The Incarnation and Salvation
Who do Christians say Jesus is, and how do they believe people are saved? Explore the Incarnation, sin and grace, atonement and resurrection.
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Two big questions ✝️
Christian belief turns on two questions: **who is Jesus?** and **how are people saved?** The answers are the **Incarnation** (God became human in Jesus) and **salvation** (rescue from sin). Write about what **Christians believe**, and remember Christians differ in their views.
The Incarnation 👶
Christians believe Jesus is the **incarnate Son of God**: God who took on human flesh. This is the **Incarnation**. He is held to be **fully God and fully human** at once. 1 Timothy 3:16 speaks of God being revealed in the flesh, and John 1:14 of the Word becoming flesh.
Incarnate?
Christians call Jesus the incarnate Son of God. What does "incarnate" mean here?
- God took on human flesh in Jesus
- Jesus was simply a wise human teacher
- Jesus was an angel sent by God
- Jesus was a spirit with no real body
Match each idea to its meaning
- Incarnation
- Son of God
- Fully human
- Fully God
- God taking on human flesh in Jesus
- A title showing Jesus is divine
- Jesus felt hunger, pain and death like any person
- Jesus is God, not only a good man
The problem: sin 🍎
The reason salvation is needed is **sin**: wrongdoing that separates people from God. Christians often trace this to the **Fall** of Adam and Eve in Genesis. God's **law** shows people the right way to live, but also shows how they **fall short** of it.
Why is salvation needed?
In Christian belief, why does humanity need saving?
- Sin separates people from God
- Because people are not wealthy enough
- Because there are no rules to follow
- Christians believe no one needs saving
How people are saved 🙏
Christians believe salvation involves several things working together: - The **law** reveals sin, but keeping rules alone cannot save. - **Grace** is God's free, undeserved gift of love that saves. - The **Holy Spirit** then helps believers to live a new life. Faith in Jesus is central throughout.
Match each part to its role in salvation
- The Law
- Sin
- Grace
- The Holy Spirit
- Shows people how they fall short
- Separates people from God
- God's free gift of love that saves
- Helps believers live a new life
The atonement 🕊️
At the heart of salvation is the **atonement**. Christians believe Jesus's **death on the cross** deals with sin and reconciles people to God. The word breaks down as **at-one-ment**: being made "at one" with God again. Acts 4:12 expresses the belief that salvation is found in Jesus, and John 3:16 that God acted out of love.
What does the atonement achieve?
According to Christian belief, what does Jesus's death achieve?
- It makes people "at one" with God again by dealing with sin
- It creates a new set of food laws
- It makes believers wealthy
- Christians believe it changed nothing
Resurrection and ascension 🌅
Christians believe Jesus **rose from the dead** on the third day (the **resurrection**, celebrated at Easter) and later **ascended** to heaven. The resurrection is seen as **victory over death** and as God confirming that Jesus's sacrifice brings salvation and the hope of eternal life.
The last days of Jesus
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Explain a belief
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Belief summary
Christians believe Jesus is the _____ Son of God, both fully God and fully human. People are separated from God by sin, but through God's _____ they can be saved. Jesus's death is called the _____, and his _____ at Easter shows victory over death.