In this assignment, you will demonstrate your understanding of the Christian worldview, including the main topics you have covered up to this point. You will summarize and analyze the essential elements of the gospel (nature of God, nature of humanity, nature of Jesus, and restoration) and reflect on implications for the Christian worldview.

Write a 1,500-2,000-word essay using at least four resources. The four resources need to include at least two course resources (textbook, topic overviews, the Bible) and at least two other sources from the GCU Library to support your points. Remember, the Bible counts as one resource regardless of how many times you use it or how many verses you cite.

Begin your paper with an appropriate introduction, including a thesis statement to introduce the purpose of the paper. Present the gospel essentials (nature of God, nature of humanity, nature of Jesus, and restoration), the Christian foundation, and an analysis of the implications of the Christian worldview.

Use the “Gospel Essentials Essay Template.” Based on the Christian worldview, write at least one paragraph for each of the following components.

Nature of God: What is the triune God like? What are God’s characteristics? What is his creation?
Nature of Humanity: What is human nature? What is human purpose? What is the root cause of human problems?
Nature of Jesus: What is Jesus’s true identity? What was Jesus’s kingdom purpose? Why is Jesus’s identity and work significant for the Christian worldview?
Restoration: What is the solution to human problems according to the Christian worldview? What role do grace, faith, and repentance play in Christian salvation? How do Christians think that the transformation of self and society happen?
Christian Foundation: Summarize how the concepts of the gospel essentials (nature of God, nature of humanity, nature of Jesus, and restoration) constitute the foundation of the Christian worldview. In other words, how are these concepts essential to the Christian worldview?
Analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview: Based on the previous five prompts, analyze the implications of the Christian worldview by addressing each of the following questions:
What are the benefits or strengths of the Christian worldview as it relates to human value and dignity?
Compare the Christian concept of salvation in contrast to any other worldview perspective.
How the Christian worldview influence a person’s thinking and behavior?
What do people find troublesome or confusing about Christianity and why?
Conclusion: Synthesize the main points, pulling the ideas of the paper together.
References
Use at least four required resources to support your claims: at least two course resources (textbook, topic overviews, the Bible) and at least two other sources from the GCU Library.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. Review the APA Template for formatting and utilize the attached “Gospel Essentials Template” to complete the benchmark assignment.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following competencies:

MC1: Critical Thinking

MC2: Effective Communication

MC3: Christian Worldview Knowledge

3.1 – Examine the ideological foundation of the Christian worldview.

3.2 – Analyze the implications of the Christian worldview as it relates to human value and dignity.

ANSWER

Gospel Essentials

Christian worldview includes a framework of beliefs and ideas Christian individuals or groups use to interpret and interact with the world. Every person has distinct worldviews allowing them to view or make perspectives that align with their cultural beliefs; therefore, we have diverse Christian worldviews among atheists, theists, and pantheists (Anderson, et al., 2017, p. Chap 2). This results in increased questioning of the existence of God, perennial debates of science and religion regarding creation, the journey in search of one’s life purpose, and the most confusing role of Jesus Christ in the restoration and salvation of humankind, an event most awaited by people through the ‘second coming of Jesus.’ This paper summarizes gospel essentials: God, Humanity, Jesus, and Restoration: analyzes and provides a solid ground for understanding these questions that arise regarding Christian worldview: and reflection on the Christian worldview on a personal level.

Nature of God

What is God like? This question is both easy and challenging to answer, as people, authors, and scholars describe God through the image created from the Bible and the language of God constructed by humans. The largest population has not seen God in person, but through the Bible, books, culture, religious affiliations, and language of God, they can easily describe God’s characteristics. In Psalms 145, God is a King, gracious, compassionate, rich in love, slow to anger, and compassionate (KJV, 2018). In Lecture 2, God is described as a Divine Being when explaining His creation through the theist worldview (Anderson, et al., 2017, p. Chap 2).  It also becomes difficult to describe God universally as it would mean limiting God in a particular form. However, the Christian worldview describes God mostly as the Father, Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Omnipotent, and Omniscient. God is described as the origin of everything seen and unseen (Colossians 1:16), which explains being the creator explained in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” (KJV, 2018). When we gaze at the sky, seas, the air we breathe, sources of food, and the local surroundings we live in, we are amazed at the abundance and existence of numerous animals and plants. Everything created by God is for the benefit and sustenance of humanity.

