'So God created man in his
own image, in the image of
God he created him; male
female he created them'
(Genesis 1:27)
It is not clear 'in his own image' actually means. It
may mean we are spiritually in the image of God,
and it may be our souls that make us like God.
'Then the Lord God formed a
man from the dust of the
ground and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life, and
the man became a living being.'
(Genesis 2:7)
The 'breath of life' is
said to be God giving the
first human a soul.
'If there is a natural body,
there is also a spiritual
body' (1 Corinthians 15:44)
This spiritual body may be the soul
and is what is said to go to heaven.
'she took some and ate it'
(Genesis 3:6)
This was the original sin
which caused humans to be
born with a lack holiness.
'Therefore, just as sin entered the
world through one man, and death
through sin, and in this way death
came to all people, because all sinned'
(Romans 5:12)
This is the main
reference to the idea of
'original sin' in the Bible.
'Jesus said ‘I am the
resurrection and the life. The
one who believes in me will
live, even though they die; 26
and whoever lives by
believing in me will never die.'
(John 11:25-26a)
Because Jesus died for
our sins, everyone's
souls are forgiven and
can reach heaven.
Life After Death
' Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we
will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead
will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.'
Christians will be suddenly
judged by God when they die
who is outside of time.
'A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones,
and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were
blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,
clear as crystal.' (Revelation 4:3b-6a)
A description of heaven.
Salvation, Redemption and the Suffering of Christ
The Parable of the Sheep (Matthew 25:31-43, 46) is an example
of one of Jesus' teachings that suggests that those who care for
others will go to heaven, but those who ignore others will go to Hell.
'there is no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus.' (Romans 8:1)
Christians believe they will receive
salvation and redemption through
devotion to Jesus.
Judgement
A description of the
last judgement is
Revelation 21:1-2, 4b.
An example of Particular Judgement is the
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in
Luke 16:19-31.
'But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, ‘Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus
answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in
paradise.’ (Luke 23:40-43)
This is another example of
Particular Judgement and it was
what Jesus said on the cross.
Funeral Rites
'Is anyone among you ill? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them
with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;
the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.' (James 5:14-15)
The ill person who is close to death will confess their sins so they can go to heaven.
‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
(John 8:12)
Candles are lit during funerals to show
that Jesus is the light of the world.
‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes
in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever
lives by believing in me will never die.' (John 11:25-26)
This often opens funeral services.
Good and Evil
God and the Devil
'God saw all that he had
made, and it was very good.'
(Genesis 1:31a)
In the beginning Christians believe
that all God created was good.
The Devil (Satan)
'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven' (Luke 10:18)
This is a reference in the Bible to the
story found in other religious texts that Lucifer
was an archangel who God threw out of heaven.
'The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient snake called
the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.'
(Revelation 12:9)
This is another reference to Satan
'Jesus was driving out a demon
that was mute.' (Luke 11:14)
The Fall, Original Sin and Redemption
'Therefore, just as sin entered the world
through one man, and death through sin,
and in this way death came to all people,
because all sinned' (Romans 5:12)
One of the few references to the
idea of original sin in the Bible.
Coping with Suffering
'When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man,
‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ Then
the man got up and went home.' (Matthew 9:1-8)
This suggests, as people at the time of the NT
believed, that illness is a punishment for sins.
Sources and Reasons for Moral Behaviour
The Bible
'So in everything, do to others what you would
have them do to you' (Matthew 7:12)
This is still applicable today.
'women should remain silent in the
churches.' (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) or 'I do
not permit a woman to teach or have
authority over a man' (1 Timothy 2:12-14)
This would seem unacceptable to many
people nowadays.
Faith in Christ
'Father, forgive them, for they do not
know what they are doing.' (Luke 23:34)
'Consequently, just as one trespass
resulted in condemnation for all people,
so also one righteous act resulted in
justification and life for all people.'
Jesus' sacrifice cancelled
out Adam's original sin.
'this is my body' ... 'this is
my blood of the covenant'
When Christians go through the Eucharist service they
are celebrating bringing Jesus back into their lives.
