Benchmark - Gospel Essentials

Benchmark—Gospel Essentials In a world with many different worldviews, what does it mean to be a Christian? For centuries, Christianity and the Christian worldview have often evoked theological debates and discussions among believers and non believers. Many have doubted Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Many have different views and ideologies regarding "good Christian conduct and behavior”, even among Christians. Non believers would say that when you die, that’s it, but Christians believe that there is everlasting life after death. Christians believe that salvation comes from faith and a relationship with God. The love and unmerited favor of God has been given to us through faith in Jesus. The belief that everyone has the chance to feel the love of God because of Jesus sacrifice is shared with all Christian worldviews. The core aspects of the Christian worldview are the nature of God, nature of humanity, nature of Jesus Christ, and the restoration of God’s people. Gospel Essential Beliefs Nature of God God is the one true divine Savior. According to Christianity, God created life, the world, the universe and everything we know to exist within it. There is only one God in the Christian religion, but he appears in three distinct ways, known as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is known as the Holy Trinity or Triune. God almighty is the Father in this trio, the creator of all things. God created the heavens and the earth, and everything in existence in six days. After creating all the land God saw that there was no one to work the ground so He created man from the dust on the ground and breathing the breath of life into him. “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array” (Genesis 2:1, NIV). God has many characteristics. He is known as omnipotence and omnipresent. God is an all seeing and all knowing God. He is also sovereign, merciful, holy, ever present, and a never changing God. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Nature of Humanity Human nature, by definition, contains the central attributes (feelings, psychology, behaviors) shared by all humans. In our lives, we all have varying human perspectives, and this is where the conflicts arise. Some people will convince you that people are good' or 'evil' or 'predators' or 'capable of great compassion.' The power of the people we meet, and what our society and subcultures tell us, color these beliefs (What is Human Nature? Definition, Theories & Examples, 2016). Philosophers and historians prefer to speak about human nature on the basis of the main human experience schools of thought. Some scholars of theology claim that the fundamental feature of human existence is spiritual or religious nature. Judeo-Christian religion, for instance, portrays individuals as God's creations with free will and gives them individuality as well as ethical risks. Christians believe that God created humans in his image, likeness, and for a purpose. Christians believe that purpose is to worship, love and have a relationship with God. God wants us to love him and each other. I believe the root cause of human problems is our sinful nature and our lack in trust or belief in God. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Nature of Jesus In the Christian worldview, God has three forms: He is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is called the Triune, one God, and three bodies. Jesus represents the second part of this trinity. Jesus and God are the same things, but Jesus, in this form, is known as the Son. God sent Jesus to earth to teach man his word and to ultimately be a sacrifice. Jesus is like God in every aspect, he is also loving and compassionate. He healed the sick, gave a blind man his sight, walked on water, and raises the dead. Jesus was a servant and obedient to God in every way. His mission was to die for our sins to redeem mankind to his Father. When the time came he was crucified, he died and arose to prove to man he was who he said and to fulfill his mission and return to his family. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7). Restoration According to Christian worldview, Jesus Christ is the solution to all their problems. Salvation by Jesus Christ is the only cure for redemption. By believing in Jesus, that he died for us and having faith in Him, redemption by salvation is accomplished. A Christian must have faith. Without that, God's reward is impossible. Christians put all their trust in Jesus, believing that his death and resurrection were not in vain. Christians today know that Jesus had a greater intent, that the cross was His destiny, and that His resurrection was His future. Grace and trust play a crucial part in the Christian mindset in coping with Christian redemption. Salvation is given to those who believe as we embrace Christ as our Lord and Savior over all our lives, and grace is a gift from Heaven by repentance (Topic 5 Overview). In these troubled times, the task of Christians is to spread the word of God's love and faith all over the world, to convert those who have fallen into their greed and desire, and to return to the road of enlightenment. Trust is a central element that must always be taken into account. Christian Foundations The nature of God is the starting point for Christian views and beliefs. Belief that a God created all things and has power over all things gives them hope. They believe that God created us in his image and that we are to strive to be like God and his many characteristics. God is good, loving, compassionate, and faithful. Those are just a few traits Christians strive to posses. God created everything good, and because of man sins, he was displeased with his creation. Because of humanities sinful nature Christians believe that God sent his son Jesus as a sacrifice to redeem us for our sins, and because of his death we receive salvation. Jesus death was the atonement for man sin and now they can be born again through Christ. Jesus is the way to God. Luke 10:27 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself”. Christian belief is that we should be kind to one another; we should help those in need, teach his gospel and love the Lord. Faith and obedience is the key to salvation. Analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview In a Christian worldview, many Christians believe that they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and through that personal relationship they will be saved and promised eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. The benefits of the Christian worldview are that it teaches about loving everyone and all things created by God. By teaching God's spiritual attributes, the worldview itself influences positive thought and behavior. The belief in this worldview is that God is faithful and compassionate, and has already redeemed us from our sin. All we have to do is accept Jesus Christ into our hearts. Some question the existence of a God. One confusing part about Christianity is to embrace God as a loving and compassionate being, but how could someone or something so powerful and compassionate allow so much evil to happen. And the answer to that question is simple but only if you’re a believer. Some people like Atheist don’t believe in a God, and therefore aren’t governed by the same guidelines as Christians but their morals and value for human life and nature is the same. A study was done to show the differences between Christians worldview compared to non religious views, and the study showed that they have the same common conceptual framework, and the main disbelief was in the supernatural aspect of God (Tobacyk, (2004). Conclusion God is the ultimate and almighty. He has formed the world and everything in it. We are his creation, and our mission is to worship God and spread the message of his grace and love. Jesus is the second part of the Trinity and an important part of history, and he is supposed to preserve the connection between mankind and the heavens. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and to redeem mankind with God. Christianity is a strong and influential worldview that promotes the idea that we are decent people to honor the Creator that gives life to all of us. It teaches us to love one another and to love God’s creation. This faith and obedience is for the promise of a marvelous and eternal afterlife. While there are some tough questions that even faith cannot resolve, for those that believe in God it gives them hope and purpose.