Benchmark - Gospel Essentials
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Benchmark—Gospel Essentials
Grand Canyon University
CWV-101: Christian Worldview
Dr. Fulthorp
February 27
th
, 2022
Benchmark—Gospel Essentials
Christian worldview is an outlook on the world which follows the core belief that God is the creator of all things and is the one true, almighty God. As all worldviews, this specific worldview can be broken down into main teachings and core values which help provide a structure to the overall faith. The essential beliefs of the gospel, which constitute the foundation of Christian beliefs and the implications of the Christian perspective/teachings on an individual’s
life, are the outline to the Christian worldview as a whole. The essential beliefs of the gospel can even be broken down further into subjects such as the nature of God, the nature of humanity, the nature of Jesus, and restoration, all of which are as equally important on their own as they are when put together. It is these topics which create and maintain this worldview as well as creates the basis of a Christian’s understanding of God.
Gospel Essential Beliefs
Nature of God
The triune of God references the trinity — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The trinity is three persons, undivided, who make up the “godhead [which] are distinguished from each other by mutual relations and by each person’s proper characteristics” (Webster, 2010). While each of these three persons are ‘distinguished’ based on characteristics, all of their combined characteristics help to make up the character of God as a whole. God is simultaneously
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and therefore embodies all of their traits. Alongside traits
such as patient, loving, faithful, and gracious, God also has other traits which are uniquely his own, such as, “unchanging, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present” (Diffey, 2020). Lastly, above all, God is the sovereign creator. God has created all things in the universe — from
all the stars, moons, and galaxies to every human, animal, and creature that lives on earth. All 2
things were created with a purpose and are good, especially humans. Humans are considered the “pinnacle of creation” as they were created in likeness to God which indicates a special sort of bond between humans and God (Diffey, 2020). Not only this, but God created humans with the intention for them to have dominion over the earth, looking after it and taking care of its creatures.
Nature of Humanity
According to the Christian worldview, human nature consists of two beliefs which sit at the heart of Christian teachings and values. First, humans are created in the image and likeness of
God, second, even though humans are made in God’s image, they are all naturally sinful (Diffey,
2020). In regard to human purpose, the purpose, or reason for which humans were created, was to worship God and act on behalf of God by holding dominion over earth. Humans are made in the image of God and are God’s most special, divine creation and possess many of God’s own qualities, as previously mentioned. While this first belief of human nature ties well into human purpose, the second belief ties in equally well to human suffering. The second belief of human nature is that all humans are sinful by nature. According to Raabe (2019), “the ultimate origin of human suffering is the fall into sin,” as seen by the story of the Adam and Eve’s fall from the graces of God which allowed them to experience such things as painful childbirth, painful work, and ultimately death. While not all humans have committed the same sins as Adam and Eve, no person is free of sin either. Adam and Eve may have initiated the fall, but it is ultimately the overall sinful nature of all humans which has caused the problems and suffering humans collectively experience.
Nature of Jesus
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Jesus is a central pillar of the Christian faith and understanding his story, his life, and who he was is essential to developing a proper connection with God and embracing the world of the Bible. Jesus is the Son of God and he is both fully human as well as fully divine. Evidence of
Jesus’s humanity can be found throughout the Bible, such as his ability to be hungry (
Matthew 4:2), to become tired and need sleep (Mark 4:38), and even experienced death (Matthew 27:50). Likewise, evidence of his divinity can be seen in the Bible as well, some passages outright and directly sharing of his divinity (Colossians 2:9) and others showing his divinity through miracles and the power he had. As an individual who was fully human and fully divine, Jesus’s mission and overall purpose was to bring redemption to humanity and create the bridge between humans and God. Jesus educated the masses and taught them about God and his word, but he also fulfilled the prophecy of dying on the cross as to atone for the sins of humanity and allow them forgiveness. These concepts and acts are crucial to the Christian worldview, as without them, humans would not be able to be redeemed and they would not have a proper relationship with God. Jesus had to sacrifice himself and die on the cross in order for forgiveness to be achieved. And Jesus had to be both God and human in order to make such a sacrifice and impact. Every part of Jesus himself as well as his story is crucial to the overarching concepts and teachings of the Bible as well as Christianity. Restoration
In order to address and resolve the troubles of humanity, the Christian worldview says that humans must embrace God. As all the problems of humanity are due to sin and the falls of humans themselves, God is the “one who will save us, and this … world, from ourselves” (Shuster, 2013). However, in order to be saved from these troubles, humans must properly and fully embrace God through faith, repentance, and grace. Faith and repentance are how 4
individuals get closer to God as one helps people to trust in and turn to God and the other aids in recognizing and turning away from sin. While different from one another, both faith and repentance “are two sides of the same coin” and necessary. Additionally, while faith and repentance are necessary in order to achieve salvation, so is grace — specifically, God’s grace. Faith and repentance are necessary in order to achieve salvation, but they alone will not be enough, it is the grace of God, his unending and underserved love and compassion, that helps humans to properly reach salvation. All that to say, that the way for humanity to experience transformation and restoration, both on a singular level as an individual as well as on a societal level as a group, is through the guidance of God. A close, loving relationship with God is the key
to understanding one’s own path.
