Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings

What you'll learn

This guide covers all Christian beliefs and teachings required for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies. You'll master the nature of God, creation, Jesus Christ, salvation, and eschatology (afterlife beliefs). These topics form the foundation for Paper 1 and connect directly to Christianity practices, so understanding them thoroughly is essential for achieving top grades.

Key terms and definitions

Trinity — the Christian belief that God exists as three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in one divine being, co-equal and co-eternal

Incarnation — the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man

Atonement — the reconciliation between God and humanity achieved through Jesus' death, restoring the relationship broken by sin

Resurrection — the belief that Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion, and that all believers will be raised to new life

Original Sin — the flawed state of human nature inherited from Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden

Salvation — being saved from sin and its consequences, leading to eternal life with God

Grace — undeserved gift and love of God given freely to humanity

Eschatology — theological study of death, judgement, and the afterlife

Core concepts

The nature of God

Christians believe God possesses specific characteristics that define his nature:

Omnipotent — God is all-powerful and can do anything that is logically possible. Genesis 1 demonstrates this through creation: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." However, God's omnipotence doesn't mean he can do things that contradict his nature (like create square circles or lie).

Omniscient — God is all-knowing, understanding past, present, and future. Psalm 139:1-4 states: "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me... you perceive my thoughts from afar."

Omnibenevolent — God is all-loving and perfectly good. 1 John 4:8 declares "God is love." This raises the problem of evil: if God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, why does suffering exist? Christians respond through:

• Free will defence: God gave humans freedom to choose, which allows evil but makes genuine love possible
• Vale of soul-making: suffering develops character and spiritual growth (Irenaeus)
• Consequences of the Fall: evil resulted from human disobedience, not God's design

Just — God judges fairly and punishes sin appropriately. Romans 2:6 states God "will repay each person according to what they have done."

Transcendent — God exists beyond and outside the physical universe, unlimited by space or time.

Immanent — God is present and active within creation, involved in the world and human lives. The incarnation demonstrates God's immanence most clearly.

The Trinity

The Trinity is Christianity's distinctive belief that one God exists eternally as three persons. Though the word "Trinity" doesn't appear in the Bible, Christians believe the concept is taught throughout Scripture:

Biblical evidence:

• Matthew 3:16-17: At Jesus' baptism, all three persons appear — Jesus in the water, the Spirit descending like a dove, the Father speaking from heaven
• Matthew 28:19: "baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
• John 1:1-14: Jesus as the eternal Word who was "with God" and "was God"

Understanding the Trinity:

• Not three gods (tritheism) or one God appearing in three modes
• Each person is fully God, sharing the same divine essence
• St. Patrick's shamrock illustration (three leaves, one plant) helps explain but doesn't fully capture the mystery
• The Nicene Creed (325 CE) formalized Trinitarian belief against Arianism, which denied Jesus' full divinity

Implications for Christians:

• Prayer can be directed to any person of the Trinity
• All three persons were involved in creation
• Baptism uses the Trinitarian formula
• The Trinity demonstrates God as a relationship of love

Creation

Christians believe God created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing) as an act of free will and love. Two creation accounts appear in Genesis:

Genesis 1:1-2:3 — structured seven-day account showing God creating through commands ("Let there be..."), culminating in humans made "in the image of God" (imago Dei)

Genesis 2:4-25 — detailed narrative focusing on Adam and Eve's creation and relationship with God in Eden

Interpretations:

• Literalist/creationist: Genesis is historically accurate; God created in six 24-hour days
• Figurative/liberal: Genesis contains theological truth expressed through allegory; compatible with evolution and the Big Bang
• Most Christians accept that science explains how creation occurred, while Genesis explains why (purpose and meaning)

The Word (Logos): John 1:1-3 teaches that Jesus (the Word) was God's agent in creation: "Through him all things were made." This links creation to redemption — the same Word became flesh to save what he made.

Significance:

• Humans have unique dignity as God's image-bearers
• Creation is good but not divine (avoiding pantheism)
• Stewardship responsibility: humans must care for God's creation

Jesus Christ: Incarnation and crucifixion

The Incarnation means "becoming flesh" — God's son took human form in Jesus Christ. This is Christianity's central claim.

