Introduction
Each person has a unique worldview shaped by their personal experiences, family ties, education, and other factors. People are interested in how everything came about and how everything arose, so they ask questions such as who created the world, what the meaning of humanity is, and what the nature of God is. People find different answers to these questions, but every opinion and worldview is valuable.
One of them is the Christian Worldview, according to which God is the creator of all life. Based on a Christian Worldview, it is possible to understand the concepts of gospel essentials, such as the nature of God, the nature of humanity, and the nature of Jesus Christ, and to define aspects of Restoration.
In this paper, the concept of the Christian Foundation will be examined, along with an analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview. Using a Christian Worldview to consider the above-mentioned gospel essentials will enable a person to answer the questions that concern them and find their place in the world.
Gospel Essential Beliefs
Nature of God
The triune God is a concept in the Christian Worldview, according to which God is one, but consists of three components: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Biblica, 1973, Matthew 3:16-17). It is essential to note that these three parts are harmonious and share the same nature and attributes. According to the Christian Worldview, only one God is the sole creator of the world (Biblical, 1973). Each component of the triune God plays a crucial role in guiding humanity.
God can be described as everything in the universe. As Roger (2017) states, “in Christian philosophy, the ‘metaphysical background’ of every atom is God” (p. 142). In addition to this factor, it is essential to note that Christianity implies that God is a just and all-seeing creator who has given life meaning. He is the teacher of humanity, offering wise and vital advice.
The world is as it is because God has placed significance and a high purpose in it. The universe and everything in it were created and controlled by God. According to Downey and Porter (2009), “How did you get here? The theist says, “God did it by design”; the atheist says, “Natural forces did it by chance.” (p. 19). Guided by a Christian Worldview, one can conclude that God created a world where everything is interconnected because it is correct. Every human action and all historical events are subject to the will of the Supreme, which is an integral part of the world created by God.
Nature of Humanity
According to the Christian Worldview, God created humanity in His own image and endowed them with appropriate qualities (Diffey et al., 2014). According to the Bible (1973), “God has created us in His image and likeness” (Gen. 1:27). Because men and women are created in God’s image, they possess rationality, morality, spirituality, personality, and the ability to relate to God and other humans (Biblica, 1973). In this sense, humanity’s nature is an extension of God.
It is essential to recognize that, depending on one’s worldview, each person will uniquely define human purpose. Some people are convinced that there is no specific purpose to human existence. However, as Diffey et al. 2014 state, “a worldview that refers to God may trace human origins to a personal creator who designed humans for specific purposes” (p. 3). From the Christian worldview, and based on the teachings of Jesus described in the Bible, it can be concluded that human purpose is defined as the worthy existence of the person, for the opportunity to stand before the supreme court after their life.
Sinful desires are the root cause of human problems. God created man in his image, and sin clouds the person’s mind and reduces the presence of the divine in him. According to Rycken and Dockery (2013), “our family background, life experience, economic circumstances, educational pedigree, cultural context, and historical situation all influence the way we see the world” (p. 15). Consequently, there are many aspects of human life in which a person can commit a sin that depend on a person’s perception of the world. The Christian Worldview emphasizes that sinful desires are the causes of human problems.
Nature of Jesus
Jesus is a righteous man and a teacher to humanity. Through his actions and words, he conveys wisdom to people, teaching them to lead dignified lives and treat others with kindness. As Diffey et al. 2014 state, “the point is simply that God has offered profound wisdom to humans through his Word and through his Son” (p. 1). According to the Christian Worldview, Jesus is the Son of God, and this is his true nature.
It is essential to emphasize that God, desiring to guide people on the right path, determined that communicating with them would be more effective if He created someone who resembled them. According to Diffey et al. 2014, “as Jesus moved through this world and carried out his ministry, people were granted the incredible opportunity of interacting with their maker face to face” (p. 1). Therefore, Jesus aims to communicate with people and convey God’s thoughts to them.
The significance of Jesus’ identity and work for the Christian worldview derives from its role as a guiding star and example of wisdom for Christians. His actions show a clear example of the benefits of a righteous way of life and the possible negative consequences of committing sinful acts. In addition, as mentioned earlier, Jesus Christ serves as a bridge that connects people with the divine aspect of the world, with God.
Restoration
According to the Christian Worldview, the solution to human problems is to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and guide the mind in its actions. People often follow sinful desires without realizing it (Diffey et al., 2014). The study of the Bible will enable humanity to be guided by essential conclusions from the teachings of Jesus Christ, rather than allowing the desire to sin to prevail over them.
The role of grace, faith, and repentance in Christian salvation is significant. The biblical story begins with God’s love, grace, creativity, and overflowing in the ordered work of creation, culminating in the creation of human beings (Biblica, 1973; Genesis 1). Faith in Jesus Christ and God, as well as faithfulness to the teachings of the Bible, are vital components of the path to Restoration.
