Name: Douglas Fonseca
Date: 9/1/2017
Christian World View 101
Dr. Rasor
Gospel Essentials
Throughout the years, many intellectual debates have been raised in regards to the
Christian worldview. Many brilliant scientists and atheists have looked to discredit what the
Bible preaches from the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ. Christians around
the world look to continue to spread the gospel of Jesus and raise the count of followers of the
worldview that revolves solely on faith. Within this essay I will be discussing and breaking
down foundational elements that make up the Christian worldview: God, humanity, Jesus, and
restoration.
God
God is a word used very often in our society. Whether the word God is used in pop-cul-
ture literature or in a religious setting, the name tends to be buzzing on everyone’s lips. In the
Christian worldview, God is known as the creator of the universe. He is responsible for every-
thing we see, feel, taste, and hear. According to our lecture in week 2, “God the creator existed
before his creation and is therefore sovereign, having supreme authority and absolute power
over all things” (Grand Canyon University, 2017). God can be best described by his Trinitarian
nature. He is considered to be omniscient meaning all-knowing, omnipotent meaning all-pow-
erful, and omnipresent meaning all-present. Within the God’s trinitarian nature you can also
find the godhead broken down to God the father, God the son, and God the holy spirit. All three
members within the godhead are the same person but each completing a different task. These
ideas haven been found very hard to believe by people who are not of the Christian worldview
and those who are.
Humanity
Furthermore, we look at God’s most intricate creation, humanity. Mankind was created
for one sole purpose and that was to live in perfect harmony with God and to enjoy his creation.
Genesis 1:26 says that, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so
that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air, over the livestock, and all the
wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (New International Ver-
sion). As Genesis mentioned, mankind was made in the image of God bearing his very nature
from the outset of creation.
Humans were also given two unique gifts no other created being was given and these
gifts were free will and authority. God gave mankind the ability to make their own decisions on
what to do, where to go, and who to follow. After he created them he also gave them the gift of
authority. God made every living thing to be under the dominion and to be named by mankind.
When God gave humanity their first breath he breathed part of himself into them. Though
these were gifts from God to humans they would soon backfire on God.
The root cause of human problems was that they were able to make their own deci-
sions. When the tempter came to Eve in the garden he told her that she would become like
God knowing good and evil if she ate of the fruit. Eve’s freewill and disobedience caused the fall
of mankind into a world of sin. God kicked his plan of redemption into action because despite
their disobedience God loved humanity more than anything else he created. Event though hu-
manity is broken and sinful we can still see remnants of Gods nature in us. Some of the rem-
nants we see in humanity are love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, compassion, justice, and
holiness.
Jesus
Jesus is probably the most, if not the most important aspect of the Christian worldview.
He is the root cause to why Christians have direct access to God and a shot at eternity with God.
Jesus is the Christian’s example of what a life on earth should look like. Jesus loved others,
loved God, and served everyone. Jesus plays a key role in the godhead. Jesus is the Christian’s
example of what a life on earth should look like. When humanity fell God showed his ultimate
sign of love and sacrifice by sending his one and only son Jesus, to be the atonement for our sins.
Jesus came down from heaven and became a man. Jesus was delivered to us in the most humble
way possible to show that he was here to serve mankind and not be served.
It’s important to remember that Jesus was still fully God and fully man and demonstrated
this through his many miracles and direct access to the God the father. Jesus’ greatest miracle
was taking on the cross for our sins and after three days rising from the dead as he promised he
would. According to our textbook, “Recognizing that in Jesus Christ the eternal life of the self-
giving Trinity is enacted, made present, and lived out in a human life means that the cross is not
an exception to but the very wisdom of God. In the cross, God is not seen doing something that
is uncharacteristic of God as God; instead, in Christ’s cross, the very essence of God’s being is
seen” (Merrick, 2017).
