The account of the resurrection of Christ in Luke 24
1) After reading the account of the resurrection of Christ in Luke 24 and in Chapter 6 in The Beginning of Wisdom, express why the resurrection is so important to the Christian worldview.
2) According to the Christian worldview, how does one gain eternal life? Use Bible verses to support your response. How does the Christian concept of the afterlife differ from that concept in other worldviews?
3) Jesus made many absolute statements such as the following:
John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (NIV).
Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Interacting with these statements and based on Chapter 8 of The Beginning of Wisdom and the topic overview, how would you answer someone who is concerned that Christianity portrays that Jesus is the only way to salvation?
4) Many believe naturalism (atheism) emphasizes intellect and reason, while religions emphasize faith. Pope John Paul II made the following profound statement at the beginning of his Encyclical Letter Fides et Ratio:
"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth – in a word, to know himself – so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves" (Catholic Church & John Paul II, 1998, p. 1).
Do you believe this quote adequately depicts the Christian view of the interaction of faith and reason, and the value of both? Why or why not? Does the atheistic worldview also use faith and reason? Why or why not?
Reference: Catholic Church, & John Paul II. (1998). Faith and reason: Encyclical letter Fides et ratio of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II on the relationship between faith and reason. Vatican City: The Holy See. Retrieved from http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html
1. The Importance of the Resurrection of Christ
The resurrection of Christ is arguably the single most important event in the Christian worldview. As described in Luke 24, the resurrection transforms Jesus from a great teacher and prophet into the divine Son of God who has conquered sin and death. Its importance can be understood in several key ways:- Validation of Jesus's Claims: The resurrection serves as the ultimate proof of Jesus’s identity and his claims to be the Son of God. It validates everything he taught, preached, and promised.
- Victory Over Sin and Death: According to the Christian worldview, sin brought death into the world. The resurrection of Jesus is the definitive act that reverses this curse. It is the assurance that death is not the end and that believers will also be raised to new life. As explained in The Beginning of Wisdom, it is the central event that gives hope and meaning to the Christian life.
- Foundation of the Christian Faith: The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." The resurrection is not just a historical event; it is the cornerstone upon which the entire structure of Christian belief rests. Without it, the Christian message of redemption and eternal life would be meaningless.
2. Gaining Eternal Life and the Concept of the Afterlife
According to the Christian worldview, one gains eternal life not through personal merit or good deeds, but through faith in Jesus Christ and God's grace. The Bible makes it clear that salvation is a gift, freely offered to all who believe.- Bible Verses:
- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
- Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
- Romans 10:9-10: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
- Differences from Other Worldviews: The Christian concept of the afterlife differs significantly from other worldviews. Unlike the cyclical nature of reincarnation in Hinduism and Buddhism, the Christian view is linear, leading to a single, eternal destination. It also differs from pantheistic worldviews that see the afterlife as a merging of the individual with a cosmic consciousness. Christianity portrays the afterlife as a conscious, eternal relationship with a personal God, often referred to as "heaven," a state of perfect and eternal communion.