CWV-101 Gospel Essentials Benchmark
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Benchmark—Gospel Essentials
Rebecca Hudson
CoT, Grand Canyon University
CWV-101: Christian Worldview
Dr. Rodgers March 11, 2022
Benchmark—Gospel Essentials
The Christian faith is a monotheistic religion founded on the belief that there is one true God. Much like any worldview, the Christian worldview effects how Christian’s act, think, see, and react to the world around them. Those under the Christian worldview are called to follow the
set of moral standards that is laid out for them in the bible in order to help them live a safe and full life. The Christian worldview allows Christians to feel peace in the fact that they do not have
to save themselves by works, but they are saved by grace from God. Those who see the world from a Christian worldview are also called to share with those around them the hope that comes from believing in God and following the Christian faith. This paper will explain the fundamental concepts of the Christian worldview and how it influences how Christians view the humanity and
the world.
Gospel Essential Beliefs
The nature of God in the Christian faith is that of a loving, omnipotent, omnipresent creator. God is described in the bible as a triune God. The book, The Beginning of Wisdom states,
“A proper understanding of the Trinity is that one God exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Grand Canyon University, 2020a, para. 13). These three persons are each individual beings that exist as the same being. Professor Christos Voulgaris describes this relationship by saying, “The first person of the Trinity is as much the Father of the second person
as he is the processor of the third person. Thus, the Son and the Spirit are both of the essence of the Father, and this means that there is no notion of subordination in God, but only a specific order signifying the mutual relationships of the three divine persons” (1997, p. 249). These three members of the trinity are all equal divine beings while at the same time being as much each other as themselves. In addition to being a triune God, God also has many characteristics. God is 2
often described in the Bible a sovereign creator. In addition, He is described as “unchanging, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present… loving, just, jealous, faithful, and holy… and, most notably, through his eternal nature, his omnipotence, and his goodness” (Grand Canyon University, 2020a, para. 11). These characteristics are divided into two categories, communicable and incommunicable. God’s incommunicable characteristics are characteristics that belong only to God. These include His being omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, eternal, holy, and incomprehensible. God’s communicable characteristics include his love, faithfulness, justice, goodness, and compassion. Communicable characteristics can be possessed by those created in the image of God and were passed to mankind during creation when God created the heavens and earth and everything in them.
Nature of Humanity
The Christian worldview sees humanity as God’s creation, created in his image in order to take care of the earth, but as a result of the fall, became sinful by nature. The Beginning of Wisdom defines humanity as, “the pinnacle of creation is that of humanity in the image of God” (Grand Canyon University, 2020a, para. 26). Mankind is the only part of God’s creation to be created in God’s image, showing how special mankind is. Because mankind was created in the image of God, mankind was created as sinless beings who were in complete relationship with God. Humanity was created to have relationship with and worship God. As well as to work and have dominion over the earth. (Grand Canyon University, 2020a). Although humanity was created to be in complete relationship with God, mankind was also given free will. Genesis 3 tells how, because of this free will, Adam and Eve, the first humans created, sinned. This sin caused a separation between God and mankind. Mankind was no longer able to live in the presence of God and sin, death, and suffering entered the world (New International Version, 3
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2011). This event is known as the fall of man, and because of the fall, humanity became sinful by
nature. As a result of the fall, the work that humanity was created to do became much more strenuous. Humanity is sinful by nature, but despite this humanity is God’s prized creation, made
in His image.
Nature of Jesus
Jesus is the son of God, the son of Man, and one member of the holy trinity. Before Jesus was born, humanity had to answer for their sin. The penalty for sin is death, but God made a way
for his people to continue in relationship with him despite humanities sinful nature. Because something had to die in order for sin to be forgiven, in Leviticus 4, God gives his people instructions on how to properly make a sacrifice in order to pay for their sins. These sacrifices were usually a young bull or lamb (New International Version, 2011). The sacrifice of these young animals signified how sin destroys even the purest and innocent creatures. However, God did not want his people to have to continue to make sacrifices for their sins, so God sent his son, Jesus, as the final sacrifice for humanities sins. Luke 2 tells the story of how Jesus came to earth to become fully man and fully God at the same time. Born of the virgin Mary, Jesus was completely man. He entered the world in the humblest of ways and was born in a manger surrounded by farm animals (New International Version, 2011). God sent his son, Jesus, to the world in this humble way in order that Jesus would some day die to free humanity from the punishment for sin. Jesus is the only man to walk this earth who ever lived a perfect life. He taught others the word of God and showed his disciples, his followers, how to live and spread the
word of God to others. The Beginning of Wisdom tells how Jesus’ ministry ended, saying, “he Jewish religious leaders plotted against Jesus and, through the betrayal of Jesus's apostle Judas Iscariot, arrested Jesus and handed him over to the Romans to be crucified” (Grand Canyon 4
University, 2020b, para 3.). This crucifixion both fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and acted at
the final sacrifice for humanities sins. When Jesus died, he took the punishment that mankind deserved for their sins and allowed humanity to have a personal relationship with God again without having to frequently sacrifice animals. The death of Jesus, allowing humanity to restore relationship with God is known as atonement (Atonement, 2018). However, because Jesus was the son of God, not only paid the price for the sin of humanity, he also completely conquered death. Three days after Jesus died, he was raised from the dead and continued to teach his disciples until he ascended into heaven. These events are the basis of much of Christianity. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection the word of God was shared to many, the price of humanities sin was paid for, and death was defeated.