When a person allows God to enter their heart and life, they can get rid of sinful desires and take the true path of life. On the other hand, repentance allows a person to realize their mistakes and become better by understanding how their actions have caused suffering and pain to other people (Herman et al., 2019). All three components, grace, faith, and repentance, are essential to Restoration.
According to Christians, the transformation of self and society should occur inside a person (Herman et al., 2019). It implies fundamental changes in the way of thinking, their actions, desires, and world perception. As Ryken and Dockery (2013) state, “because our worldview is at the core of who we are, it always reveals our fundamental convictions, including what we believe (or don’t believe) about God” (p. 16). The individual and society must be kind to each other and live according to the commandments of Jesus Christ if they want to achieve the transformation.
Christian Foundations
The gospel essentials, nature of God, nature of humanity, nature of Jesus, and Restoration reflect the basic principles of the Christian Worldview. According to the Christian Worldview, these four concepts include the “protagonists” who communicate with each other. God is everything people see and feel in the universe.
Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God in human form, the righteous bearer of peace and good to people. Humanity itself, which, using the wisdom of the previous two, is trying to take the path. The fourth Gospel is the Restoration to which humanity aspires (Roger, 2017). These concepts give an understanding of the Christian Worldview’s notion, what it is, and its meaning.
By studying each, one can determine why Jesus was sent to earth and who he is. What is the role and nature of humanity, and how can wisdom be achieved? According to Herman et al. (2019), “Christianity preserves the harmony [between them] and reveals to us a wisdom that reconciles the human being with God and, through this, with the world, and with life itself (p. 18). The definition of the nature of Jesus and Humanity will provide critical knowledge related to Christianity. All these factors underline that gospel essentials are the basis for understanding the Christian Worldview.
Christian Worldview and Its Implications
The Christian Worldview discusses the possibility of a man receiving wisdom through the Bible and Jesus’ teachings. As stated in the section on Human Nature, decent human life is a crucial aspect of Jesus’ message and, therefore, of God’s. The main strength of this worldview is the forgiveness of sins by realizing the consequences of one’s actions.
Everyone who does not turn away from God and the Bible gets a chance for transformation and change. It is important to note that in comparison with other worldviews, salvation in Christianity means not committing and avoiding sins (Herman et al., 2019). In contrast, for example, in Islam, salvation means God’s forgiveness and allowing a man to paradise after death (Khalil, 2012). Therefore, each worldview has a different understanding of salvation.
Christian Worldview influences a person’s behavior and thinking in different ways. First of all, a man who follows the commandments of God and is guided by the Bible tends not to commit sinful acts or follow negative thoughts. Kindness and fair treatment of others are integral to a person who follows the Christian Worldview. At the same time, this applies to his way of thinking, as establishing the true path begins with a change in human thoughts. Some people find the Christian Worldview challenging to implement in their lives. Following the strict rules and teachings of Jesus Christ is a difficult test for them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper argues that the Christian Worldview is crucial for defining the fundamental concepts of the Gospel. Using this framework, the study examined key essentials, including the nature of God, humanity, and Jesus, and the concept of Restoration. The paper also explored the Christian Foundation and analyzed the broader implications of adopting a Christian Worldview. By referencing the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ, the research clearly illustrates the central role Christianity plays in individuals’ lives.
The influence of a person’s worldview on his actions, including sinful desires, plays a vital role. Humanity, trying to take the right path, seeks wisdom in the Bible and the activities of Christ. According to the Christian Worldview, God is everything one can see and feel. Through Jesus, he sends help and signals to inspire kindness and justice. The Bible, the teachings of Christ, and the Christian Worldview can allow humans to understand who they really are, find the meaning of existence, and learn how to live a dignified, righteous life and not commit sins.
References
Biblica (formerly International Bible Society). (1973). The new international version (NIV). Biblica (worldwide). Web.
Diffey, D., Hiles, J. F., Jibben, J., Lamca, C., Merrick, J., Pasley, M., Sharp, J., Smith, A. F., Uhley, J., & Waddell, J. (2014). The beginning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life. Grand Canyon University.
Downey, D. E. D., & Porter, S. E., editors. (2009). Christian worldview and the academic disciplines: Crossing the academy. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ProQuest Ebook Central. Web.
Herman, B., Sutanto, N. G., Eglinton, J., & Brock, C. C. (2019). Christian worldview. Crossway. ProQuest Ebook Central. Web.
Khalil, M. H. (2012). Islam and the fate of others: The salvation question. Oxford University Press.
Roger, O. E. (2017). The essentials of Christian thought: Seeing reality through the biblical story. HarperCollins Christian Publishing. ProQuest Ebook Central. Web.
Ryken, P. G., & Dockery, D. S. (2013). Christian worldview: A student’s guide. Crossway. ProQuest Ebook Central. Web.