The essence of Jesus' teaching comes from his summary of the Jewish law he grew up with: Love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Christians also seek to follow the ten commandments God gave Moses to give the Israelites: Worship no other God but me. Do not make images to worship. Do not misuse the name of God. Observe the Sabbath Day Sunday, for Christians.
Keep it Holy. Honor and respect your father and mother. Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not accuse anyone falsely.
The New Testament records that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and that he encouraged them to address God as Father. Christians believe that they continue this tradition. Whilst prayer is often directed to God as Father, as taught by Jesus, some traditions encourage prayer to God through intermediaries such as saints and martyrs. Prayers through Mary , as the mother of God, are central to some churches and form a traditional part of their worship. The Christian church is fundamental to believers.
Although it has many faults it is recognised as God's body on earth. The church is the place where the Christian faith is nurtured and where the Holy Spirit is manifest on earth. It is where Christians are received into the faith and where they are brought together into one body through the Eucharist. The Christian church believes in one baptism into the Christian church, whether this be as an infant or as an adult, as an outward sign of an inward commitment to the teachings of Jesus.
Eucharist is a Greek word for thanksgiving. Its celebration is to commemorate the final meal that Jesus took with his disciples before his death the Last Supper. This rite comes from the actions of Jesus who, at that meal, took bread and wine and asked his disciples to consume them and continue to do so in memory of him.
The Eucharist also known as a Communion meal in some churches is central to the Church and is recognised as a sign of unity amongst Christians. Different Churches understand and practice the Eucharist in different ways. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter, which is considered Christianity's most important holiday.
After Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, God's presence remained on earth in the form of the Holy Spirit to be a comforter to all. Salvation can only be obtained by believing that Jesus was sent by God to forgive the sins of every human, and to confess those sins to him. Interpretations of the Bible and the practices of each church vary by denomination, but the belief in one God and Jesus as the Messiah is central to all Christians.
Christian beliefs date back thousands of years before Christ. Many prophets predicted the coming of Christ, as written in multiple books of the Old Testament, according to Christian belief. Many theologians believe that Jesus was crucified between 30 and 33 AD. The first Christians were Jews who came to believe Jesus was the Messiah.
Gentiles non-Jews also made up a large majority of its followers, as is the case today. Paul preached the gospel and established churches throughout the Roman Empire , Europe and Africa. In addition to preaching, Paul is thought to have written 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament.
In 64 A. Many were brutally tortured and killed during this time. Under Emperor Domitian, Christianity was illegal. If a person confessed to being a Christian, he or she was executed. Starting in A. This became known as the Great Persecution. During this time, there were several groups of Christians with different ideas about how to interpret scripture and the role of the church. In A.
He later tried to unify Christianity and resolve issues that divided the church by establishing the Nicene Creed. Catholics expressed a deep devotion for the Virgin Mary, recognized the seven sacraments, and honored relics and sacred sites. When the Roman Empire collapsed in A.
Between about A. In these battles, Christians fought against Islamic rulers and their Muslim soldiers to reclaim holy land in the city of Jerusalem. The Christians were successful in occupying Jerusalem during some of the Crusades, but they were ultimately defeated. In , a German monk named Martin Luther published 95 Theses— a text that criticized certain acts of the Pope and protested some of the practices and priorities of the Roman Catholic church.
As a result, Protestantism was created, and different denominations of Christianity eventually began to form. The Catholic branch is governed by the Pope and Catholic bishops around the world.
The Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox is split into independent units each governed by a Holy Synod; there is no central governing structure akin to the Pope. There are numerous denominations within Protestant Christianity, many of which differ in their interpretation of the Bible and understanding of the church.
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