Evangelical Christians' Belief: Scripture Written by God's Influence - Essay Sample

Introduction

Based on the course materials provided, evangelical Christians believe that all writings in the Bible are inspired. Their perception is that the Holy Spirit influenced the authors of the Bible to write based on what God wanted. (Isaiah 55:11). This perception means that despite the Scripture being written based on the writer’s personality, mostly expounded in their writing; the word is influenced by the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). What one can gather through this perception is that the Scripture is designed to be trustworthy, reliable, and authoritative. Christian theology defines the inerrancy of the Bible as an absence of errors and the inability to be wrong (Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35). This belief comes with the notion that God inspires the Bible, and that notion attests to its authoritative nature. According to Evangelical Christians, the Bible contains no error and is God’s “self-disclosure,” proof of its divine authority (Psalm 19:7-9; John 1:1).

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From my point of view, based on what I have experienced and learned in my Christian life and through this course, I can agree with the above doctrine. I believe that the Bible is God’s words and that the Holy Spirit inspired those authors who took part in writing the word. With this belief and its inerrancy, I have trust in the Bible and acknowledge that if the Bible is the word of God, then there is no possibility of it containing errors. It confirms God’s authoritative nature, as well. In the book of Hebrews 4:12, according to Apostle Paul, God’s word is “alive and active” and “sharper than any double-edged sword.” Refusing to accept that which is written, especially when God inspires it, is like refuting God’s authority.

God, the Holy Trinity

The Holy Trinity is viewed as a union between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19; John 14:10; 1 John 5:7). According to McGrath (2018), the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is elaborated in three beliefs; the first belief is that God created the world “with order and form” (McGrath, 2018, p 128). The other theory is that Jesus Christ is the redeemer of the world, based on God’s authority (John 1:14; John 10:30); and the third is that God is omnipresent, He is everywhere, and His presence is a form of encouragement and guidance to his believers. Evangelical Christians believe that He is the creator who takes care of all His believers and is ever-present in the way of the Holy Spirit. Also, God is the Father of all humanity, including Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:6). In McGrath’s view, God’s nature is involved, making it challenging to explain His life because it would not “do justice to the profound and multifaceted witness to God found in the Bible” (McGrath, 2018, p 130).

My opinion about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and God’s main role is following McGrath, which is that God cannot be understood in simplicity. His nature is complex and diverse, having numerous roles. Other than being a creator, He is also a redeemer, a Father, and a Shepherd, among other roles (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 100:3; John 15:26; Galatians 4:6; Revelation 1:8). Even though the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not well defined in the Bible, I believe that it exists. The Scripture defines the Holy Trinity as God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, indicating that all are one. Even when we as Christians place different devotions to each, there is ultimately only one God. (Galatians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 8:6).

Humanity and Sin

The origin of humanity and sin is explained in the book of Genesis, during the Fall of Man. Human beings were created in the image and likeness of God, and this is described in the Creation Account (Genesis 1:26-27). According to McGrath (2018), being made in God’s creation is a symbol of the unique relationship that God has with humanity amongst all creation (Psalm 8:3-8). The unique nature of humanity is a symbol of the responsibility and accountability that humans have towards their environments and the world in general (McGrath, 2018, p 49). McGrath defines four models of God’s image in Christian theology; in his first model, humanity is created in the image of God and further expounds on God’s authority. With this notion, God’s power over humanity held all humanity accountable to Him and imposed dedication as well (McGrath, 2018, p 49; John 6:40). The second model expounds on rational thinking and the ability to distinguish the world as it is rationally. The third model concentrates on the relationship between God and humanity (1 John 3:1), with McGrath describing it as a God-Shaped gap that human beings often replace with sin and worldly pleasures when devoid of God’s presence (McGrath, 2018, p 51). In the fourth model, McGrath states that human beings have the constant need to engage in storytelling. This factor reflects on God’s image because He created all humans with a narrative nature (McGrath, 2018, p 51). Humanity’s creation in God’s image questions the notion of sin, with McGrath expounding on how sin affects humanity’s relationship with God, with the solution being salvation (John 3:16; Romans 3:23-24; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:7-9). In his opinion, humanity is born with a flaw of heading towards sin, explaining that individual acts or attitudes of sin are inbuilt in human nature (McGrath, 2018, p 98). Salvation came when Jesus came and carried the burden of humankind’s sinful nature and defeated it through His death during his crucifixion (Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24).

In my opinion, humanity is flawed with sin from birth, and it is within our nature. However, all of humanity has a God-shaped gap that can quickly be filled with sinful acts, all of which occur without God’s presence. The saving grace of Christ is the hope that we live in, and through it, we are redeemed. Our creation in the image and likeness of God shows how humanity holds a unique relationship with God, despite its confusing nature.