Christian Foundations
The basic outline of the Christian worldview relies on God’s nature, human nature, Jesus’
nature, and restoration. The Christian worldview offers even further information, topics, and subjects but the four main ideas outlined here are the basis to the worldview and overall understanding to Christian belief. As God is at the core of Christian teachings and values, the nature of God is above all else key to understanding this worldview as it allows individuals to understand God’s character and the relationship humans have with him throughout the Bible as well as in modern day. Human nature is equally important as it plays a key role in the story of the Bible as well as the story of Jesus and his sacrifices for humanity. As human nature is naturally sinful, Jesus’ sacrifice and story was needed in order to allow for restoration to occur. The nature of Jesus says that he is both fully man and fully divine, which allowed for his sacrifice, and his sacrifice alone, to pay for humanity’s sins and offer salvation and restoration. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by 5
which we must be saved” (
The Holy Bible
, 2011, Act 4:12). Each of these concepts and lessons are important to the overall Christian worldview as well as to one another. Each portion relies on the others and together they offer the complete story of Christian belief.
Analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview
Christianity differs from other worldviews and offers benefits unseen by other perspectives. One of the biggest differences is how Christianity views salvation. Salvation can be
achieved one way and one way only, through Jesus (McLendon, 2020). Christianity does not call
for demands of individuals or make it impossible to be saved, it offers redemption and salvation to all which means every individual is capable to being saved and enjoying eternal life, something that almost no other worldview offers. For example, atheistic worldviews offer no concept of salvation, redemption, or afterlife. There is nothing one can do in an atheistic worldview that can save them from this world while the Christian worldview promises salvation to all who simply embrace Jesus. In that same vein, the Christian worldview can be influential in a person’s life. Christianity does not demand perfection from individuals as it is believed all humans are sinful by nature; instead, it calls for humans to follow the ways and words of God and aim to project the same characteristics. By embracing God, individuals embrace his word and emulate it. How one thinks, behaves, and acts can be changed simply by their relationship with God. With that said, while this worldview can be beneficial, change individuals for the better, and differs from other views, it still has its own trouble and points on contention. Perhaps one of the hardest parts of Christianity to grasp is also the easiest. Christianity asks that individuals believe God wholly and limitlessly; it asks that they do not question how God speaks to them but just that they listen. And this can be hard as the Christian worldview does not always
offer direct explanations for many things, but instead, asks that individuals embrace their faith. 6
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Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Christian worldview consists of hundreds if not thousands of different subjects, topics, and lessons, it can be broken down into basic fundamental principles that align with and support the core belief of a singular God who is the sovereign creator. The Christian worldview consists of the nature of God, the nature of humanity, the nature of Jesus, restoration, and the impact and connection all of these subjects have in connection to one another. Christianity ultimately teaches that, despite the sin and evil of the world, there is love and peace to be found in God who promises to not only provide care and compassion but also promises forgiveness and salvation. All one has to do is connect with God and embrace him. It is
through a relationship with God, that any and all can be saved through his love. "Dear friends, let
us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God" (
The Holy Bible
, 2011, 1 John 4:7).
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References
Diffey, D. Wisdom in the Beginning. (2020). In Grand Canyon University (Ed.), 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/4
Grand Canyon University (Ed.). (2020). The beginning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life (3rd ed.). https://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/grand-canyon-
university/2019/the-beginning-of-wisdom_an-introduction-to-christian-thought-and-
life_3e.php
McLendon, J. Obstacles to Wisdom. (2020). In Grand Canyon University (Ed.), 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/4
Raabe, P. R. (2019). Human Suffering in Biblical Context. Concordia Journal, 45(4), 49–65.
Shuster, M. (2013). The mystery of original sin: we don’t know why God permitted the Fall, but we know all too well the evil and sin that still plague us. Christianity Today, 57(3), 38–
41. The Holy Bible, New International Version
. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist (Original work published 2011)
Webster, J. (2010). Trinity and Creation.
International Journal of Systematic Theology
,
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19. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/j.1468-2400.2009.00489.x
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