Christian Key Concepts

The Trinity is the belief that the one God exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God. They are not three separate gods, nor is each merely one-third of God.

Christians understand the Father as creator, the Son as Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as God's unseen presence at work in the world and in believers' lives. The Nicene Creed, a statement of Christian faith used in worship, expresses belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Trinity connects belief with practice. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells his followers to baptise people “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Using these words in baptism expresses belief in the Trinity during the ceremony itself.

Incarnation: God becoming human

The Incarnation is the belief that God became human in Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is both fully God and fully human: he is not simply an ordinary human teacher, but neither is his humanity only an appearance.

John 1:14 expresses this belief through the words “The Word became flesh”. Here, “the Word” refers to God's divine Word, identified with Jesus, while “flesh” means human existence. Christians understand the account of Mary conceiving through the Holy Spirit as supporting Jesus' identity as the Son of God.

Christmas celebrates the Incarnation. Its religious significance is therefore more than remembering a baby's birth: it celebrates the belief that God entered human life. This connects with omnibenevolence because Christians understand God's coming among humanity as an expression of love.

Atonement: repairing the relationship with God

Sin means a thought or action that goes against God's will. Christians understand sin as damaging the relationship between human beings and God. Atonement means that this broken relationship is restored through Jesus Christ, particularly through his death on the cross.

Christians remember Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday. Its importance is not only that Jesus suffered and died, but that his death is understood as bringing forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This connects Atonement with salvation: being saved from sin and its consequences.

The Eucharist provides a concrete application. Christians remember Jesus' sacrifice through bread and wine. In Matthew 26:28, Jesus describes his blood as “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”. The connection is between his death and the forgiveness that restores humanity's relationship with God.

Resurrection: hope beyond death

The Resurrection is the belief that Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion and burial. The Gospel accounts describe an empty tomb and Jesus appearing to his followers. Christians celebrate this event on Easter Sunday.

Resurrection is different from Incarnation and Atonement. Incarnation concerns who Jesus is; Atonement concerns reconciliation with God; Resurrection concerns his rising from death. These beliefs are connected, but they answer different questions.

For Christians, Jesus' Resurrection shows victory over death and gives hope of life after death. This can bring comfort when someone dies and encourage believers to live faithfully. It also connects with omnipotence: raising Jesus from death is understood as an expression of God's power.

Sacraments: visible actions with spiritual meaning

A sacrament is a religious rite understood by many Christians as an outward sign of inward grace. Grace means God's freely given blessing and help. A visible action, such as using water in baptism, communicates something about a person's relationship with God.

Baptism welcomes a person into the Christian community; many Christians also understand it as cleansing from sin. The Eucharist uses bread and wine to remember Jesus' Last Supper and sacrifice. These practices connect physical actions with beliefs about forgiveness, belonging and spiritual growth.

Christians differ over sacraments. Roman Catholics recognise seven, including Baptism and the Eucharist. Many Protestant churches recognise two—Baptism and the Eucharist—because they understand these as instituted by Jesus. Quakers and the Salvation Army do not practise these sacramental ceremonies, believing that God's grace can be received without the outward rituals. The difference concerns how grace is experienced, not whether a relationship with God matters.

Evangelism: sharing the Christian message

Evangelism means sharing the gospel—the Christian good news about Jesus—with the intention of bringing others to Christian faith. It can involve preaching, personal conversations or sharing Christian messages online.

Matthew 28:19 instructs Jesus' followers to “make disciples of all nations”. Christians who practise evangelism understand this as a command to share their faith. Belief in Atonement and Resurrection gives the message its importance: they want others to experience forgiveness, reconciliation with God and hope beyond death.

Christians differ over how to approach this. Some emphasise an active duty to seek converts. Others place greater emphasis on respecting people's religious choices and demonstrating Christian love without trying to persuade them to change religion. Helping someone in need may express Christian love, but it is not automatically evangelism: evangelism specifically involves sharing faith with the intention of bringing people to it.

• Atonement: Jesus' death restores humanity's relationship with God; connects with forgiveness, salvation and the Eucharist.
• Resurrection: Jesus rose from death; celebrated at Easter and gives hope of life after death.

Belief put into practice

• Sacraments: outward signs of inward grace. Catholics recognise seven; many Protestants recognise Baptism and Eucharist; Quakers and the Salvation Army do not practise sacramental ceremonies.
• Evangelism: sharing the gospel to bring others to faith. Linked to Jesus' command to make disciples; Christians differ over the emphasis placed on seeking converts.

Application pattern: concept → belief or practice → explanation of the connection.