Biblical basis:

• John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us"
• Philippians 2:6-8: Jesus "made himself nothing... being made in human likeness"
• The Virgin Birth (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38): Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Mary

Why the Incarnation matters:

• Demonstrates God's love and commitment to humanity
• Enables Jesus to be the perfect mediator between God and humans
• Jesus experienced human suffering, so understands our struggles
• Only God could achieve salvation; only a human should pay for human sin — Jesus is both

The Crucifixion is the event of Jesus' death by Roman execution c. 30-33 CE.

Historical facts:

• Ordered by Pontius Pilate under pressure from Jewish religious leaders
• Crucifixion was Rome's punishment for sedition
• Jesus died within hours, unusual for crucifixion
• Accounts in all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

Theological significance — theories of atonement:

1. Substitution/penal substitution: Jesus took the punishment humans deserved for sin. Isaiah 53:5: "the punishment that brought us peace was on him"

2. Moral example: Jesus' sacrificial death inspires humans to love God and others (Peter Abelard)

3. Christus Victor: Jesus' death defeated sin, death, and Satan, liberating humanity (Colossians 2:15)

4. Ransom: Jesus' death paid the price to free humanity from sin's slavery (Mark 10:45)

Most Christians see truth in multiple theories rather than choosing only one.

Resurrection and ascension

The Resurrection occurred three days after crucifixion when Jesus rose bodily from death.

Evidence:

• Empty tomb discovered by women (all Gospels)
• Multiple resurrection appearances: to Mary Magdalene, disciples, over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
• Transformation of disciples from fearful to bold
• Growth of early Church despite persecution
• Paul's conversion from persecutor to apostle

Significance:

• Validates Jesus' claims to be God's son
• Defeats death's power (1 Corinthians 15:55: "Where, O death, is your victory?")
• Guarantees believers' future resurrection
• Core of Christian faith: "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile" (1 Corinthians 15:17)

The Ascension: 40 days after resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven (Acts 1:9-11). He now reigns at God's right hand and will return to judge.

Salvation and life after death

Salvation means rescue from sin and its consequence (separation from God). Christians disagree on how salvation is achieved:

Different views:

• Catholic/Orthodox: salvation through faith AND works (sacraments, good deeds). James 2:26: "faith without deeds is dead"
• Protestant: salvation by grace through faith alone (sola fide). Ephesians 2:8-9: "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... not by works"
• All agree salvation is ultimately God's gift, not human achievement

Judgement — Christians believe everyone faces judgement after death:

• Particular judgement: individual judgement at death
• General/Last Judgement: final judgement when Christ returns (Matthew 25:31-46, the Sheep and Goats parable)

Afterlife beliefs:

Heaven — eternal life in God's presence, characterized by joy, peace, and worship. Descriptions are symbolic: golden streets (Revelation 21), paradise, dwelling with God

Hell — eternal separation from God for those who reject him. Interpretations vary:

• Literal: place of conscious torment and fire (traditional view)
• Metaphorical: anguish of separation from God, fire symbolizes purification
• Annihilationism: unsaved cease to exist rather than suffer eternally

Purgatory (Catholic belief): intermediate state where souls are purified before entering heaven. Based on 1 Corinthians 3:15 and tradition. Protestants reject purgatory, affirming believers go directly to heaven.

Resurrection of the body: Most Christians believe in bodily resurrection at the end times, not just spiritual immortality (1 Corinthians 15:35-44 describes "spiritual bodies")

Worked examples

Example 1: 2-mark question

Question: Give two Christian beliefs about the nature of God.

Answer:

1. Christians believe God is omnipotent, meaning all-powerful and able to do anything.
2. Christians believe God is omnibenevolent, meaning all-loving and perfectly good.

Examiner comment: 2/2 marks. Two distinct beliefs correctly identified and briefly explained. For 2-mark questions, just identify clearly — no need for development.

Example 2: 4-mark question

Question: Explain two Christian teachings about the incarnation.

Answer: One Christian teaching is that God became fully human in Jesus Christ while remaining fully God. This is shown in John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." This teaches that Jesus wasn't just a good man or a prophet, but actually God in human form. (2 marks for first teaching with development)

Another teaching is that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both describe how Mary conceived without human sexual relations. This shows Jesus' divine origin while also making him truly human through his human mother. (2 marks for second teaching with development)

Examiner comment: 4/4 marks. Two distinct teachings, both developed with scriptural reference and explanation.

Example 3: 12-mark evaluation question

Question: "The resurrection proves that Jesus is the Son of God." Evaluate this statement considering arguments for and against. In your response you should: refer to Christian teachings; reach a justified conclusion.

