Responding to Challenges
In Chapter 7, page 173 of the textbook a questions asks “Why do we need God, if humans are superior to everything else in creation?” The first part of the answer acknowledges that we are superior to everything in creation, however we are creatures whom are finite, limited beings while making it clear that we are not God. The author states the reason we need God is to “live” as creatures who are limited beings. His answer is literally a two word answer which is “to live.” I as a Christian understand that greatest gift of creation, is our humanity. We as humans have the gift of freedom and free will, which no other species process on Earth. I also understand that being human, means that we are capable of making mistakes
When talking about human nature many answers starts appearing depending on who you talk to. With many atheists claiming procreating and survival of oneself are part of human nature, but that should be considered our instincts. As many other species of animals are capable of demonstrating this trait and not considered human nature. The bible describes our nature of being good when God first created Adam in the beginning of genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.“ It was not until the fall of man that created sin and lead to the corruption of the original design that God had created. The mystery of original sin by Shuster describes the fall as “What went wrong in the beginning marks everything that follows. Adam’s sin not only
Within the Christian faith, there lies the belief that all mankind are born sinners and through their faith can seek redemption. This belief can be found in more detail within the Christian text known as the Bible. An example of this can be found in the Genesis chapter of the Bible which portrays that even the very first Humans ever to be created in God’s image, named Adam and Eve, defied God despite his pre-emptive warnings not too because of their natural tendency as humans to sin. Not only can one chose with their own will to disobey God but one’s faith can be easily swayed by the evils of the world therefore sin can forever bind them in chains for eternity. “Young Goodman Brown,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, reveals a similar
(Version Roman 5:12-14) We all have fallen short of the glory of God (Version Romans 3:23). Because of mankind’s fall from grace, sin is a natural act that keeps us from God. Christians know that God has taught us right from wrong, and that it is not possible for man to overcome sinfulness, except through Jesus Christ. Christians believe in the absolute moral standards defined by God. In contrast to the humanist, Christians know no one can be held accountable for our sins but
(Diffey, 2014) Humanity was created to know and worship God. Being made in His likeness means that humans have been created with both spirit and body, also possessing many of God’s attributes. Some of these attributes are creativity, love, logic, reason, and a sense of right and wrong. God also gave humanity the privilege to care for and have dominion over earth, which gave humanity value and a higher purpose. (Herring, 2008) Soon after God’s perfect creation, sin entered the world, bringing about the Fall and introduced pain, suffering, and death to the world. (Gen. 3: 6, 14-19) The Fall is the root cause of human problems and caused humanity’s departure from God’s wisdom. (Diffey, 2014) Humanity has the capability to love because we are made in the image of Christ, however, humanity’s nature is flawed and sinful by nature. (Diffey, 2014) All of humanity has sinned, and fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23 NIV) It is because this that we need a Savior.
The Christian believes that God created the human from earth matter and the human was created with a purpose: to improve the world and serve God (see Genesis.) Also to be exemplary and moral and to imitate God.
In Genesis one and two, it provides a full understanding of God’s creations and wisdom of human nature because it is free from evil. Human nature is revealed from Genesis one with God creating the Earth and the Heavens and creating the man of his likeness. The Bible explains how God created Adam, from dust and was placed in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:7). The Bible explains humanity was created to work and serve (Genesis 2:15). Subsequently, Eve was created; “God had created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Adam and Eve would help God because He wanted them to multiply the Earth by taking care of all of his creation (Hiles & Smith, 2014). God is the sovereign ruler, he created humanity as how he should have wanted. The Bible explains about human nature that God created everything to be distinct from animals and all of His creation. God created us in his own image, which is why we all look different; we are unique in His eyes. Also, God created us to be good because we are born innocent of all evil and loving of God. In addition, we were all born pure as Adam and Eve were. The Bible explains that God was pleased with his creations, “God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:10-21).
“We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State” (1.16).
I believe that human beings, who have the image of God, are the best creature in the world. Therefore, they can instinctually recognize the existence of God and have capacities to choose somethings and to create somethings creatively. For John Wesley, human beings are created by God in the image of God, which means that they have similar characteristics to God. Scott J. Jones insists, “we share God’s nature in that we are immortal spirits who have various divine capacities: understanding, freedom of the will, and affections.” In this view, in the beginning, the human beings have capacities not only to understand God in the communication between God and them, but also to choose and do anything which they want. However, at the Fall, their characteristics given by God became malfunctioned by Adam’s exploiting their free will not obey God, but disobey God, which generates the original sin. John Wesley explains about this in his sermon ‘The New Birth,’ “The natural consequence of this is that everyone descended from him
Humanity was originally created in the likeness of God, to walk in his presence; they were made distinctly human with the ability to reason. Humanity knows love because they are made of love, in the image of God who is love. (1 John 4:16) After the Fall, humans are no longer pure enough to walk in His presence and are punished for the sins they have committed. The purpose of humankind changes from caring for the earth and all its inhabitants; to spreading the word of the Lord. The Christian Worldview recognizes that humankind is sinful by nature because Adam and Eve, God in his graciousness sent His only son to die on the cross to atone for those sins.
In Genesis 1:26-27 the Bible talks about how we are made in the image of God, or have what is known as the Imago Dei. Some people would say that this means that human beings have a conscious, and live at a level that is more complex than just living on mere instinct. I believe that there is more to it than that. Romans 12:6 says that “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” In other words, as you read the rest of the chapter you can see how each of the different gifts given to people can be used to edify and strengthen other people. We were created to be a blessing to other people, and those other people were created to live in harmony with you.
The purpose of man is to praise and worship God, proclaim his glory, and to accomplish his will."… And whom I have created for My glory, …” (Isaiah 43:7 New International Version). God created all things in harmony. He established a perfect creation that he loves and over which he rules. The highest honor is given to mankind as the only part of creation made in God’s image. Humanity was created to love as God loves, to worship and praise his glory and commune with him as he does with us.
2. Identity – Christians believe all humans were made in God’s image and are His special creation.
Christianity is the world’s largest religion, and the religion, which defines my personal belief system. At the heart of Christianity is Jesus Christ: my personal Savior, and it is His teachings and sacrifice, which is the foundation of “Christianity.” To begin, it is necessary to outline my beliefs as a Christian, since there are many conflicting Christian doctrines in contemporary society. My creed is the belief in the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As the Bible teaches, God is three personalities within in One Spiritual Being. Furthermore, I believe the God created the world as put forth in the Genesis account, and it was created in a perfect state and without sin. Near the end of His creation process, God created man in His image, He set him apart, and gave him dominion of all other living creatures. Sin and death only entered into to the
Christians believe God created everything living from the trees to the fishes in the sea. The human identity is found in knowing their true nature, and accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Mankind was created basically to be stewards, they are
As Christians we are trying to re-invent our beliefs, faith and righteous living to fit in the modern world. We are trying to move with the tide, follow trends and changes. We are incorporating what is in the world into Christianity. Christians are trying to hold on to what God expects us to do and living righteously but it is getting harder as the world is changing.