Nature of Humanity

I have grown to understand from my cultural teachings that a human is 3-in-1; that is, a human has a body, soul, and spirit. Human nature is the composition and characteristics that make up how individuals act, think, feel, and look, explaining their behavior and response or relation to the surrounding: both in the physical and spiritual universes (Anderson, et al., 2017, p. Chap 2). Humanity distinguishes people from other God’s creation, such as the nonliving organisms and other animals due to the ability to reason and feel (Rapsas, 2017). God created humans in His image and likeness (Gen 1:27), showing humanity’s uniqueness and creation for an intended integral purpose (KJV, 2018). A significant confusing and troubling aspect of humanity that I resonate with highly is understanding one’s purpose in life. Every person has a different role and purpose in life. According to Rapsas (2017), God’s creation of humans was purposeful, creating them in His image so that they could understand His vastness to love, serve, and worship him with the three forms (body, soul, and spirit), increasing their understanding of Him and the creation (Rapsas, 2017). However, when we are disobedient, we fall into sin, which was seen in the first fall of man in Gen 3:13-19, when Eve succumbed to the temptation of the serpent eating the forbidden tree (KJV, 2018). This sin of disobedience of Adam and Eve was the onset and root cause of human problems, as God punished the woman, man, and ground, with increased toiling, pain, and sorrowch4.

Nature of Jesus

Jesus Christ is the son of God or the Messiah and many Christians, especially Roman Catholics, pray to him through the Lord’s Prayer and Apostle’s Creed naming the holy trinity: Father (God), Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (Tuggy, 2016).  The image of Jesus created in the New Testament confuses many as either a spirit, son of God, or a regular person, considering he was born, lived, mingled, and died among men. Another debate source is his role as the savior being fully divine and human (Anderson, et al., 2017, p. Chap 5). Isaiah 9:6 describes Jesus as the “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (KJV, 2018). In the Christian worldview, Jesus Christ is essential. He is considered and believed as the only way of redemption of human problems and salvation (Messiah), crucial aspects and goals in every Christian’s spiritual life. Jesus Christ’s identity as the son of God and the work we read in the Bible become significant in the Christian worldview. They mirror and represent the most crucial message, which is the salvation of humans. This is only achievable by being born again or accepting Jesus and his deeds in an individual’s whole life to have eternal life (Romans 6:23) (KJV, 2018). This means accepting Jesus Christ in our actions, words, body, behavior, thoughts, and spirit.

Restoration

In reference to the Christian worldview, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is the solution to human problems through accepting him for redemption and salvation, placing all our faith and hope in Him. Hebrews 9:22 explains that everything is purified and sin is forgiven through blood, which explains the significance of Christ’s death for humanity (KJV, 2018). Messiah’s divine purpose in saving humanity was coming from heaven or being born on earth to show us the way, which is through his teachings, parables, and words of living in the light. He died for our sins from the earth, was crucified on the cross, buried in a grave, and finally, Christ ascended to the sky. This is salvation, purification, and forgiveness of sin through the bloodshed by Jesus Christ, as explained in Hebrews 9:22 (KJV, 2018). All that is required of us to gain salvation is believing, accepting Jesus as our redeemer, and repentance. In Chapter 6 of the textbook, “Repentance turns away from sin, and faith turns toward God,” which are crucial in attaining salvation (Anderson, et al., 2017, p. Chap 6). When one repents, God’s gifts of grace and faith are born within, and that is what salvation stands for. Christians believe that self and society’s transformation occurs when one tires, stops old behaviors, appreciates Christianity, and accepts Jesus Christ as their redeemer and Messiah.

