In this assignment, you will assess your understanding of the Christian worldview, including the main topics you have covered up to this point. You will summarize and analyze the essential elements of

1:12), or in other words, making Christ the object of your faith. Paul expresses the gospel message most succinctly in Galatians 2:16 wh ere he says, "a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ." In this respect, Christianity is unlike virtually e very other religion in the world. Other religions show you what they believe is a way to Go d by living in a certain manner, praying certain prayers, and many other religious c ustoms. Christianity teaches that people are not capable of being good enough, which is precisely why God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Other religions offer g ood advice, whereas Christ offers good news, the gospel—which is that by trusting in what he has already done for you, you are restored. Other religions offer possible salvation (eternal l ife in heaven) through trusting in one's own good works, while Christianity offers certain s alvation through trusting in Christ's good works. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:8- 9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it i s the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (ESV). The good news of the gospel may be summarized with the three Rs: rescue, redemption, and renewal. Rescue God rescued people from torment in hell and eternal separation from God by sending his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Redemption Redemption, the granting of salvation, occurs when you accept Christ as your savior, the Lord of your life, by faith. Accepting God's gift o f salvation includes yet another R:

repentance. You repent of your sins by simply confe ssing them to God and turning from them to live in obedience. Renewal Renewal is the work of the Holy Spirit who comes in to your life when you accept Christ and begins to transform you from the inside, and yo u become a new creation and begin a life that will lead on into eternity.

Restoration, Reconciliation, and Relationship These terms, restoration, reconciliation, and relat ionship, help to define the Christian faith in addition to the three Rs mentioned above. God's plan is to restore people to himself, that they might be fully reconciled to a r ight relationship that was severed due to sin. In the unfolding biblical story that began with the Creation, then that was quickly interrupted with the fall of humanity, God brought redemption throughout human history culminating in the life, death and resurrec tion of his son Jesus Christ. This ongoing redemption of humanity, which is essentiall y the building of God's kingdom (the ministry of Christ's Church), will one day come to completion at the second coming of Christ (Matt. 24). Then the final act in the biblic al story—restoration—will commence after the judgment (Matt. 25:31-46) with the new he aven and new earth (Rev. 21). Justification Another important word that defines what happens at the point when you turn to God and accept Christ is justification. This is a legal term that means Christ's payment for sins is credited to your account, resulting in you now b eing justified in God's sight. Salvation then is all a work of God's free grace received by faith. Conclusion The bottom line is that Christianity is really much more about what God has done rather than what you do, more about what God gives than wh at you earn, and more about a relationship than a religion. Christianity is about knowing and loving God, while enjoying amazing fellowship in his eternal family. © 2017. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserve d.