Answer:

Many Christians would agree that the resurrection proves Jesus' divine sonship. Jesus himself predicted he would rise on the third day, and the resurrection fulfilled this prophecy, validating his claims. As Paul writes in Romans 1:4, Jesus "was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead." The resurrection demonstrated power over death that only God possesses. The transformation of the disciples from fearful deserters to bold preachers willing to die for their faith suggests they witnessed something genuinely miraculous. Moreover, 1 Corinthians 15:14 states "if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith," showing the resurrection is foundational proof of Jesus' identity.

However, some might argue the resurrection doesn't definitively prove Jesus is the Son of God. Skeptics point out that the resurrection accounts differ in details between Gospels, questioning their reliability as historical evidence. Additionally, other religions report miracle stories, yet Christians don't accept those as proof of divinity. The resurrection could theoretically demonstrate Jesus was a prophet with God's power without proving he was God's literal son. Muslims, for instance, revere Jesus as a prophet but reject his crucifixion and resurrection, suggesting these events aren't universally convincing proof.

Furthermore, the resurrection evidence is primarily testimony from committed followers written decades after events, not neutral historical documentation. Critics argue extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and ancient testimonies may not meet that standard.

In conclusion, I believe that for Christians, the resurrection does prove Jesus is the Son of God because it's the culmination of his entire ministry, teachings, and claims. The resurrection vindicated everything Jesus said about himself. While it may not convince skeptics who reject the accounts' reliability, for believers the resurrection combined with Jesus' life, teachings, and fulfilled prophecies provides compelling proof of his divine identity. The fact that Christianity grew despite persecution suggests early witnesses truly believed they had encountered the risen Christ.

Examiner comment: 12/12 marks. Excellent evaluation with detailed arguments both ways, strong use of Christian teachings and scripture, considers alternative viewpoints, and reaches a justified personal conclusion. The answer demonstrates depth of understanding and analytical thinking.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing the Trinity with tritheism: Don't say Christians believe in three gods. Always emphasize "three persons, one God" and use the term "persons" not "parts" or "forms"

• Treating all Christians as identical: Remember denominational differences, especially Catholic vs. Protestant views on salvation (faith vs. faith and works) and purgatory. Show awareness by saying "many Christians believe" or "Catholics teach" rather than absolute statements

• Ignoring biblical references: Higher-mark questions reward specific scriptural support. Learn key verses for each topic (John 1:14 for incarnation, Genesis 1:1 for creation, 1 Corinthians 15 for resurrection)

• Describing beliefs without explaining significance: Don't just say what Christians believe — explain why it matters for Christian life and practice. For example, atonement isn't just Jesus dying; it's the restoration of the God-human relationship

• Weak evaluation in 12-mark questions: Avoid one-sided answers. Present genuine arguments on both sides before reaching your conclusion. Use phrases like "Some Christians argue..." and "However, others believe..." to show balanced analysis

• Confusing historical events with theological interpretations: The crucifixion is a historical fact; atonement is the theological meaning Christians give to that event. Keep these distinct

Exam technique for "Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings"

• Command words matter: "Give" (2 marks) = brief identification only. "Explain" (4 marks) = identify AND develop with detail/example. "Evaluate" (12 marks) = arguments for, arguments against, justified conclusion with reference to Christian teaching

• Mark allocation guides structure: For 4-mark questions, write two developed points (2+2). For 5-mark questions, write two points plus development plus reference to scripture/teaching (2+2+1). For 12-mark questions, plan three paragraphs: arguments for (4 marks), arguments against (4 marks), justified conclusion (4 marks)

• Scripture and scholars add marks: Specific biblical references (book, chapter optional) and theologians' names (Augustine, Aquinas, Irenaeus) demonstrate depth. Even one well-placed quotation elevates an answer

• Practice denominational awareness: When questions ask about "different Christian attitudes," contrast Catholic/Orthodox with Protestant perspectives, or liberal vs. conservative interpretations. This shows sophisticated understanding

Quick revision summary

Christians believe in one God existing as Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), who created the universe and humanity in his image. Jesus Christ is God incarnate — fully divine and fully human — who died on the cross to achieve atonement for human sin. His resurrection three days later defeats death and guarantees believers' salvation. Christians disagree on whether salvation comes through faith alone or faith plus works. After death, Christians believe in judgement leading to heaven (eternal life with God) or hell (separation from God), with Catholics also accepting purgatory. These beliefs shape Christian worship, ethics, and hope.