Christian theology

===Traditional focus===
Christian soteriology traditionally focuses on how God ends the separation people have from him due to [[sin]] by reconciling them with himself. ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:10-11;&version=9; Rom. 5:10–11]). Many Christians believe they receive the forgiveness of sins ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=51&chapter=2&verse=38&version=31&context=verse Acts 2:38]), life ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=8&verse=11&version=31&context=verse Rom. 8:11]), and salvation ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=59&chapter=5&verse=9&version=31&context=verse 1 Thess. 5:9]) bought by [[Jesus]] through his innocent suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead three days later ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=28&version=47&context=chapter Matt. 28]).

Christ's death, resurrection, ascension, and sending of the [[Holy Spirit]], is called ''The Paschal Mystery''. Christ's human birth is called the ''[[Incarnation]]''. Either or both are considered in different versions of soteriology.

While not neglecting the ''Paschal Mystery'', many Christians believe salvation is brought through the ''Incarnation'' itself, in which God took on human nature so that humans could partake in the divine nature (2 Peter 1.4). As [[St. Athanasius]] put it, God became human so that we might become divine (St. Athanasius, De inc. 54, 3: PG 25, 192B.). This [[Grace (Christianity)|grace]] in Christ ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=53&chapter=1&verse=4&version=31&context=verse 1 Cor. 1:4]) is received as a gift of God that cannot be merited by works done prior to one's conversion to Christianity ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202:8-9;&version=31; Eph. 2:8–9]), which is brought about by hearing God's Word ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=10&verse=17&version=50&context=verse Rom. 10:17]) and harkening to it. This involves accepting Jesus Christ as the personal saviour and Lord over one's life.