Introduction
Gospel Essentials and the Christian Worldview
Gospel essentials are the subject matter of the gospel books, whose theme is forgiveness of sin and redemption, qualified by Jesus’ atonement (1 Cor. 15: 1-4 New International Version). On the other hand, Valk describes the Christian worldview as the underlying philosophical structure by which Christians construe and interact with worldly phenomena (2012). The worldview framework blends with gospel essentials to shepherd followers to comply with God’s will, bringing them into personal relationships with their creator (Cooling, 2010).
Implementation of this merged approach helps Christians understand and recognize how to respond to realities such as man and sin. This essay is a benchmark assignment paper that gives an overview analytical summary of the Christian worldview. It also highlights some of the essentials of the philosophical framework such as God and Jesus, among others. Moreover, it communicates on my personal reflections regarding this biblical worldview.
Body
Fundamental Constituents of the Gospel Essentials
God, Jesus, humanity, and restoration constitute the four key figures of the gospel essentials (Cooling, 2010). In what follows, are particulars of these constituents.
God
From a Christian stance, God is the supreme sovereignty and absolute power over all human and nature forces (Yandell, Werther, Linville, & Griffiths, 2012). He is the avatar, creator and ruler of all things existent, the universe and infinity inclusive (Gen. 1:1). Proverbs 9:10 states that God is the patron of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The characteristics of God are vast. Schatkin (2011) attributes that God is omnipotent, eternal, transcendent, omnipresent and infinite.
God is also unchanging, incomparable, unfathomable, holy, omniscient, gracious, just, and sees all evil. His creations comprehend the day and night, the sky, and its heavenly bodies; the land, seas and vegetation, birds and sea creatures, land animals and, human beings. The ultimate character of God bespeaks in high volumes, taking into account that all His work of art came to actuality by word of mouth (Gen. 1:31).
Humanity
Humanity entails the defining qualities that uniquely makes us human, setting us apart from all other creation, animals inclusive (Schatkin, 2011). Reason, thinking, acting, weaponry use, and economic structures are amongst our unique human aspects. Man’s chief purpose is to love and serve God, a characteristic represented by the responsibilities that God gave man. The responsibilities and duties included dominating the earth, naming the animals, and caring for the garden (Gen. 1:28; 2:15). Man performed all these undeterred, except for one mysterious command forbidding man from consuming the forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:17).
Out to rival God, Satan tempted Eve to eat the fruit, thereby instituting sin into the world, and causing the fall of mankind. The act of sin is the foundation and cause of human problems and suffering today (DiVincenzo, 2014).
Why is Jesus’s identity and work significant for the Christian worldview?
Jesus’ identity is the Chosen One, the Christ- Son of the Living God (Matt. 16:13). He is a prophet, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father, and Mighty God. Cooling (2010) reckons Jesus as the perfect sacrificial lamb. Through incarnation, God- Jesus- became man and died for our sins (DiVincenzo, 2014). Despite the self-imposed sin, Jesus underwent the torturous crucifixion to liberate the human species from death. As regards the significance of Jesus’ identity, Jesus’ deity is substantial for salvation (Yandell et al., 2012). Jesus’ identity as God is crucial to suffice for redemption (1 John 2:2). Incarnation, too, is prime, as Jesus had to be in the form of a mortal man to die (DiVincenzo, 2014). Jesus is admittedly the Son of God and Man, and only He can deliver us from our sins through faith.
What is the solution to human problems according to the Christian worldview?
Christian recovery refers to return to divinity and the perfect relationship with God (Cooling, 2010). According to the Christian worldview, the solution to human problems is through redemption, reconciliation, renewal, and restoration (DiVincenzo, 2014). Only when we repent our wrongdoings and accept Christ into our lives, do we receive eternal salvation. Salvation necessitates grace through faith by the human race (Cooling, 2010).
Cooling defines grace as the unmerited favor that God grants the human race. Grace encompasses doing righteous things to people who are not worthy of them (Yandell et al., 2012). Salvation also integrates transformation, whereby, during the Holy Communion, Christians transfigure into a holy dwelling for God’s Spirit (Cooling, 2010). Loving and serving others reorients the self and society to assimilate and manifest Christ in a spiritual form.
