Creation. The Bible begins with the creation of everything in the world. As told in the Book of Genesis, God created the heavens, people, and the universe around us. Likewise, a father in a family holds the main role of supporter, God is all-seeing and all-knowing. A man and woman were the people, who had great relationships and lived in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-4).
Fall-Sin. Abraham and Eve disobeyed God and were separated from Him. They were gone from Eden to be punished and protected from death since if they stayed, they probably tried the sin again. Nevertheless, these special creatures were never forgotten, and God told Abraham that he will have children (Genesis 3-13).
Promise-Covenant. Abraham believed in God, and He promised to bless all the descendants of Abraham. While some of them followed God, others were disobedient. In Samuel 7-17, there is a story of the Davidic covenant, who was given the promise that the Messiah would come and save the Israeli nation. God promises to make Israelis a holy nation if they would follow all His commandments. The idea of promise-covenant focuses on the importance of relationships between people since they identify the outcome of their lives. Good relationships lead to success and national integration. In a family, where everyone is valued and listened to, relationships make people stronger and happier.
Prophecies. God delivers His messages through different prophets. The people of Israel, who were in captivity in Babylon, were notified by Ezekiel about the upcoming punishment for disobedience to God (Ezekiel 37). The Prophet also predicted that they would return home since God did not forget about them. In other words, prophecies consider interconnectedness between people and its importance to every individual.
Virgin Birth. Before the marriage, Mary become pregnant from God’s Spirit, and Jesus Christ was her son (Matthew 1:18-25). Not everything that exists in the world can be explained rationally, and belief in God helps people to understand the powers that cannot be controlled by them. The help to people comes from the Lord, who watches all of us day by day. By building relationships with God, we can better understand ourselves and the world around us.
Incarnation. The birth of Jesus shows that he was a real person, who was attentive and responsive to everyone (Matthew 1:18-25). The term incarnation means that God became a human through Jesus Christ to assume a human nature and provide an example. The goal of the incarnation is to show how people should live and how close God is.
Deity (fully man–fully God). God can be seen as a human and as a deity. The verses that describe Jesus and his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee prove his divinity. However, the stories about Satan attempting to tempt him point to his human nature (Mark 4:36–41; Luke 4:1–13). These temptations included materialism, egoism, and hedonism as the commitment to seek pleasure. It should also be stressed that all people can fall victim to them, but the example of how Jesus overcame them helps to pursue divine virtues, focusing on goodness, beauty, and truth.
Jesus’ life (person and works). The life and works of Jesus are full of love to people. For example, he practiced a humane approach even to those who betrayed and arrested him. The demonstration of love allows making people more empathetic to each other. Jesus lived according to the Father’s commandments and represented the essence of love as caring about others and giving.
Jesus’ Death. The sacrificed death of Jesus means that Christians were rescued from sin. This death was final, and it made all of them holy. The meaning of this death is also associated with the separation of Jesus and the Father to show that they are One. In the context of the modern world, every person can join God and follow Him. Even sinful people can be purified for their behaviors and merits (Romans 6:23).
Resurrection. The death of Jesus was unique because of his resurrection, which means that he was recovered to show the righteousness of his actions and personal relationships with God. Namely, Christians consider that Easter Day is marked by Jesus’ arousal. In Christianity, people believe that when they die, they go to heaven. The promise of eternal life motivates us to live better and prepare for a better life in heaven (John 11:25-26). Therefore, people should respond to resurrection by turning from sin and placing their faith in God.
Ascension. The Bible says that Jesus was taken to heaven to be near God (John 20:17). Returning to the family and traditions is the key point in every person’s life. Even though our relationships with close ones can be difficult, it is still important to care about them. By building relationships, we become stronger emotionally and psychologically. God supports closeness and connectedness, opening the door for everyone.
Return. The Scripture mentions that there will be a time when Jesus will return to the earth and recompense people for their merits (Revelation 22:12). Therefore, people should be prepared to meet him, which can be achieved by remembering about the day of return and remaining awake. The so-called Second Coming will be evident to people, and He will take them to the heavens. Accordingly, the belief in God and his house in heaven gives people hope and strength to constantly improve.
Reconciliation. As Christ’s ambassador, I believe that spreading the gospel is important to let people have a better life and understand their relationships with themselves. In the most difficult times, help to people can be offered by talking about God’s saving grace. The Bible also states that Christians should promote the reconciliation of people and God as a response to Jesus’ death (Corinthians 5:18-20). However, not all people are called to tell others about the gospel. Instead, the main idea is to show the opportunity to have a better life.
Kingship. The acceptance of God’s kinship means the belief that He will reign for a millennium (Isaiah 9:6). Regardless of culture, those who open their hearts to God will be accepted and valued. Those who will join the Lord can no longer be considered foreigners. For example, the Bible also states that not only Hebrews, but also other nations were called to turn to God. The meaning of God’s kingship, thus, refers to the idea of cross-cultural gospel communication. As a Messiah, Jesus was given to people to represent hope and love. Today, these words remain relevant to all cultures as there is no difference for God if a person joins Him.
Bibliography
Livermore, David, and A. N. G. Soon. Leading with cultural intelligence: The real secret to success. New York, NY: Amacom, 2015.