Introduction
Benchmark—Gospel Essentials is a term used in Christianity to describe the core beliefs of the faith. These include the belief in one God, the need for salvation, and the importance of Jesus Christ. Gospel Essentials are often used as a benchmark against other beliefs. For example, when evaluating new teaching, Christians may ask whether it aligns with the Gospel Essentials. This process helps ensure that only those beliefs essential to the faith are promoted and embraced. In addition, Gospel Essentials also outlines some critical practices that Christians should engage in, such as prayer, worship, and service. Additionally, these guidelines can serve as a valuable tool for evangelism, as they provide a clear and concise overview of the Christian faith. While the Gospel Essentials play an important role in shaping Christians’ beliefs, this discussion will focus on the essential gospel beliefs and Christian foundation and on analyzing the implications of the Christians worldwide.
Gospel Essential Beliefs
Nature of God
The Trinity is essential to the Christian faith, representing the perfect unity between three distinct persons in one God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equal and unified in purpose, yet they have unique roles to play. The Father is the source of all things and creation; Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love and redemption for humanity, while the Holy Spirit is a principle of sanctification and new life (Wood, 2022). This divine Trinity works together with society through their perfect balance to bring about salvation.
Moreover, when Christians talk about the nature of God, they are referring to the attributes that make up His being. These include His transcendence, His quality of being beyond all else, and His immanence, which is His quality of being present in all things. God’s perfect balance between love, mercy, holiness, and righteousness creates His purity (Wood, 2022). As the creator of all things, ex nihilo (“out of nothing”), God has the wisdom seen in His creative design. He is an intelligent Being who has gifted us with a wonderfully crafted universe for which we can be thankful (Wood, 2022). Furthermore, since God is infinite and cannot be fully comprehended by humans, much about Him remains mysterious and unknowable. This understanding of God’s greatness encourages us to have faith in His power, love, mercy, and justice throughout our lives.
Nature of Humanity
Human beings are complex creatures consisting of body, soul, and spirit. According to Genesis 1:26, people are made in the image of God, and as such, believers have inherent value and dignity. The Bible states that people are made in the image of God (King James Version Bible, 1976/2010). This means that they have been designed to reflect some of God’s qualities and characteristics. They have been given the ability to love, reason, and create. However, due to the fall of man, people’s purpose has become distorted. They are now fallen image-bearers, unable to redeem or save themselves. Throughout history, people have tried to explain the human condition and find meaning in life, but only Christianity provides a comprehensive and satisfying answer. People were created to glorify God but have fallen short of that purpose. Only through Christ can individuals be redeemed and restored to their original purpose.
The root cause of the human problem is sin since it separates people from God. It makes human flourishing difficult because it disconnects humans from personal relationships with God. When humans are disconnected from God, they are cut off from the source of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Townes, 2021). As a result, humans experience more negative emotions and are more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors.
Nature of Jesus
Christians tend to believe that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. He is the Son of God, and he came to Earth as an incarnation of God. As such, he is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Messiah. Jesus defeated sin and death in his earthly life, destroying Satan’s power and evil. This was all part of his kingdom’s purpose. John 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (King James Version Bible, 1976/2010). It shows that Jesus is divine and human and came to Earth to fulfill a specific purpose. He is the light of all mankind; people can have eternal life through him.
For Christians, the message of Jesus is a source of great hope and assurance. They believe that, through faith in Him, they can have eternal life and be saved from eternal condemnation. They are called to live out their faith by proclaiming the good news of salvation to all nations. This is not an optional task – it is a central part of being a follower of Christ and living according to His teachings (Townes, 2021). Believers need to understand the significance of this mission and its implications for their own lives and those around them. By accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, believers can experience true freedom from sin, guilt, shame, and death – a hope that no other religion or philosophy can offer.
Restoration
God’s restoration of humanity is based on a definitive answer to the problem of sin. Jesus Christ came down in human form and enabled individuals to be redeemed and restored through Him. People themselves cannot do this reclamation process; it is something that Jesus provides out of His love and grace (Wood, 2022). Grace is defined as an act of unmerited mercy and unconditional affection from God. It has nothing to do with one’s accomplishments or merit but is rooted in God’s love for His people. Faith is also critical in this reestablishment, expressed as trust and absolute dependency upon God. To be restored entirely, repentance must take place – an action that signifies turning away from sin and towards righteousness.
