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GCSE · Christianity

RS.CB4 Sin, Law, Grace and Salvation

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used in Christian teaching about sin, law, grace and salvation.

(a)Give one word that means a wrongdoing that goes against God's law.(1)

(b)State what is meant by grace, in Christian belief.(1)

(c)State what Christians mean by 'the Fall'.(1)

(d)State what is meant by salvation.(1)

(e)Give one name Christians use for Jesus's role in achieving salvation for humanity.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three Christian teachings about sin.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two Christian teachings about how a person may achieve salvation. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting Christian beliefs about the relationship between faith and good works in salvation. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about Christian beliefs concerning faith, works and salvation. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question: parts (a) to (d) below are worth 12 marks; the 12-mark evaluation, part (e), is Question 6.

(a)State one word Christians use to describe reconciliation between God and humanity, achieved through Jesus.(1)

(b)Give two ways Christians believe a person receives God's grace.(2)

(c)Explain two Christian teachings about the role of Jesus in achieving salvation for humanity. Refer to scripture in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting Christian beliefs about whether a person's own good deeds can help to achieve salvation. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(5)

(Total for Question 5 is 12 marks)

This is the final part of the 24-mark question that began in Question 5. Evaluate this statement: 'Christians believe you cannot get to heaven through your own good deeds.' In your answer you should: refer to Christian teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.

(Total for Question 6 is 12 marks)

Explain two ways a belief in salvation might affect the life of a Christian believer today.

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

Give three sources of authority Christians use to learn about salvation.

(Total for Question 8 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.CB4 Sin, Law, Grace and Salvation

Question 1

(a) B1 sin, oe
(a) Answer: Sin.
(b) B1 God's freely given, unearned love and forgiveness towards humanity, oe
(b) Answer: God's free and unearned love and forgiveness.
(c) B1 the first sin of Adam and Eve, described in Genesis 3, through which sin entered the world, oe
(c) Answer: The first sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3), through which sin entered the world.
(d) B1 being saved from sin and its consequences, oe
(d) Answer: Being saved from sin and its consequences.
(e) B1 Saviour / Redeemer, oe
(e) Answer: Saviour (or Redeemer).

Question 2

B1 all humans are born with original sin, inherited from Adam and Eve, oe
B1 sin separates humans from God, oe
B1 sin is any thought, word or action that goes against God's law or will, oe
Answer: Any three: original sin inherited from Adam and Eve; sin separates people from God; sin is any thought, word or action against God's will.

Question 3

B1 point 1: salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, oe
B1 development: Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that Christians are saved by grace through faith, not as a result of their own works, oe
B1 point 2: salvation comes through Jesus's death and resurrection (atonement), oe
B1 development: Christians believe Jesus's death on the cross paid the penalty for humanity's sin, reconciling people with God, oe
Answer: E.g. (1) salvation through faith, supported by Ephesians 2:8-9; (2) salvation through Jesus's atoning death and resurrection.

Question 4

B1 belief 1: some Christians (e.g. many Protestants) believe salvation is through faith alone (sola fide), oe
B1 development: based on Ephesians 2:8-9, which states salvation is by grace, through faith, and not by works, oe
B1 belief 2: other Christians (e.g. the Roman Catholic Church) believe faith must be accompanied by good works, oe
B1 development: based on James 2:26, which teaches that faith without deeds is dead, so good works are seen as a necessary part of genuine faith, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority is made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: faith alone (sola fide, Ephesians 2:8-9) vs faith accompanied by good works (James 2:26, reflected in Catholic teaching).

Question 5

(a) B1 atonement, oe
(a) Answer: Atonement.
(b) B1 through faith in Jesus Christ, oe
(b) B1 through the sacraments (e.g. baptism, Eucharist), oe
(b) Answer: E.g. through faith in Jesus, and through the sacraments.
(c) B1 point 1: Jesus's death on the cross is believed to have paid the penalty for humanity's sin, oe
(c) B1 development: this is described in Christian teaching as substitutionary atonement, in which Jesus suffers the consequence of sin in humanity's place, oe
(c) B1 point 2: Jesus's resurrection is believed to show that he defeated sin and death, oe
(c) B1 development: this gives Christians hope of eternal life, since the resurrection is seen as a sign of victory over death, oe
(c) Answer: E.g. Jesus's death as substitutionary atonement for sin; Jesus's resurrection as victory over death, giving hope of eternal life.
(d) B1 belief 1: some Christians believe good deeds cannot earn salvation, which is a free gift of God's grace, oe
(d) B1 development: based on Ephesians 2:8-9, which states that salvation is not by works, so that no one can boast, oe
(d) B1 belief 2: other Christians believe good deeds are a necessary part of a life of genuine faith and so play a role in salvation, oe
(d) B1 development: based on the teaching in James 2:14-26 that faith without deeds is dead, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: good deeds cannot earn salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9) vs good deeds are a necessary part of genuine faith (James 2:14-26).

Question 6

Level 4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to Christian teaching and/or scripture to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
Level 3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to Christian teaching and/or scripture, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
Level 2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
Level 1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- Agree: Ephesians 2:8-9 states that salvation is by grace, through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast, suggesting good deeds cannot earn a place in heaven.
- Agree: if salvation could be earned through good deeds alone, this could contradict the Christian teaching that Jesus's death on the cross was necessary to save humanity from sin.
- Agree: many Christians believe that, because of original sin, no person is capable of achieving perfect goodness through their own efforts, so deeds alone could never be sufficient.
- Agree: Christian teaching describes grace as a free, undeserved gift from God; something earned through deeds would not be a gift.
- Disagree: James 2:26 teaches that faith without deeds is dead, suggesting good deeds are a necessary part of genuine faith and therefore of salvation.
- Disagree: the Roman Catholic Church teaches that Christians must cooperate with God's grace through good works, love and the sacraments, so salvation involves a human response as well as God's gift.
- Disagree: in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus teaches that people will be judged partly according to how they treated others, suggesting deeds matter.
- A balanced answer might conclude that most Christians agree good deeds alone do not earn salvation, but disagree about how essential good deeds are as an expression of genuine faith.

Question 7

B1 point 1: a Christian might try to live according to God's law/commandments out of gratitude for salvation, oe
B1 development: e.g. following the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) or Jesus's teaching to love God and love one's neighbour, oe
B1 point 2: a Christian might take part in the sacraments, seen as a means of receiving God's grace, oe
B1 development: e.g. regularly attending Holy Communion/Eucharist to remain close to God and to express thanks for salvation, oe
Answer: E.g. living according to God's commandments out of gratitude; taking part in the sacraments (e.g. Eucharist) as a means of grace.

Question 8

B1 the Bible, oe
B1 the teaching of the Church (e.g. through sermons, catechism or tradition), oe
B1 the life and example of Jesus Christ, oe
Answer: Any three: the Bible; Church teaching/tradition; the example of Jesus Christ.

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