Salvation in Christianity facts for kids
In Christianity, salvation means being saved from sin and its bad results, like being separated from God. Christians believe this saving happens through Jesus' death and rising from the dead. It's about God making people right with Him.
The idea that Jesus' death helps make up for human sins is found in the Christian Bible. Paul and other early Christians believed that through Jesus, people could have a new agreement with God. This agreement was open to everyone, not just one group.
Over time, different ideas about how Jesus' death saves people were developed. These are called "atonement theories." Some well-known ones include the ransom theory, satisfaction theory, and moral influence theory.
Different Christian denominations have slightly different views on salvation. These differences often involve how they define sin, how God makes people right with Him (called justification), and how Jesus' death forgives sins (called atonement).
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What is Christian Salvation?
In Christianity, salvation means being "saved from death and being separated from God." This happens because of Christ's death and his return to life. It's about God helping people escape the bad effects of their sins.
Christian salvation also looks at how a person receives this saving. Is it through faith, baptism, or following God's rules? It also asks if salvation is for individuals or for everyone. Christians also think about what happens after death, like heaven or hell. Different Christian groups have different answers to these questions.
Understanding Sin
In Western Christianity, sin is seen as going against God. It's doing something wrong that hurts God or other people. It's an evil act that goes against what is right and against God's rules. A famous definition by Augustine of Hippo says sin is "a word, deed, or desire in opposition to the eternal law of God."
Christians believe sin is a basic part of human life. This started with original sin, also called ancestral sin. This was when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden by eating the forbidden fruit. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the Bible. Augustine of Hippo helped make the idea of "hereditary sin" popular in the West. This idea suggests that all people are affected by Adam's first sin. Because of this, everyone needs God's help and forgiveness.
Some Protestant groups believe in "total depravity." This means that because of original sin, every person is naturally drawn to sin. They believe that without God's special help, people cannot choose to follow God or accept salvation. This idea is taught by groups like Calvinism and Lutheranism. Other groups, like Methodism, also believe in total depravity but think God offers grace to everyone to help them choose Him.
How God Makes Us Right (Justification)
In Christian teaching, justification is when God takes away the guilt and punishment of sin. At the same time, He makes a sinner righteous (right with Him) through Jesus' sacrifice. How this happens is a big difference between Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. This topic was a key reason for the split during the Reformation.
Generally, Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Christians believe that justification starts at baptism. Then, final salvation is achieved after a lifetime of trying to follow God's will. This process is sometimes called theosis or divinization, which means becoming more like God.
Theosis is a journey to become more like God, as taught by the Eastern Orthodox Church. It involves purifying the mind and body and gaining a deeper understanding of God. Eastern Christians believe this is the main goal of human life. It happens through a partnership between human effort and God's power. Divinization is a similar idea, meaning the transforming effect of God's grace or Jesus' sacrifice.
Catholics believe that faith, when it leads to love and good actions, can justify a person. This means it can remove the burden of sin's guilt. They believe that forgiveness of sin is possible, but justification can be lost if a person commits a serious sin.
In Protestant teaching, sin is "covered," and God's righteousness is given to the sinner. In Lutheranism and Calvinism, people are made right with God through faith alone, not by their good actions. Protestants believe that true faith will naturally lead to good actions, like a healthy tree produces good fruit. For Lutherans, justification can be lost if faith is lost.
Making Things Right (Atonement)
The word "atonement" comes from the idea of "at-one-ment," meaning being "at one" or in harmony with someone. In Christianity, atonement describes how God, through Jesus, made it possible for the world to be in harmony with Him again. It's about people being reconciled with God through Jesus' sacrificial death.
Many Christians believe in unlimited atonement. This means Jesus' sacrifice was for everyone. However, some Christians teach limited atonement. They believe Jesus' main benefits are given only to those who are chosen by God for salvation.
See also
- Absolution
- Christology
- Ecclesiology
- Eternal life (Christianity)
