Punishment
Religious Studies A: AQA GCSE Religions, topic 2.2.8
Punishment for Sin
Christians believe human beings deserve punishment for disobeying God, but some Christians also believe in an all-loving God who does not want to condemn anyone to unending punishment.
Jesus' death
- Some Christians believe that Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s way of allowing Jesus to atone for the sins of human beings.
- Jesus’ death does not mean that people will no longer sin, but that they can still go to heaven provided they are sorry for their sins and ask forgiveness.
- Some Protestant Churches teach that if human beings accept that Jesus is their saviour, and repent of their sins, then they can go to heaven.
Redemption in the Bible
- “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” [Romans 3:23-24 NIV]
Role of the Church
- Some Churches, for example, the Catholic Church, believe that God created the Church, priests, and the sacraments as ways to help people live better lives and get to heaven when they die.
Test yourself on Punishment
Do all Christians believe that humans who sin can never go to Heaven?
Romans 3: 23-24 states “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” What is this passage referring to?