Jesus was particularly concerned with
those who were outcasts from society, one
example of this is found in Luke 8:26-32.
Religion and Science
Origins of the World and Humanity
'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the
earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God
said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.' (Genesis 1:1-3)
This is how many Christians believe the world began.
'And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures
according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that
move along the ground, and the wild animals, each
according to its kind.’ And it was so.' (Genesis 1:24)
This shows God planned his creation.
'Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image,
in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in
the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and
all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that
move along the ground.' (Genesis 1:26)
God created man and gave them
the power to rule over the world.
The second account of creation
in Genesis 2 is of the heavens and
the Earth were created.
People and Animals
'Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds
in the sky and over every living creature
that moves on the ground.’ (Genesis 1:28b)
'He brought them to the man to see what he would name
them; and whatever the man called each living creature,
that was its name. So the man gave names to all the
livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.'
'So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of
God he created them; male and female he created them.'
Humans were made in the image of God however animals were
created in the same way as plants suggesting humans are superior.
'the Lord God formed the man from the
dust of the ground and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life' (Genesis 2:7)
This is often interpreted as God
giving humans a soul, however
he does not do this for animals.
'Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the
face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with
seed in it. They will be yours for food.' (Genesis 1:29)
These are God's original instructions
about what humans should eat.
'Everything that lives and moves about will be
food for you. Just as I gave you the green
plants, I now give you everything.' (Genesis 9:3)
God now allows Christians to eat all living animals as well.
Environmental Issues
‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill
the earth and subdue it. Rule over the
fish in the sea and the birds in the sky
and over every living creature that
moves on the ground.’ (Genesis 1:28b)
Humans were intended to act as
stewards and protect the creation.
'The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in
it, the world, and those who live in it
This emphasizes the idea
of stewardship.
Luke 12:22-31 is a good
example of Christians showing
respect to the environment.
Beliefs About Deity
Is God Male or Female?
'Then the man and his wife heard the sound of
the Lord God as he was walking in the garden
in the cool of the day, and they hid from the
Lord God among the trees of the garden.'
(Genesis 3:8)
This is the only time God appears
physically and is described as a 'he'.
'No one has ever seen God' (John 4:12)
Therefore we cannot know his gender
'You cannot see my face, for
no one can see me and live'
(Exodus 33:20b)
Again, this makes it
impossible to know his
gender.
'God is spirit, and his worshippers
must worship in spirit and in truth'
(John 4:24)
God is a spirit and so does
not have a gender.
'All things have been committed to me by my Father' (Matthew 11:27)
Jesus referred to God as his
Father suggesting he is male.
'As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you' (Isaiah 66:13a)
This shows a feminine aspect of God
‘Let us make mankind in our image' (Genesis 1:26)
This suggests both men and women were formed in the
image of God, so it has no reference to physical likeness, so
God does not have the body of either a man or a woman.
Arguments for the Existence of God
The Cosmological Argument - Original Cause
'In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth'
(Genesis 1:1)
Argument from Experience
Like when Saul was on the road to Damascus
and heard a voice which said 'I am Jesus'
(Acts 9:3-19)
Beliefs About Jesus
'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you'
(Matthew 5:44)
His parables, miracles and actions taught
Christians how to live.
'Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching
in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the
kingdom and healing every disease and illness.'
(Matthew 9:35)
Jesus heals the sick.
Beliefs About the Holy Spirit
'When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the
blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They
saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them
were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.' (Acts 2:1-4)
The first appearance of the Holy Spirit
'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.'
(Galatians 5:22-23a)
The Holy Spirit helps to spread
love in the World.
Miracles
'I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes
it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have
authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.'
(John 10:17b-18a)
The most famous miracle, Jesus' resurrection is major part
of Christian beliefs.
'He got up, rebuked the wind and said to
the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind
died down and it was completely calm.'
(Mark 4:39)
An example of a miracle performed by Jesus,
he had the power to calm a storm.
It was also miraculous that Mary gave
birth to Jesus when she was a virgin.