Benchmark: Gospel Essentials (Essay Sample)

Benchmark: Gospel Essentials Name Institution Course Professor Date Benchmark: Gospel Essentials Life begins with fundamental concerns about reality, truth, and existence. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, many Christians' lives revolve around salvation and virtue. The many issues, beliefs, and assumptions in Christianity stimulate debate and discussion. However, all Christians have the same opportunity to develop a personal relationship with God, experience His boundless love, and connect with Him both spiritually and in the afterlife, despite these differences. Understanding God’s character, the significance of creation, and the uniqueness of Jesus and His mission are essential components of Christian belief (Simanjuntak, 2020). This exploration delves into the core elements of Christian theology, revealing how these tenets shape a worldview rooted in faith, divine purpose, and moral integrity. It becomes clear how these beliefs guide Christians toward a life centered on spiritual growth, love for others, and a meaningful connection with God through reflection of gospel beliefs. Gospel Essential Beliefs Nature of God God is all-knowing, omnipresent, compassionate, loving, and forgiving. He possesses infinite power and grace, and he is ever-present. God has always been there, creating the universe, all life, and saying, "Good." As the source of life, goodness, beauty, truth, and love, God guides His children throughout their life journeys. His patience, kindness, and mercy reflect His desire for people to live purposefully, relying on His guidance. At the same time, God disciplines those who disobey Him, encouraging repentance and forgiveness. This balance between love and discipline highlights God’s deep care for humanity, as He desires all to grow spiritually and fulfill their divine purpose. God’s character is defined by His agape love, a selfless and unconditional love that transcends human emotions. Humanity has always yearned for agape, a love that transcends human understanding and reflects God's perfect nature. His limitless love for all His children and creations inspires them to love others in the same manner. Since God created mankind in His image, humans share some of His attributes, including the capacity to love. This ability allows people to form meaningful relationships with others and with God. By loving others as God loves, humanity honors His design and experiences the profound dignity of entering a special love relationship with both the Creator and fellow human beings. As per 1 John 4:8, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. His creation is all of the earth, mankind, and everything in existence." The astounding aspect is that God created humanity in His image (Simanjuntak, 2020). No one disputes that our world is beautiful, despite its hate and destruction. God created nature in an ideal state to demonstrate his loving character, provide us with harmony, and showcase his beauty to humanity. Nature of Humanity Our essence is what makes us human. After Adam and Eve disobeyed, our once-great human nature became evil. When we receive Jesus Christ as our savior, God's whole nature changes and restores our disposition. God created humans to be his masterpieces—to worship and love him. Moreover, after our rescue, we possess God's innate desire to love others with the same intensity as he initially loved us. 1 John 4:19 states, "We love because he first loved us." Not surrendering to God's might, choosing symbols and addictions before God, and lacking conviction or confidence in God are the root causes of human troubles. Christian teaching holds that God created people in his image. Our human instinct is a limited representation of God's glory. According to Genesis 1 and 2, the human instinct is superior to our capacity for reason, which sets us apart from other creatures because we have the ability to think and feel. Our human instinct is based on mindfulness and the need to interact with others who possess a deep understanding of love. Establishing relationships with others and God, bound by agape love, is our entire purpose and existence. Affection for God and others helps us form enjoyable relationships, making life satisfying. Even though people can obtain everything they need to fulfill their life's purpose, it's never enough when we rebel against nature and act foolishly, leading individuals to sin (Heinze, 2021). Nature of Jesus The Trinity places a premium on Jesus' identity. He fulfills all three roles as an angelic messenger and redeemer. Jesus atoned for our sins by dying on a cross. We failed miserably in paying the price for our sins because we lacked perfection; only Jesus Christ could. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Jesus is the Savior and deliverer whom numerous individuals accepted and followed as he became their chief. Jesus, as the Child of God, was the essential figure of Christianity, persevering through numerous individuals questioning and scrutinizing his quality. Many people rejected Jesus, claiming he was the offspring of a powerful force, and refused to acknowledge that a single word he spoke led his followers to portray him as ridiculous and dishonorable. Matthew, Imprint (Peter), John, and Luke were followers of Jesus, providing accounts from onlookers that demonstrated Jesus' status as the Savior and sacred one. Jesus died on the cross to atone for all our sins, hoping to save us from their destruction. He endured constant, unforgiving hostility, yet he sacrificed himself for the sins of humanity, allowing others to seek forgiveness. In addition to the fact that Jesus died an appalling death for us, he also lived for us (Susila & Risvan, 2022). We gave Jesus human life to practice and spread Christ's expression through adoration. Restoration When people put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, they solve all of humanity's problems. The Bible teaches that confidence, not deeds, saves us, requiring Christians to possess elegance and trust for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) affirms that salvation is a result of grace and faith. And this is God's gift, not yours, so no one can boast." Recognizing Jesus and reestablishing our minds brings about a transformation in ourselves and society. Believing that Jesus died for our sins gives us the opportunity to unite with God in paradise, where we can live eternally with Him. Is it essential to have confidence in God and accept that he will give us salvation within the Christian religion? Furthermore, one expects to develop with Jesus and God for a portion of paradise through the acquisition of love and forgiveness (Susila & Risvan, 2022). Giving one's life to the ruler leads to a transformation in one's self and society, ultimately improving individuals. Christian Foundations Trust and confidence in God stem from witnessing the wonders He brings into the world, which builds faith and confidence in God. Despite a naturally logical and "see it to believe it" mindset that sometimes leads to doubt, God's power and presence remain undeniable. While questioning Him may feel like a slight to His authority, understanding the depth of the Christian faith has brought greater openness and education on this journey. The Christian perspective encourages placing God at the center of life, guiding decisions and actions to reflect His worthiness as one of His creations. Although mistakes and sins are part of the human experience, seeking forgiveness through prayer is a crucial practice. A key difference that often arises in Christian life is the belief that regular church attendance is necessary to maintain faith (Susila & Risvan, 2022). However, participation in formal church services does not determine the strength of one’s devotion. Failure and shortcomings are inevitable, but the message of grace provides comfort and hope in seeking spiritual growth and reconciliation with God. Understanding these principles helps foster a deeper connection with the faith, regardless of outward expressions of religious practice. God is pleased w...