A Christian Worldview Part Three: Redemption
In the same way that I described the effects of the fall, I am going to briefly describe redemption in three specific categories our relationship with God, our fellow man, and creation.
God
Through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection our relationship with God can be restored and is generally described in three specific ways justification, sanctification, and glorification. In their book, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, William Evans, and S. Maxwell Coder describe justification and sanctification as follows: “In justification we are declared righteous in order that, in sanctification, we may become righteous. Justification is what God does for us, while sanctification is what God does in us. Justification puts us into a right relationship with God, while sanctification exhibits the fruit of that relationship—a life separated from a sinful world and dedicated unto God.” It is imperative to note that both justification and sanctification are blood bought products of grace and find their origin and power in God and not man. Man cannot save himself nor can man choose to be saved (Romans 3:9-20). Likewise, once justified, man cannot conform himself to the image of Christ (Galatians 3:3). Because of this God alone receives all the glory. Glorification is the competition of this when God takes us into heaven and we receive a new body and spend eternity in His presence.
Man
Abraham Kuyper, in his Lectures on Calvinism, offers a wonderful description of what our relationship with our fellow man should look like. “If Calvinism places our entire human life immediately before God, then it follows that all men or women, rich or poor, weak or strong, dull or talented, as creatures of God, and as lost sinners, have no claim whatsoever to lord over one another, and that we stand as equals before God, and consequently equal as man to man. Hence we cannot recognize any distinction among men, save as such as been imposed by God Himself, in that He gave one authority over the other, or enriched one with more talents than the other, in order that the man of more talents should serve the man with less, and in him serve his God.”
Creation
This aspect of the Christian worldview receives much neglect and is considered unimportant when viewed in comparison to man and God; however, consider the implications of rendering these three categories in another way. God is The Divine Being, man bears His Divine image, and the earth is His Divine creation, which reveals His Divine character. Just as mocking, a painting would offend a painter neglecting and abusing God’s creation represents an offence to God. We must reclaim our position as the guardians and caretakers of God’s creation.
Concluding Thoughts
The chief and supreme end for everything is that it would glorify God. It is imperative that every aspect of the Christian worldview work towards this supreme and singular end. Christ suffered on the cross in order to bring us to God (I Peter 3:18). Our relationship with creation and our fellow man must be lived in such a way that it glorifies God and leads others to do likewise (Matthew 5:16). These are not thoughts for your private life this is the framework through which, by the grace of God, you must interpret and live the whole of life.
God
Through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection our relationship with God can be restored and is generally described in three specific ways justification, sanctification, and glorification. In their book, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, William Evans, and S. Maxwell Coder describe justification and sanctification as follows: “In justification we are declared righteous in order that, in sanctification, we may become righteous. Justification is what God does for us, while sanctification is what God does in us. Justification puts us into a right relationship with God, while sanctification exhibits the fruit of that relationship—a life separated from a sinful world and dedicated unto God.” It is imperative to note that both justification and sanctification are blood bought products of grace and find their origin and power in God and not man. Man cannot save himself nor can man choose to be saved (Romans 3:9-20). Likewise, once justified, man cannot conform himself to the image of Christ (Galatians 3:3). Because of this God alone receives all the glory. Glorification is the competition of this when God takes us into heaven and we receive a new body and spend eternity in His presence.
Man
Abraham Kuyper, in his Lectures on Calvinism, offers a wonderful description of what our relationship with our fellow man should look like. “If Calvinism places our entire human life immediately before God, then it follows that all men or women, rich or poor, weak or strong, dull or talented, as creatures of God, and as lost sinners, have no claim whatsoever to lord over one another, and that we stand as equals before God, and consequently equal as man to man. Hence we cannot recognize any distinction among men, save as such as been imposed by God Himself, in that He gave one authority over the other, or enriched one with more talents than the other, in order that the man of more talents should serve the man with less, and in him serve his God.”
Creation
This aspect of the Christian worldview receives much neglect and is considered unimportant when viewed in comparison to man and God; however, consider the implications of rendering these three categories in another way. God is The Divine Being, man bears His Divine image, and the earth is His Divine creation, which reveals His Divine character. Just as mocking, a painting would offend a painter neglecting and abusing God’s creation represents an offence to God. We must reclaim our position as the guardians and caretakers of God’s creation.
Concluding Thoughts
The chief and supreme end for everything is that it would glorify God. It is imperative that every aspect of the Christian worldview work towards this supreme and singular end. Christ suffered on the cross in order to bring us to God (I Peter 3:18). Our relationship with creation and our fellow man must be lived in such a way that it glorifies God and leads others to do likewise (Matthew 5:16). These are not thoughts for your private life this is the framework through which, by the grace of God, you must interpret and live the whole of life.