Additionally, the Holy Spirit plays an essential role in God’s restoration and continuing work. Christians are called to repent and turn from their sins, and the Holy Spirit helps them to do that. He convicts them of their sins and points them to Jesus, the only way to be forgiven and have eternal life (Wood, 2022). The Holy Spirit also helps Christians to live a grace-filled life. He gives believers the strength to forgive others, even when they do not deserve it. He also allows them to love others, even when challenged to love. Without the Holy Spirit, it would be impossible for Christians to live the kind of life God intends.
Christian Foundations
The Christian metanarrative provides a framework for understanding the world and people’s place and offers hope for the future. An excellent place to use the Christian metanarrative of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration is in discussions about the meaning of life. The story of creation tells how people are designed for good and that they have a special relationship with their creator (Abbott & Anaya, 2022). The story of the fall reminds people that they are fallen creatures capable of great evil. But the story of redemption tells people that even in their fallen state, they are loved by God, and he is willing to save them (Abbott & Anaya, 2022). Finally, the restoration story reminds believers there is hope for the future; even though this world is broken, it will be made new one day.
When Christianity is compared with other beliefs, such as atheism, they are two very different belief systems. Christianity and atheism are two of the most widely-held worldviews. At first glance, they may seem opposites, with Christianity affirming the existence of a personal God and atheism denying it (Abbott & Anaya, 2022). However, there are also some significant similarities between the two worldviews. Christianity and atheism are based on faith – Christians believe in the existence of God based on faith, while atheists believe that there is no God based on their understanding of the evidence (Abbott & Anaya, 2022). Both worldviews also have an impact on how people live their lives. Ultimately, Christians seek to follow Jesus Christ as their savior, while atheists may live according to their values.
Analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview
Christian’s implication of the worldview is based on the teachings of the Bible. Christians believe that one true God has revealed himself to humanity through his Son, Jesus Christ. This revelation provides a way for humans to know God and to have a personal relationship with him. The Christian perception also teaches that humans are created in God’s image and have inherent value and worth (Lewis Hall & Hill, 2019). The view provides a way for people to understand personal and world events in light of the hope of the Gospel. It gives people a great impetus to serve others in need. However, there are also some troublesome aspects to this worldview. For example, some people find the Bible difficult to understand.
Christianity has long been rooted in the idea of service. Christ himself spoke about the importance of loving one’s neighbor, and from this, Christians have responded by engaging in acts of charity and service. These can range from providing meals to hungry people to caring for the sick and elderly. Christianity also commits to outreach, often including missionary work (Lewis Hall & Hill, 2019). This allows not only for evangelism but also is a means for providing support and aid to communities in need. As such, Christianity’s contribution to helping those in need is undeniable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Gospel Essentials is a term used in Christianity to describe the core beliefs of the faith. These include the belief in one God, the need for salvation, and the importance of Jesus Christ. Gospel Essentials are often used as a benchmark against other beliefs. For example, when evaluating new teaching, Christians may ask whether it aligns with the Gospel Essentials. This process helps ensure that only those beliefs essential to the faith are promoted and embraced. In addition, Gospel Essentials also outlines some essential practices that Christians should engage in, such as prayer, worship, and service. By reading and studying Gospel Essentials, Christians can ensure they live their faith according to God’s will. They can also be able to share the love of God with those that require it. Additionally, this book can serve as a valuable tool for witnessing to others about the Christian faith, thus helping them conform to the belief.
References
Abbott, D. M., & Anaya, E. J. (2022). “Breaking free”: A grounded theory study of atheist women in the united states. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46(4), 501–517.
Dickinson, T. M. (2019). God knows: Acquaintance and the nature of divine knowledge. Religious Studies, 55(1), 1–16.
King James Bible. (2010). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1769)
Lewis Hall, M. E., & Hill, P. (2019). Meaning-making, suffering, and religion: A worldview conception. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 22(5), 467-479.
Townes, S. (2021). A theology of gratitude for rising generations. Anglican Theological Review, 103(3), 347–359.
Wood, A. (2022). Surrounded by the love of God: Howard Thurman on nature, religious experience, and community. The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society, 12(1), 225–236.