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G

Garden of Eden: The original home of Adam and Eve before the fall.

Gentile: Any non-Jewish nation or group.

Genuflection: From the Latin words genu, meaning "knee," and flectere, meaning "to bend." A bow where the right knee touches the ground.

Godparents: Godfathers and godmothers, persons who sponsor an infant or young child at his or her baptism. Godparents make vows that they will, by their example, help the child know what it means to be a Christian, so that later in his or her life the child can confirm that fact for himself or herself at Confirmation.

Good Friday: The Friday before Easter Sunday. This commemorates the execution of Jesus by the Roman Army.

Good works: Activities that are legal, pure of motive, and helpful to other persons.

Gospel: This has three main meanings:

1) One of the four books at the start of the Christian Scriptures, which give an account of Jesus' life and which were accepted into the official canon of the Christian Scriptures (New Testament); e.g. the Gospel of Mark.

2) One of the many dozens of books about the life of Jesus, of which only four made it into the official canon; e.g. the Gospel of Thomas.

3) The message, found mainly in the writings of Paul, that a person's belief that Jesus was resurrected will cause God to forgive their sins

Grace: An Christian expression meaning the free and unmerited assistance or favour or energy or saving presence of God in his dealings with humanity. Grace is a gift of God and is not considered to be deserved by the individual.

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