Restoration
According to the Christian worldview following the teachings of Jesus can help to improve humanities problems, but there is no way in this fallen world to solve the worlds problems. Because of the sinful nature of humanity there will always be suffering and sin in the world. However, through faith in Jesus, the grace of God, and true repentance. Even the best person on the planet could never receive salvation through their own actions and good deeds. This is because of the fallen nature of society. In today’s world, people are self-centered and focused so much on building up their treasure in worldly things. Money, fame, material wealth, drugs, sex. These are all things that today’s culture looks to in order to find happiness and fulfilment in life. Worldly things will never provide the fulfilment that people seek, and the only thing that can truly complete a person is a relationship with Jesus. A relationship with Jesus can be built through faith, trust, and repentance. While a relationship with Jesus completes humanity,
because of this fallen world even the most dedicated Christians will still experience hardship and
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suffering. Never is this world will humanity experience the absence of sin, only in heaven with God will people never experience sin and suffering.
Christian Foundations
The Christian faith is founded on the concepts that God created humanity in his image and loves humanity so much that He sent his son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9 are two verses that help to create these foundations. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (New International Version, 2011). God made the hardest sacrifice anyone could make and sent his son to die for humanity so that the price for sin could be paid and mankind could once again have complete relationship with God. The second verse, Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” (New International Version, 2011). All of humanity is fallen and sinful, nothing anyone does can ever earn them a spot in heaven. All of humanity deserved death and an eternity in hell, but God showed grace towards humanity. He gave humanity a completely undeserved gift, the gift of Jesus. Christianity
is founded on the belief that through faith and believe in God, mankind receives grace and is forgiven of their sins. Only through faith in Jesus can humanity have a relationship with God and
spend eternity with God in heaven.
Analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview
The Christian worldview is one that does not contradict itself and effects how humanity thinks, acts, and views the world and the people in it. The Christian worldview sees every human
as valuable. All of humanity was made in the image of God, therefor, each and every person on the earth is a valuable creation of God, deserving of love and grace. Christians also do not 6
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believe that salvation is a reward for good deeds. Nothing aside from faith in Christ and the grace
of God results in salvation. Christians are also called to give back the love and grace of God to others. Because God showed humanity grace when it was in no way deserved and unconditionally forgives the sins of those who confess and repent, Christians are called in the same way to show grace and forgiveness to everyone around. Christians are also given guidelines
and morals throughout the bible that show how they can live in order to live God-centered, healthy lives. This effects how Christians see the world because they view according to how the bible tells them too. Many people find many aspects of Christianity confusing. To many non-
Christians it can seem as though the Christian worldview expects everyone to be perfect and sinless. The number of laws, guidelines, and rules given to Christians in the bible seems completely unobtainable both to Christians and non-Christians alike. However, God does not expect perfection, all He asks is for faith and repentance and by grace anyone can be forgiven and receive salvation.
Conclusion
The Christian worldview has several main fundamental concepts that shape how Christians few the world and those in it. The Christian faith is founded on the belief that there is one true God. A kind, loving, God who created the world and everything in and out of it, including humanity. Humanity was created in the image of God to be the caretakers of the earth. Humanity was created as sinless being who were given free will. However, using this freewill, mankind disobeyed God and sin, death and suffering entered the world. This sin separated humanity from God and it is only as a result of the death of Jesus, the son of God, sent to earth as
a man, that humanity is forgiven of their sins and are once more able to be in complete relationship with God. Jesus came not only to die for the sins of humanity, but also to spread the 7
word of God. Jesus was fully God and fully man at the same time conquered death completely when he rose from the dead. These main evens form how Christians view the world and everyone in it. The Christian faith does not require good deeds to receive salvation but instead, salvation is a gift for God that humanity receives by believing in Jesus and repenting of their sins. The Christian worldview is founded off of these events and on the basis of faith and grace.
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References
Atonement. (2018). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1;
Grand Canyon University (Ed.). (2020a). The beginning of wisdom
: An introduction to Christian thought and life (3rd ed.). https://lc.gcumedia.com/cwv101/the-beginning-of-wisdom-an-
introduction-to-christian-thought-and-life/v3.1/#/chapter/3
Grand Canyon University (Ed.). (2020b). The beginning of wisdom
: An introduction to Christian thought and life (3rd ed.). https://lc.gcumedia.com/cwv101/the-beginning-of-wisdom-an-
introduction-to-christian-thought-and-life/v3.1/#/chapter/5 New International Version. (2011). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Genesis%203&version=NIV
Voulgaris, C. S. (1997). The holy trinity in creation and incarnation. The Greek Orthodox Theological Review, 42
(3–4), 245–258.
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