Key Aspects of Christian Beliefs Salvation Revelation The

Key Aspects of Christian Beliefs Salvation Revelation The Bible The Ten Commandments The Beatitudes Love Prayer © Karen Devine 2008

Revelation is the transmission of knowledge from the divine to humanity. n It is knowledge given by God to humans about things previously hidden. n It is an invitation into communion with God. n

Revelation can be seen as a call to action. n It is a call to belief and faith. n In Christianity, God’s revelation is focused on Jesus Christ. n The eastern variants of Christianity see revelation as focusing on the Holy Spirit. n Revelation speaks of all of human history and includes the present. n

Salvation n n Christians believe that God has the intention to save. Sin interrupts salvation. Salvation is a belief that humans require deliverance from sin. God’s intervention in salvation history includes the incarnation of Jesus and his resurrection. Jesus’ death was salvific as it atoned for the sinfulness of humanity.

Salvation n n Salvation is seen as being delayed until the afterlife. It is through God that humans achieve salvation. Some churches see that anyone who strives to do God’s will, regardless of their religious tradition, will be saved. Other faiths oppose this notion.

The Bible n n n The bible is divided into: a) The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) b) The Christian Scriptures (New Testament) The Christian Scriptures are a collection of stories about the life and deeds of Jesus. The writings are seen to be divinely inspired yet of human origin.

The Bible n n The bible is a source of belief for Jews and Christians. It teaches about the nature of God and the teachings of Jesus. The major aspects of Christian belief are derived from the Christian Scriptures. Liturgical ceremonies also have their origins in the Bible.

The Bible n n n The Bible is integral in the daily lives of believers. It assists with ethical decision making and can be used in all daily rituals. The Bible has been through many translations. Originally written in Greek, it has since been translated into every language. There are many discrepancies in the translations of the words from the original intentions and contexts of the authors.

The Bible As Christianity has its roots in Judaism, there are many links between the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures for example: a) Many Christian passages uphold the prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures. (Such as the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem as told by the prophet Micah) n

The Bible b) Christian ceremonies parallel Jewish ceremonies eg: The Jewish Festival of Weeks parallels Pentecost. c) There are significant number parallels such as the 12 Apostles parallels the 12 Tribes of Israel. d) The Beatitudes in the Christian Scriptures parallels some praise related statements in Psalms 1: 1 “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked” and 41: 1 “ Happy are those who consider the poor”.

The Ten Commandments were given by God to Moses as a revelation for life. n The Ten Commandments are understood to be the direct word of God given to the people of Israel. n They are said to be written in God’s own hand onto tablets of stone. n

The Ten Commandments n n n The Ten Commandments are a summation of the relationship between humanity and God. Christians see the Ten Commandments as rules to be practiced out of love for God, not out of fear of damnation. Outside the Ten Commandments is a life of sin, alienation and unhappiness.

The Beatitudes n n The Beatitudes is the name given to the 9 sayings of Jesus Christ which are expressed in Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” and Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain”. Beatitude is Latin for “blessed” hence all Jesus’ sayings begin “Blessed are………”

The Beatitudes n a) b) The Beatitudes have their origin in the Jewish Scriptures such as in: Psalms: 41: 1 “ Happy are those who consider the poor” Psalms 106: 3 “Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times”. The intention of the Beatitudes is encouraging humans to aspire to certain virtues.

Jesus’ Commandment of Love n n n Christian ethics generally include repentance and love. Christians see that their God is a God of love and this is expressed through Jesus’ discussion of love has a Jewish context. This is a love with qualities of personal attachment. This is a love between God and humanity as expressed through the covenant between God and Israel.

Jesus’ Commandment of Love Jesus’ commandment of love is really about a longing for God and the constant seeking of good in one’s neighbour. n Love involves suffering yet, in following Jesus’ path there is victory over that suffering and victory over sin and death. n

Prayer n n a) b) c) n n Prayer may be public or private. Christian Churches generally favour prayer and worship which is: Private Communal Liturgical Prayer is a way for believers to have a relationship with the divine. Some Christian variants also pray to intermediaries such as Mary, who they believe will act as a link to God.

Prayer n a) b) c) d) n n n a) b) c) d) Throughout history prayer has been described in many ways: Raising the heart and mind to God Communion with God Attentiveness to God Attunement to the divine Jesus is described as praying privately, or in solitude. He used prayer to alleviate his distress and as a guide in decision making. Prayer can be: Vocal Mental Contemplative Meditative

Prayer In addition to connecting with God, the aims of prayer are often to: a) Celebrate one’s life b) Reflect on life and God c) Empty the self d) Recollect God e) Achieve inner stillness

Question Time n What elements of Judaism did Christianity assume?