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Theology Essay 1
Theology Survey I (Liberty
University)
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Rachel Wineman
THEO 201- 007
Date: 09/16/2022
Theology & Cultural Application Essay
I. The area of Theology (or Chapter title from Engaging Theology) that I will
be addressing is: Creator and Creation.
II. Briefly explain what this aspect of Theology teaches. (150 word minimum)
God, while having created the world and intimately in command and active in it, is also
separate from His creation because the world is corrupt. As written by Kenneth Boa, “even
though God is omnipotent and sovereign, He created creatures with genuine freedom to make
moral choices”- and humans have misused that freedom (Boa, 94). Because God is perfect and
holy, He cannot be a part of sin. Since we have sinned, we are therefore separated from God
(Isaiah 59:2). But, while God is separated from us because of our sin, that is where Jesus dying
for us becomes so beautiful. By providing a perfect, faultless sacrifice, Jesus “intercedes” on our
behalf to God (John 3:16-17).
He is like a bridge between two hills, one being God, and one being us. Jesus is the
connecting line as our Savior, whitewashing our sin away so that we can have a relationship with
God. Now, this does not mean God is incapable of doing things or connecting to us unless we
are sinless - on the contrary, He is always working in the world. God is both capable of “act(ing)
directly, like a great king leading his armies…at other times he acts by means of his ‘Spirit’ or
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‘wisdom’ or ‘name’, or his ‘angel’ or ‘messenger’” (Erickson, 101)(John 14:15-17, 1
Corinthians 8:6). While “the Father is the form or essence; the Son and Spirit are his modes of
self- expression” (Erickson, 63).
Word Count = 239 words.
3. Why is this aspect of theology important and relevant to people today? How can it be
applied in today’s world? (150 word minimum)
The division of creator and creation will always remain relevant to us because it is
what shows our need for Christ, and why we so desperately need Jesus. Without the
relationship with Jesus, we are separated from God by our sin and will remain separated
(John 14:6-7). It belays the fact that we must seek a relationship with Jesus to be saved -
the whole of Christianity. But, because of this division, “God can show forth the glory of
His grace not only as the creator of all things but also as the redeemer” (Boa, 95). As
well as our relationship with God, this also highlights God’s sheer power and eminence.
God is perfect, holy, in control, and “untouchable” in the sense that we as humans all fall
short of being able to reach God by our own means. To apply it to today’s world is
simply to say, God in His glory remains distinct from humans and sin but retains
complete control over His creation. It is “the paradoxical nature of God. He is absolutely
transcendent and yet related to the world” (Erickson, 101).
Word Count = 185 words
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BIBLIOLOGY
Blackwell, Ben C. and Hatchett, R.L. Engaging Theology: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical
Introduction. Epub edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019.
Boa, Kenneth. God, I Don’t Understand : Answers to Difficult Questions of the Christian Faith.
Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2012. Print.
Erickson, Miller. J. God in Three Persons: A Contemporary Interpretation of the Trinity. Second
Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996. Print.
