Introduction
Following the Christian faith and understanding, its primary characteristics require a comprehensive understanding of gospels and Christian beliefs. The gospels contain vital knowledge regarding the nature of God, humanity, and Jesus, as well as demonstrate the origins of restoration, which are essential concepts for the Christian worldview. These ideas manifest the foundation of the Christian faith, a vital aspect that allows individuals to maintain religious beliefs and comprehend the world. Such elements as value and dignity, represented in the Christian worldview, are tremendously significant for a person’s well-being and social behavior, contributing to one’s spiritual growth. The presence of God and the significance of his creation allow manifesting a careful attitude towards the environment and other human beings, proving one’s value to God in every endeavor. This work focuses on the nature of God, humanity, Jesus, and restoration, explaining the ideas behind the Christian worldview and evaluating it based on its benefits, limitations, and the comparison to the atheist perspective.
Gospel Essential Beliefs
The Nature of God
The attributes of God and the core features of the divine being occupy a considerable part of Christian ideas, depicting the nature of God and his endeavors. From the biblical perspective, God is triune, combining three individuals that are vital to Christian theology. According to the Bible, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (New International Version Bible, 2011, 2 Corinthians 1:21). In this regard, God represents the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, which are united in God’s nature and manifest in the Holy Trinity.
The characteristics of God as a divine being are clearly illustrated in the Bible, thus demonstrating his power and purpose. First of all, God is known as the creator, the omnipotent who has created the world, humanity, and everything within it. Another essential attribute is omnibenevolence, which portrays God as all-loving and forgiving. Furthermore, the Christian God is omniscient and knowledgeable of every event and every human. Finally, the Trinity is also omnipresent, existing everywhere in the world simultaneously, granting him the possibility to acquire all knowledge. Obtaining all of these qualities allows God to fulfill his creation, which is the existent world and everything it contains.
The Nature of Man
As human beings were created in the image of God, there are several distinct traits that they possess. God completed the humans after his own appearance and internal structure, granting the man the understanding of morality, dignity, and love. Although physically, the man and woman are differently gendered, each individual also possesses a soul, a spiritual aspect that connects humanity with the divine. Nevertheless, humans are also fallen creatures who were banished from heaven after committing the original sin. Therefore, even though humanity is tasked with stewardship, the necessity to maintain the state of the Earth, the environment, and the living things, there is also the demand to atone for the crime fulfilled by Adam and Eve (DiVincenzo, 2014). In this regard, human beings are required to not only sustain the natural balance but also to seek redemption from the original sin.
The significance of Adam and Eve’s misdeed further clarifies the origin of numerous problems, which are generally caused by the duality of human nature. Although human beings were made in God’s image, possessing dignity and value, such obstacles as mistrust and sin might detrimentally damage the human’s well-being. The issue of disobedience and discontent with God might originate various complications for humans, which might be resolved by committing to faith, which offers salvation through repentance.
Nature of Jesus
Jesus Christ’s true identity is a significant aspect of the Christian faith, which allows for a better understanding of God. While Jesus was fully human, representing human nature, he was also the Son of God, a part of the Holy Trinity; therefore, his true identity is God himself. As a representation of a divine being, Jesus aimed to establish the kingdom of God on Earth, through which the will of God would be fulfilled (Stott, 2017). Sustaining a prosperous and faithful kingdom that serves God under Christ’s rule becomes Jesus’ mission on Earth.
The concepts of Christ’s true identity and the work performed by him during his time on Earth are remarkably pertinent to the Christian worldview. As both Father and Son, Jesus repents for the sins of humanity through the ultimate sacrifice, allowing the people to obtain salvation by belief. Moreover, the deeds performed by Christ throughout his lifetime are often placed at the core of the Christian worldview, as Jesus conducted multiple miracles proving his nature (Stott, 2017). Through educating the population and preaching the return of God’s kingdom, Jesus offered the chance of salvation and eternal life to all of humanity, remarkably raising the importance of his endeavors.
Restoration
According to Christian beliefs, the only path to solving the existing issues lies in faithfulness and loyalty toward God. By appraising Christianity, the nature of God, and Jesus’ deeds, it is possible to achieve salvation and attain a chance at eternal life in heaven. However, it is essential to remain true to the religion, avoiding sinful behavior and disobedience, which hinder the resolution of the original sin. The element of grace, granted by God to man, is a critical concept that establishes the possibility of repentance through faith (DiVincenzo, 2014). While sustaining loyalty and believing in God, an individual can attain repentance for their sins, thus accomplishing salvation and entering God’s kingdom.