Restoration
Restoration was brilliantly woven plan God made when humanity fell. In the Christian
worldview many consider restoration and salvation the same thing. Salvation through Jesus is
the result of his restorative plan for mankind. According to De Chirico (2015), “Salvation is not a
synonym for forgiveness. It is bigger and broader than that. It denotes God’s total plan for man,
and it includes at least three phases. Phase one is our deliverance from the guilt and judgment
of our sins, our free and full forgiveness, together with our reconciliation to God and our adop-
tion as His children. Phase two is our progressive liberation from the down drag of evil, begin-
ning with our new birth into the family of God and continuing with our transformation by the
Spirit of Christ into the image of Christ. Phase three is our final deliverance from the sin which
lingers both in our fallen nature and in our social environment, when on the last day we shall be
invested with new and glorious bodies and transferred to a new heaven and a new earth in
which righteousness dwells”. God, through his son Jesus, has made away for all mankind to
have eternal life.
Though the world is still in sin, God has summoned his believers to spread his gospel so
that he may one day return and take his children to live in perfect harmony. As Romans men-
tioned, we all fell short of God’s glory but by the grace he had for us we have been saved. It is
not our works that will get us in to heaven but his unending grace that allows us to have faith in
Jesus that will give us eternal life.
Analysis
Furthermore, this discussion leads us to answer a few important questions for those inter-
ested in joining the Christian worldview. The first question is what are the benefits/strengths of
the Christian worldview. The benefits and strengths of the Christian worldview are that Chris-
tians have the promise of living eternally with God. The Bible promises those that follow God
and accept Jesus as their lord and savior will be receive the gift of eternal life and will live with
God forever. These believers no longer have to fear sin and the grave because Christ has over-
come it all. Marino (2005) stated that, “for those who have taken on the skin of faith, there is the
firm and legitimate conviction that Christ's suffering has covered a multitude of sins”. The
Christian worldview also finds its strength in its numbers. The Bible calls Christians to fellow-
ship and love one another. This alliance amongst believers has caused some incredible miracles
to happen through their united faith.
The second question we answer is what is troublesome or confusing about the Christian
worldview. Although the Christian worldview has so many great ideas many unbelievers and
followers of the worldview have some of the same confusions. One of the main discussions spo-
ken about is how God was just always there. Christians, scientists, and theologians have no ex-
planation as how God came to be. The concept of God always existing even when there was
nothing is very confusing for the human finite mind.
Our final question asks about the affects the Christian worldview has on someones behav-
ior and life. The Christian worldview calls its believers to live above reproach. As a Christian we
should look to emulate the behavior, mindset, and strength of Christ. Through a relationship with
Christ, believers find a complete transformation of their whole life. Some believers have
claimed to have been healed from addictions, released of depression, restored their marriages,
and experienced satisfaction physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
Reflection
As I reflect on my personal convictions and views I know for a fact I follow the Christian
worldview. Throughout my life, I have gone through many trials and tribulations and it has
been my faith in Jesus that has kept me whole. My view of Jesus, the church, and fellow believ-
ers have shaped me to love the broken, pray for the lost, and spread the gospel at every oppor-
tunity I get. My life would not be the same if I was not rooted in the word and if Christ hadn't
saved me. I was a broken addicted man who was blessed enough to encounter the love of
Christ in my teen years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we see the affects the Christian worldview has on its followers. We have
discussed and uncovered the place of God in the creation of humanity, humanity’s place in the
eyes of God, Jesus’ purpose on this earth, and how God, loved us in our sin and created a plan
of restoration for the world. I don't believe the debate about the Christian worldview will ever
end but the fact remains that Christ in a humans life changes everything. My personal faith has
taken me to places I have never imagined and my prayer is that others would encounter the
love of God and see where their faith can take them.
References
De Chirico, L. (2015). Salvation Belongs to the Lord. Evangelical Review Of Theology, 39(4),
293-310.
Marino, G. (2005). The Persecuted. Commonweal, 132(2), 46.
Merrick,J. (2015). The Wisdom and Mercy of God James. In A. DiVincenzo (Ed.), The begin-
ning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life (2nd ed.). Available from
http://lc.gcumedia.com/cwv101/the-beginning-of-wisdom-an-introduction-to-christian-thought-
and-life/v2.1/
Origins Lecture 2. (2017). CWV-101: Christian Worldview. Phoenix, AZ: Grand Canyon Univer-
sity.
The Bible (New International Version), (2017)., Was reviewed for descriptions of the origins of
mankind, the fall, and, redemption.
