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Principal beliefs

The and humanity of Jesus Christ

The humanity of Jesus of Nazareth is clearly proven in the historical evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was born during the time of Emperor Augustus and died during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, crucifi ed at the decree of Pontius Pilate. The Gospels tell us he lived the life of a carpenter in Nazareth for much of the time before travelling to Galilee teaching and telling parables about the Kingdom of God and the love of God for all who follow his commands. It is important that this humanity is acknowledged and understood, as Jesus’ suffering and death were real and experienced by him. The divinity of the Christ, the Son of God, is evident and understood from the Gospel testimonies of the miracles and healings performed by Jesus, and from the witness to his death, resurrection and ascension into by his followers and other eyewitnesses. This divinity recognises his relationship to God the Creator as Son. Jesus’ divinity then made sense of his role on earth, both to be the salvation of humanity and to defeat death through his resurrection and ascension. Early Christian thinkers argued over Jesus’ dual nature, fully and fully divine, and what it meant for Christians. The debate over this paradox was clarifi ed during the Council of Nicaea (325 CE), which stated that there is only one God but there are three distinct persons of the Godhead. This concept was known as the Holy . FIG. 3.17 Jesus the Christ, a Byzantine mosaic in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul The importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ they die, will live’. Christians believe that the resurrection of the body will occur for all at the The Easter celebrations in Christian communities Final Judgment. recognise the importance of the death and The Jewish concept of resurrection was that it resurrection of Jesus Christ. The belief of Christians was only to happen at the end of days (Isaiah 26:19) is that Jesus’ death was important to destroy sin and was not possible for an individual, such as and give humanity the opportunity for eternal life Jesus, before that time. So the dramatic revelation (Romans 8:3–4). of Jesus’ resurrection would have been an Jesus’ death was then followed by his unforeseen event for the apostles. Jesus’ ascension resurrection and ascension into heaven. John 11:25 into heaven (recorded in the Gospels of Mark and tells Christians that Jesus said ‘I am the resurrection Luke) marks Jesus’ transformation to sit at the right and the life. Those who believe in me, even though hand of God the Father.

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03_KIN_OSR_Christ.indd 65 11/9/09 8:56:55 AM Beliefs about the nature of God The idea of the personhood of God was fi rst and of the Trinity explored in the Gospels and New Testament letters and expanded upon and named by Tertullian in his God has interacted with the world in three different writings. It was clarifi ed further in the Nicene Creed ways. in 325 CE. The role of Creator is recognised mainly in the Old Testament, in God’s interaction with his God the chosen people. In the Gospels it is God the Son, Father, Jesus Christ, who is the central fi gure. In the other the Creator books of the New Testament and today, the Holy of the Universe Spirit is the principal means by which God interacts with the world. God the In New Testament writings the concept of the Son, Jesus God the Trinity is suggested in the commissioning of the Christ, Redeemer Holy Spirit, apostles to ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all and Sustainer of Life the Sanctifi er nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ (Matthew activity 28:19). Paul echoes this in his on the Corinthian Christians: ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Research the meaning of the Trinity as expressed by Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the the artist in Fig. 3.18. Holy Spirit be with all of you’ (2 Corinthians 13:14). Christians consider the nature of the Trinity, three persons but one God, a mystery.

activities 1. Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifi er: use a concordance to search for references to each of these persons of the Trinity. 2. Locate the key stories for Christians and examine what role each person of the Trinity took in interacting with the world.

The Christian understanding of revelation

The revelation or message of God has occurred throughout history. For Christians, it was most fully given through the person of Jesus Christ. But God’s revelation is also evident in creation and through the person of the Holy Spirit, interacting with the world. The Old Testament has examples of revelation in events such as God’s spoken promise to Abraham and the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 18:1–33). God is also revealed through the glory of nature in the Psalms (Psalm 8 and 104 particularly). In the New Testament revelation is expressed through the person of Jesus Christ. But even at the start of Jesus’ ministry, at his in the Jordan FIG. 3.18 ‘The Trinity of Roublev’, painted by Andrei Roublev in the River, God the Father’s voice is heard: ‘This is my 14th century, is a famous Russian icon depicting the Holy Trinity. Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased’

