God
-Jesusʼ death brought salvation
-Comes to fruition in the final days of the world when they are reunited with God