Transforming oneself can be a challenging endeavor for any person. Within the Christian perspective, such an act becomes possible after attaining the grace of the Holy Spirit and establishing a spiritual connection between God and the human (Akanbi & Beyers, 2017). Nevertheless, achieving the alteration of a society is a more demanding task, which requires considerable input from all religious individuals in the community. Sustaining faith and conveying the initial doctrines of Christianity to other representatives of the population ensures the passing of God’s grace and benevolence, aiding the society on its path to salvation.
Christian Foundation
Overall, the understanding of the nature of God, man, Jesus, and restoration contributes significantly to the comprehension of the Christian faith, securing the development of a Christian worldview. With God, an omnipotent being acting as the creator of the world, the basic knowledge regarding the establishment of the Earth is conveyed to the religious individual. Moreover, the nature of man clarifies the necessity for repentance, constructing guidelines connected to moral behavior, forgiveness, and love. Christ’s sacrifice for the welfare of humanity and the subsequent resurrection states the true identity of the Son of God, establishing a pathway for future salvation. However, the aspects of righteous conduct are also essential for the Christian worldview, which declares that avoiding sinful behavior and performing virtuous acts is imperative for following Christianity.
Altogether, the aforementioned elements contribute to the establishment of a Christian perspective regarding the world and interpersonal relationships. The nature of humanity, although bearing a negative attribute, is an essential characteristic of the Christian worldview, which hinges on the responsibility for the original sin and the human desire to remain uncontrolled (DiVincenzo, 2014). Nevertheless, as these qualities are repented for by Jesus, it is possible to achieve restoration, which becomes the aim of a Christian follower.
Analysis of the Implications of the Christian Worldview
Considering the highlighted qualities of the Christian perspective regarding the surrounding environment, there are several considerable ramifications to be discussed. Supporting a proper level of righteousness and following God’s commandments can be a powerful motivation for further endeavors. Additionally, the creation of humanity in God’s image instills the significance of morality and righteous conduct towards others, which is a tremendous benefit for any person worldwide. Finally, the necessity to maintain a strong, interacting community is also an exceptional advantage of the Christian worldview, contributing to the construction of powerful societies.
In comparison to an atheist perspective, the Christian concept of salvation can tremendously impact one’s decision-making and endeavors due to the introduction of a life goal. From the Christian standpoint, it is imperative to achieve repentance by leading a purposeful and faithful life, adhering to the principles of Christianity, and avoiding sinful behavior. By following these guidelines, an individual might become more critical of their thoughts, choices, and acts, comparing their righteousness and morality, as well as ensuring the absence of disobedience (DiVincenzo, 2014). In contrast, an atheist worldview does not require complying with specific demands and does not consider the aspects of the afterlife, excluding the possibility of salvation. Thus, the lack of an omniscient deity can prompt the individual to act in an individual manner or instill the notion of excessive freedom.
There are several attributes of the Christian faith that some individuals might consider confusing or limiting. One such element is the triune God, which is ultimately believed to be one divine being, but it is also distinguished as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The inclusion of both unity and division can create numerous complications, as these aspects are usually contradictory. After that, the lack of free will and the necessity to constantly comply with the pressure from a divine being is also regarded as unfavorable. Given that God has granted humanity the possibility to act freely, the need to only follow the prescriptions of the Bible creates substantial issues for individuals.
Conclusion
To conclude, the essentials of the gospels, namely the nature of God, humanity, Jesus, and restoration, in connection to the Christian foundation and worldview were discussed in detail in this essay. It is evident that the Holy Trinity, the faults of human origin, and Jesus’ sacrifice play a crucial role in the establishment of a Christian worldview, which hinges on the achievement of salvation through faith. Such benefits as the motivation to act righteously and support the local community are highly prominent for upholding human dignity and virtue. Given the importance of dignity and the value of humanity as the stewards of God, the Christian worldview manifests substantial strength by highlighting the purpose of human existence. Even though there are several aspects of Christianity that some people might consider misleading, in general, the Christian representation can remarkably affect an individual’s thought processes and behavioral patterns, establishing efficient methods of interacting with the world.
References
New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica.
Akanbi, S. O., & Beyers, J. (2017). The church as a catalyst for transformation in the society. HTS Theological Studies, 73(4), 1–8.
DiVincenzo, A. (2014). The beginning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life. Grand Canyon University.
Stott, J. (2017). Basic Christianity. William B. Eerdmans Publishing.