9781422279700

Most Christians believe that Jesus rising from the dead is literally true—a historical fact. Others believe it is a way of describing how powerfully his followers felt him to be with them after his death. Christians believe there is, and only ever has been, one God. However, they refer to God in three ways: as the Father Creator; as the Son, Jesus Christ; and as the Holy Spirit, the power of God that people feel and experience in their lives. So Christians talk about God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or the Trinity—three in one. For Christians, the idea of Father, Son and Holy Spirit expresses the prin- cipal ways God and human beings interact with each other. Christianity is a religion of salvation—deliverance from the power and effects of sin. It teaches that human beings C hristians believe that Jesus was the Christ. The word “Christ” comes from a Greek word, christos , which, in turn, is a transla- tion of the Hebrew word mosaich , or Messiah , which means “Anointed One” or “Chosen One.” The Jews believe that the Messiah, a leader chosen by God, will come one day to bring about the rule of God on Earth. It will be a time of justice, peace and harmony. There are many prophecies about the Messiah in the Jewish scriptures. Christians believe that Jesus is the Anointed One promised by God. So the name Jesus Christ means “Jesus the Messiah.” Christ, the Messiah

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Christianity