The Person of Christ

Christianity believes that Jesus was born of a virgin through the Holy Spirit and is the Son of God. (John 1:14; John 3:16; John 14:10; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 3:17). However, even with His divine origin, Jesus was more human, experiencing human emotions and limitations (Lecture 5; Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:15). However, He was not flawed with sin despite being fully man and fully God (Colossians 2:9). In many instances, Jesus is described through divide attributes that recognized his divine and authoritative entity, and He does not show remorse for his egocentrism shown by how He refers to Himself, His statements, or His acts. According to McGrath, Jesus shows his identity through many of his functions that explains his role as the savior (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24), defines how humanity worshipped him, and through his revelation of God (McGrath, 2018, p 70; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 11:27; John 1:18; John 14:7). This indicates that God spoke through Jesus, His son. Jesus had two natures that allowed him to carry the burden of humankind’s sins while acting as a mediator between God and humanity. According to McGrath, Jesus is a mediator of salvation and revelation (McGrath, 2018, p 76).

In my opinion, Christ is Lord and savior. He is divine and human (John 10:30), carrying with him the burden of humanity’s sins, even when he emulated a life without sin. I understand that the dual nature of Christ was necessary, a plan designed by God to save humanity from sin. I perceive Jesus to be my mentor and bridge to God, as stated in the Bible (John 5:23; John 14:6-7).

The Work of Christ

The story of the life of Christ, His death and resurrection are well known to Evangelical Christianity, with the key lesson being the obedient, just, and compassionate nature that Jesus possessed. Jesus portrayed active obedience through His acts to humanity and passive obedience through dying for humanity on the cross and defeating death and sin (Isaiah 53:4; 1 Peter 2:24; John 1:29; Philippians 2: 7-8). Through this course, we learn that Jesus’ mission was to save all humanity, shown through His ministry through atonement or His saving grace (Hebrews 9:15; 1 John 2:2).

In my belief, the Gospel is a guide on how to emulate Christ in our daily lives. I believe in the Gospel and Jesus’ ministry as He attempted to save humankind from death and sin. He suffered for all so that we may have redeemed hope and become one with the Spirit. God loved us so much that He gave His son to die as an atonement of our sins so that we may be saved and united with Him in his Kingdom (John 3: 16)

Soteriology

Soteriology is covered under theology as the doctrine of salvation. According to McGrath, he has two questions on salvation; first, he questions how salvation in theology is different from salvation in other contexts. Second, he examines the basis of salvation concerning Christianity (McGrath, 2018, p 82-83). From the course, Jesus came to save the world through His crucifixion. His resurrection is a reminder of salvation and victory. Soteriology, in this context, applies to the sacrifice Jesus made such that humanity is declared not guilty (1 Corinthians 6:11). Salvation in this context does not mean innocence in God’s eyes but also being renewed from sin. The return of Christ is the beginning of glorification, where humanity will be fully saved from sin.

In my opinion, humanity is saved from sin by accepting declaring Christ as Lord and Savior and living a life defined by the Gospel (Acts 2:21; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:10). Sin separates humanity from God and is devastating to the Spirit. The doctrines founded under sanctification, justification, and glorification are not common. Jesus died to atone for or sins, and as such, Christians are justified through Him to God the Father. It is only through Christ that we can be made whole since we, as humans, struggle with the burden of sin, even in our Christian faith.

Ecclesiology

Ecclesiology is defined as a branch in theology that deals with the theory of the church (McGrath, 2018, p 218). In the Scripture, the Church and Christ are one, and we are his children (1 John 3:2). Jesus forms the foundation to the church, of which solely exists as one (McGrath, 2018, p 152). Christians serve the church through worshipping God and leading a Christian life based on the Gospel of Christ (Matthew 28: 19-20; 1 John 1:7). Members of the faith make the right of the Gospel through baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer, all of which form the church (Acts 2:42).

Given my constant interaction with pastors and evangelists, I believe in religiously attending church services, with my belief in Christianity sealing my understanding of the purpose of the church. Christ is the head of the church, and as such, it is essential to include it as part of our daily lives, building the Spirit. The church brings light where there was darkness, and a faithful church attracts even sinners to reform their lives. A true church is built on God’s doctrine of love.

Eschatology

Eschatology is the study of the end times; hell, resurrection, and eternal life (McGrath, 2018, p 218). There are three approaches to eschatology; realized, futurist, and inaugurated. According to McGrath, futurist eschatology involves the existence of God’s Kingdom at a future date, factored by the coming of Christ and its disruptive intervention in human history (McGrath, 2018, p 197). Realized eschatology takes the notion that God’s Kingdom was already accomplished through the second coming of Jesus (McGrath, 2018, p 198). Inaugurated eschatology suggests that the first coming started the Kingdom of God, but it is not complete until the second coming.

In my view, I would not know where my opinion lies as I would only know that through th...