Christianity « Margaret’s Blogs

Christianity

(What is Christianity?)

Dictionary Definition: The Christian religion founded on the life and teachings of Jesus. A monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as saviour.

Who Started It? Christianity was started through the life and the teachings of Jesus Christ. According to the four Gospels, Jesus was born of a virgin girl named Mary, in approximately 3BC, in a small town called Bethlehem (known as The City of David). The birth of Jesus was also for-told in the Old Testament, such as in the book of Isaiah. At the birth of Jesus, King Herod believed his throne was threatened by Jesus as He had been prophesied as the King of the Jews. King Herod threatened to kill the baby Jesus, and as a result of this Mary and Joseph were forced to flee to Egypt with the baby Jesus. After the death of King Herod Mary and Joseph took Jesus and moved to Nazareth. Jesus began His ministry at the age of thirty and taught mostly in the Palestine area among the Jews. Jesus then chose the twelve disciples who would continue His teachings after he was crucified in 30AD.

Main Beliefs:

Creation: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” ~ Genesis 1. Every Christian believes that God created the earth and everything that is in it.

The Incarnation: Most Christian churches that are based on Biblical teachings believe that Jesus is God in the form of a human. This made it possible for God to reach the lowest of the low and to be among them, teaching them.

The Trinity: The trinity is a term that refers to “The Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit” Each being is separate but yet the same. All three of these equal to one and the same being, God. Let me simplify this with an image, saying “The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” is just like saying soul, body and mind. They are all different physical beings but they are all a part of the same being.

Heaven and Hell: Unlike some religions Christians believe that Heaven and Hell are real and physical places, not a state of mind. The Bible, God’s Word, says Hell is an everlasting burning for the punishment of sinners and hypocrites (Isaiah 33:14), a bottomless pit (Revelation 20: 1) where mankind has no rest day and night (Revelation 14: 11). It’s a place where people pray but their prayers are not heard (Luke 16: 27). Heaven on the other hand is described as eternal and everlasting glory, a city of gold, a place where only those who are saved will be. Jesus says that the only way to get there is to believe in Him and to be born again in Him. God does not wish that anyone should parish, that is why Jesus came to earth to die for us. When Jesus died He took on Himself the sins of every human being that ever was and will be.

Free Will:When God created humanity He gave us what we call free will. This means that we have a choice in everything we do, whether it is to believe or not to believe. Christians believe we were given free will as a test of our love towards God and other people.

Death and resurrection: Christians believe that Jesus came to this world to die for us. Jesus was betrayed by one of His followers, Judas Iscariot, and was handed over to the Roman Governer- Pontious Pilate to be questioned. Jesus was then handed over to the soldiers to be crucified, this happened at about the sixth hour. Three days later (on Sunday) just as He said he would Jesus rose from the dead.