Analysis
In what follows, are analytical resolutions on benefits, conflicting factors, and influences derived from Christian belief.
Benefits derivable from the Christian faith
Cooling clearly outlines the advantages and gifts guaranteed when one trusts in Christ (2010), as enumerated below.
Forgiveness
The reparation of sin approved the rescuing of man from punishment by death. Christ’s acceptance, therefore, affords believers the gift of forgiveness.
Peace
By virtue of belief and faith in Christ, you earn the gift of peace and escape God’s wrath of death and torture in hell.
Eternal life
Christian belief assures believers that they will not perish but live forever.
Divine Temple
Christian transformation restructures the human body to serve as a holy temple and dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
Salvation
Belief in Christ earns you salvation and the status of a “born again.”
Conflicting factors about Christianity
The Christian doctrine contains critical allegations concerning God’s existence and the authority of the Bible (Schatkin, 2011). The allegations tabled are as follows.
Argument from Confusion (AC)
This argument asserts that evangelical Christianity fails to unravel the mysteries and myths found within particular worldview concepts (Cooling, 2010). Among these postulations are God’s nature, the Church, the Bible’s authority, and the nature of the afterworld. The confusion is, to the extent that even believers disagree with the interpretations derived from these concepts (Schatkin, 2011).
Argument from Biblical Defects (ABD)
ABD argues that the Bible holds a number of errors for example, unfulfilled prophecies, self- contradiction, atrocities by God Himself, and is arbitrary (Schatkin, 2011). Further, different versions of the Bible record conflicting writings, yet all writers received inspiration from the same God.
How does the Christian worldview influence a person’s thinking and behavior?
Christianity affects an individual’s way of thinking and behavior in constructive ways (DiVincenzo, 2014). Living by Christ’s example equips us with a consummate framework of expected behavior and thinking mindsets. In Luke 6: 27-36, Jesus says that Christians should lead their lives by an expression of love and compassion towards their friends, and enemies in an even greater proportion. Christianity declares fruits of the Holy Spirit as the stamp of the believers’ way of life (Yandell et al., 2012). We, as Christians, fulfill this obligation by serving as beacons of light in a depraved world (Cooling, 2010).
Christianity influences us to glorify God, do “good works,” and surrender ourselves as living sacrifices (Valk, 2012). By letting God’s Spirit possess us, we assume the form of His imitators and become stewards of Christ’s work.
Reflection
I hereupon speak briefly reflecting, on how I exercise the beliefs of the Christian worldview. By virtue of being a Christian believer and a born-again, I act in accordance with the consummate fruits of the Holy Spirit that Jesus urged his followers to observe. I strive to demonstrate love to my opponents, be righteous to those that despise me, and pray for my offenders, as instructed by the writings of Luke 6: 27-36. I live to execute my role of continuing God’s work on earth by preaching His Word and glorifying Him. I do this by discharging virtuous practices such as bringing people back to God and ensuring they start a personal relationship with Him.
Gospel Essentials Essay Conclusion
In a thumbnail, a Christian worldview is a religious belief system, compiled to guide Christians on how to read the world and relate accordingly (Valk, 2012). Of vital significance is the feature of the gospel essentials- God, the Supreme Ruler; Jesus, the Chosen One; humanity and restore from sin. Christian belief influences believers to act according to the teachings of Christ, by a demonstration of love, patience, obedience, humility, and self-control among other virtues. Cooling (2010) urges Christian believers to respect and follow the biblical worldview, as it serves as a handbook in all aspects of their lives.
References
Cooling, T. (2010). Transforming faith: Teaching as a Christian vocation in a secular, worldview- diverse culture. Journal of Education & Christian Belief, 14(1), 19-32. Web.
DiVincenzo, A. (Ed.). (2014). The beginning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life. Phoenix, AZ: Grand Canyon University. Web.
Schatkin, A. J. (2011). Essays on the Christian worldview and others political, literary, and philosophical. Lanham, MD: Hamilton Books. Web.
Valk, J. (2012). Christianity through a worldwide lens. Journal of Adult Theological Education, 9(2), 158-174. Web.
Yandell, K. E., Werther, D., Linville, M., & Griffiths, P. J. (2012). Philosophy and the Christian worldview: Analysis, assessment and development. New York: Continuum. Web.