Jesus Christ: Incarnation to Resurrection

Who Christians believe Jesus is

At the centre of Christianity is a set of beliefs about one person, Jesus, and this module explains what those beliefs are. Everything here is what Christians believe, described with respect. Christians believe in the incarnation: that God became human in Jesus, who is held to be both fully God and fully human at the same time. They believe Jesus was crucified, put to death on a cross, and that three days later he was raised from the dead, the resurrection, which is the belief at the very heart of the faith and is celebrated at Easter. They believe he then ascended to heaven. Christians believe these events carry a deep meaning: that through the death and resurrection of Jesus comes salvation and the hope of eternal life. This module teaches each belief and, just as importantly, how to write about a belief by attributing it and explaining why it matters.

Words for Christian belief

Learn what each of these means before you use it. Each describes something Christians believe.

Fully God and fully human

A central Christian belief is that Jesus is both at once, not half of each. Christians hold both sides together.

How to write about a belief

Religious Studies rewards a particular way of writing, and it is easy to learn. First, attribute the belief: say whose belief it is, using words like Christians believe, or many Christians hold, so it is never stated as a plain fact. Second, explain the belief clearly in your own words. Third, and this is where the marks are, explain its significance: why it matters to the believer. A weak answer states a religious claim as though it were undisputed. A strong answer attributes it, explains it, and shows what it means for how a Christian lives or hopes. Attribute the belief, explain it, then give its significance.

Match the belief to its meaning

Which belief?

Christians believe that God entered the world by becoming a human being in the person of Jesus. Which belief is being described?

• the incarnation
• the resurrection
• the ascension
• salvation

Order the life of Jesus

Put the events Christians believe about the life of Jesus in the order they are held to have happened.

• The incarnation: God becomes human in Jesus, who is born
• Jesus lives and teaches
• Jesus is crucified and dies
• Jesus rises from the dead
• Jesus ascends to heaven

Spot the true belief facts

Tap the TWO statements that are true.

• Christians believe God became human in Jesus in the incarnation
• The resurrection is the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead
• Christians believe Jesus was only half human and half God
• The resurrection is a minor belief that Christians rarely mark

How many events left?

This module follows 4 key events Christians believe about Jesus: the incarnation, the crucifixion, the resurrection and the ascension. So far you have looked closely at 1 of them. Subtract to find how many of the 4 are left.

Complete the belief facts

The Christian belief that God became human in Jesus is called the _____. The death of Jesus on a cross is called the _____. The belief that Jesus rose from the dead is called the _____. Christians believe that the death and rising of Jesus bring _____, being saved from sin and given the hope of eternal life.

Why the resurrection matters

To see how a belief carries meaning, take the one Christians place at the very centre of their faith. Christians believe that after Jesus was put to death he rose to life again three days later. Ask not just what they believe but why it matters so much to them, and several things follow. It is taken as a sign that Jesus is truly divine, since Christians hold that only God has power over death. It is understood to mean that death is not the end, which gives believers hope of eternal life beyond their own death. And it is seen as the completion of what the crucifixion began, the belief that through the death and rising of Jesus people can be reconciled with God. That is why Christians celebrate it every year at Easter as the most important festival of all. A strong answer would attribute each of these points to Christians and explain the significance, rather than simply stating that the event happened.

Build the belief rule

Choose the words that complete the rule for writing well in Religious Studies.

Explain a belief

Read each case and choose the best response, then think about why.

• A student writes, as if it were a plain fact, that Jesus rose from the dead. How should this be improved for a Religious Studies answer?
• A question asks why the incarnation matters to Christians. What is the strongest point to make?
• A question asks about the significance of the crucifixion and resurrection together. What is the best response?

Beliefs about Jesus

Select the TWO statements that correctly describe Christian belief.

• Christians believe Jesus is both fully God and fully human
• Christians believe the death and resurrection of Jesus bring salvation
• Christians believe Jesus stayed dead and there was no resurrection
• Christians believe Jesus was only a human teacher and not divine

Explain Christian beliefs about Jesus

A friend is revising Religious Studies and keeps writing beliefs as if they were plain facts. Explain the main Christian beliefs about Jesus and how to write about them properly.

• Explain what Christians believe about the incarnation
• Explain what it means that Christians believe Jesus is fully God and fully human
• Explain what Christians believe about the crucifixion and the resurrection
• Explain the significance of these beliefs for Christians, such as salvation
• Finish by explaining why a good answer attributes each belief instead of stating it as fact