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03_KIN_OSR_Christ.indd Sec1:66 11/9/09 8:56:56 AM (Matthew 3:17). Christians know that revelation activities involves God communicating with the world, but 1. Read the following statement by Roman revelation also relies on us to respond to it with a theologian Edward Schillebeeckx. What examples commitment to relationship with God. Revelation is of Christian action do you feel are a means of not complete without acknowledgement of God. moving the adherent towards salvation? The Christian understanding of salvation What, then, is salvation in Jesus from God? I would want to say: being at the disposal of others, losing Salvation (from the salus, meaning ‘health’) oneself to others … and within this ‘conversion’… means the deliverance from sin that we can only working through anonymous structures for the attain through our relationship with God. As Jesus’ happiness, the goodness and the truth of mankind. death was meant to bring us salvation, this is a key This way of life, born of grace, provides a real event in renewing that relationship. For Christians possibility for a very personal encounter with salvation will only come to fruition in the fi nal days God, who is then experienced as the source of all of the world when they are reunited with God and happiness and salvation, the source of joy.’ is only attainable through the grace of God. The (Edward Schillebeeckx, Christ: The Experience of idea of fi nal judgment is not the most important Jesus as Lord, 1980 ) element of salvation, but the opportunity to know and be united with God. 2. Describe the Christian understanding of salvation and the roles of grace, Jesus Christ What happens to those who do not believe and the adherent. in Christ? Will people who do not believe in 3. ‘The free gift of God is eternal life’ (Romans 6:23). Christ be saved? How is salvation realised for Christians? Expressions of Christianity differ as to the possibility of salvation for those who are not Christians. Conservative adherents believe that outside Salvation Christianity there is no salvation. Some liberal Salvation is: Christians believe that anyone who lives a life • freedom from sin will be saved, irrespective of their religious affi liation. • being reconciled with God through Saint Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:3–4 that ‘God … Jesus Christ desires everyone to be saved and to come to the • being united with God in heaven. knowledge of the truth’. Some believe this supports the argument that even if one does not know Christianity, salvation will be possible on the last day.

Prelim | Chapter 3 Christianity 67

03_KIN_OSR_Christ.indd Sec1:67 11/9/09 8:56:59 AM The Nicene Creed texts We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, and writings maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, The importance of the Bible the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, The Christian Bible is made up of: God from God, Light from Light, • the Hebrew scriptures—known as the First or true God from true God, Old Testament begotten, not made, • the Christian scriptures—known as the Second of one being with the Father. or New Testament Through him all things were made. • the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books— For us and for our salvation additional material contained in Orthodox and he came down from heaven: Catholic . by the power of the Holy Spirit The Bible is the sacred text for Christians he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, believed to have been inspired by God and a record and was made man. of key events in the story of humanity’s interaction For our sake he was crucifi ed under Pontius Pilate; with God. It is essential to Christian ceremony he suffered death and was buried. and is a foundation for private reading and study. On the third day he rose again It contains key ethical teachings as well as history, in accordance with the Scriptures; poetry, songs, the story of the Messiah, and he ascended into heaven teachings about how to live a Christian life in the and is seated at the right hand of the Father. letters to the Christian communities. For Protestant He will come again in glory communities it is the primary source of teaching. to judge the living and the dead, For other expressions of Christianity it is one source and his kingdom will have no end. of teaching. For example, Catholics draw teachings We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, from the Bible but also recognise the teaching who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. authority of the Church. With the Father and the Son TABLE 3.2 Extracts from the Bible that he is worshipped and glorifi ed. demonstrate the principal beliefs of Christianity He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. BELIEF SCRIPTURE We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Belief in one God Exodus 20:2–4 We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN. Salvation through 1 Corinthians 1:18, Jesus Christ 21–25; Romans 1:16 Power of the Acts 2 activities Holy Spirit 1. Use the Nicene Creed to identify the key Commemoration of 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 Christian beliefs in the box above. Discuss what the Last Supper other beliefs would be considered core Christian Ethical teachings Exodus 20:2–14; beliefs. Locate scripture references that support Matthew 5:1–12; your choice. Matthew 22:37–40 2. List the names of Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal books and explore their relevance to Catholic and Orthodox communities.

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