Gospel Essentials Essay

Gospel Essentials Essay

The Christian Worldview has been questioned for thousands of years. How did we get here? What is our purpose? Is there an afterlife? Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? Many have tried answering these questions and scientist have put theories to the test. However, the Christian Worldview has stood firm and consistent through it all.

God

“In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) God created all living creatures and He created man in His image. He did this all in six days and on the seventh day He rested. God is so loving. He loves us so much that He created a place for creation to live and commune with Him. He is the Sovereign Creator. He has power over everything. His love for us is so pure. He wants us to come to Him for everything. He wants to be the center of our lives. He is a jealous God. He doesn’t want us to put anything or anyone before Him. He knows everything about us. He knew us before we formed in our mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5) and He know the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7). He is full of grace and mercy. We do not deserve any of His mercies. He gives us, but His love is overflowing. “Christians agree that God created the world and everything that exists in the Universe (Genesis 1-2) by an act of His will and command (Ps. 33:6) from nothing (Heb. !!:3) for His glory (Rev. 4:11) with great wisdom (Ps. 104:24) through Christ and for Christ (Cor. 1:16.” (Lecture 2). God gives His love freely His love is unconditional. Psalm 145 describes God as being righteous, gracious, compassionate, trustworthy, good, loving, and faithful. Humanity is also referred to as the “pinnacle of creation.” (Origins). Therefore, God created us with purpose, free will and in His own image.

Humanity

Humanity was created to have life. There are two claims about human nature. First, man was created in the image of God. Second, after the Fall, man is sinful by nature. Therefore, man will behave in a sinful nature. (Departure from Wisdom)

Sin is the root cause of humanities problems. Had Adam and Eve not disobeyed God’s command, humanity would have lived eternity with God in a sinless world. Disobedience to God unleashed evil into all the world. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

We were all created with purpose. We were created in the image of God to worship Him and have a relationship with Him. “Human beings are planned by God to be here for a particular purpose, namely, to love and obey God and to love each other, as well as being God’s deputies on earth.” (Stenmark, 2009, pg. 911.). We were given charge over the earth and instructed to care for it. Everything that was commanded into existence was done so with humanity in mind, because God loved us so much. He created us in His image but each one of us are unique with our own gifts and our own purpose. He knows the number of hairs on our head (Luke12:7) and He knew us before we were formed in our mothers’ womb (Jeremiah 1:5).

Jesus

Jesus is the second person of the Trinity. Jesus, sent to walk the earth in human form, was born to the virgin Mary. His birth was prophesied thousands of years before His birth. (Isaiah 9:6) He would come to bear the sins of man. Jesus was sent, by God, to live on earth among sin for the redemption of man’s sin. He was God the Son. “I and the Father are One.” (John 10:30). Jesus was God in the flesh. John 1:1 says, “the Word was God.” John 1:14 says, “the Word becomes flesh.” These scriptures indicate that Jesus was God in the flesh.

Jesus taught men the gospel or “good news”. He was sinless. He healed the sick, raised Lazarus from the dead. He bore the sins of the mankind through death on the Cross. He came so that we might live. He was the Messiah. Jesus preached and taught of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is referenced as “the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15). Paul said that Jesus was the new Adam (Romans 5:12-21) “This means two things: that Jesus is true man, being the one who was truly in the image of God, but also that Jesus is true God, but also that Jesus is true God, God in human flesh.” (The Wisdom and Mercy of God).

We are all sinners. Without Jesus ascending from Heaven to take on the sins of man, there would be no eternal life for man. Jesus is love. He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession on our behalf. (Romans 8:34). Jesus came so that we may have life. We have to turn from sin and acknowledge him. By acknowledging Him, we are given eternal life with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Restoration

Sin is at the center of all the problems. Forgiveness of our sins helps us to have a relationship with God. We have to ask forgiveness of our sins and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Accepting Jesus helps us to know Him and seek to have a relationship with Him. We are granted forgiveness through faith and grace. “Grace is the means by which God overcomes this breach, defeating sin and death by reaffirming God’s faithful commitment to creaturely flourishing in spite of the creature’s faithfulness. (2 Tim. 2:13), both effecting and perfecting creatures’ communion with God. (Grace, 2011.). It doesn’t matter how good you are or how much you pray or how much good you do; it’s about receiving salvation by asking forgiveness. Galatians 2:16 says, “a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.” (Rescue, Redemption, Renewal). “For by grace you have been saved by faith. And this is not y your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Christians believe once they accept Jesus as their Savior, a transformation begins in their heart. Jesus begins a work in their life. They want to be good. They want to do good. The belief is the more a person seeks a relationship with Jesus, the more grounded in the Word they become. Therefore, society benefits with humans doing good being transformed seeking to do good.