Christian Foundation

The gospel essentials positively influence and constitute the foundation of the Christian worldview. I have been living the Christian worldview’s beliefs that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and Supreme Being with Jesus Christ being His son, the redeemer, and Messiah. The Messiah’s death was for the forgiveness of our sins and a pathway to salvation and going to heaven upon his second return (Nature of Jesus, Restoration). Many people’s beliefs and cultures in interpreting the world, such as living and nonliving things and all universal constituents, are that God is the creator of all the beautiful things we see and use. We understand our purpose in life by inclining on Biblical teachings and always liken our image with God’s to show beauty and uniqueness (Nature of God, Nature of Humanity). As seen, the Christian worldview is highly influenced and formed based on the gospel essentials.

Analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview

Having been founded and highly influenced by the four gospel essentials, the Christian worldview presents a platform where we understand the relationship Christians have with God, Jesus Christ, and Humanity. The Bible teaches on humanity by establishing the importance of neighborliness, obedience to parents, the Ten Commandments, benefits associated with obedience, salvation for righteous living, and wages of sin: death (1 Peter 2:24). Salvation and redemption have been explained a having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God (KJV, 2018). This foundation of the Christian worldview strengthens and benefits Christians as they cope with daily problems. For instance, in this pandemic period, religion and spirituality, including drawing closer to God, provides hope and endurance, as when people read the Bible such as Isaiah 44:10, they acquire comfort when a loved one is sick, Romans 8:38 for comfort when one feels alone, and Jeremiah 29:11 for future assurance (KJV, 2018). The Christian worldview provides beliefs that separate from other perspectives, as it is a source of hope, faith, glory, peace, happiness, protection, unconditional love, eternal life, and abundance. A significant troubling aspect of Christianity is increased commercialization. The focal purpose has changed from making the world a better place and ensuring individual souls are aligned with Jesus Christ and God’s teachings for salvation to profit-making. This has pushed many Christians away ascribing with personal spirituality and non-religiousness.

Reflection

I am a Christian who abides by the beliefs of the gospel essentials within the Christian worldview. Even though I find some aspects of Christianity troubling, such as God’s role in unjustified suffering. For instance, must we suffer for a purpose 1Peter 3:14 states, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed?” (KJV, 2018). Secondly, God is all-powerful and can stop unjustified suffering, such as the death of an innocent toddler diagnosed with a terminal disease, but God does not stop. These are some concerns arising; however, I am having an open Christian mind and worldview to understand God’s ways. Nevertheless, I live by the Ten Commandments to my best and understand that every action has repercussions. Christianity influences my thought process and behavior shaping them in line with God’s teachings and word.

Conclusion

The four gospel essentials of God, Jesus, Humanity, and Restoration play a crucial role in founding the framework of beliefs and ideas among Christian individuals and groups, which they use to interpret, interact with the world, and influence their daily and spiritual lives. The Christian worldview is founded on God as the all-powerful, all-knowing Creator, and Supreme Being, Jesus Christ, as His son, the redeemer, Messiah, and a pathway to salvation and human restoration. Moreover, by inclining to Biblical teachings and living a righteous life, we find our purpose in life. A primary strength and benefit of Christianity or the Christian worldview is that it provides solutions to our daily lives by providing a support system where we can find unconditional love, acceptance, and hope. Troubles associated with Christianity includes increased commercialization of religion and Christianity and human limitation in understanding God’s ways.

References

Anderson, P., Charpentier, P., Diffey, D., Greever, J., Hiles, J., Hogan, M., . . . Waddell, J. (2017). The Beginning of Wisdom: An Introduction to Christian Thought and Life. Phoenix: Grand Canyon University.

KJV. (2018). King James Bible. Retrieved from https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-Chapter-1/

Rapsas, T. (2017). Human Nature and the Purpose of Existence. Religion Library Christianity, pp. https://www.patheos.com/library/christianity/beliefs/human-nature-and-the-purpose-of-existence.

Tuggy, D. (2016). Trinity. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/trinity/>.