Understanding the Biblical World View

2 The 4 Basic Questions of Life Where am I? What is the nature of the universe/world? Who am I? What is my nature/task/purpose as a human? Whats wrong? What is evil? What is the remedy? How do I find salvation and overcome evil?

3 The Definition of World View Provides a model of the world that determines our actions in the world Provides a vision of life Provides a vision for life Determines our values

4 Examining Differing World Views The story of Anthony (pp 15 – 17) Bathing Babies (pp 17 – 22) Looking at Land (pp 25 – 30)

5 What does Creation have to do with world view? What is the role of the tenet of creation in the Bible? Key passages on creation Genesis 1: created by the word Genesis 1 Proverbs 8: created by wisdom Proverbs 8

6 Creation by the Word Gen 1 Gods word is efficacious. The result of the promulgation is pleasing. How many times does God say creation is good? What is good about creation? Creation responded appropriately. Creation is ordered and complex.

7 Creation by the Word Psalm 33:6-9 Psalm 148:5-6

8 Creation by Wisdom Key Questions Who/what is Wisdom? When was Wisdom created? What is her role in creation? Key Passages Proverbs 8 Job 28:25-27 Proverbs 3:19-20

9 How does creation distinguish God from other gods? God is above creation, not part of it God speaks creation into being God does not use sex to create

10 What is the role of order in creation? God ordered the unformed chaos (Gen 1) God structured creation The order is stable and dependable The order is superintended by God Evaluate Deism Deism = God spoke the world into existence and then left it to carry on... Is this biblical?

11 Where am I? How would you answer this question based on the biblical world view?

12 Who am I? What does the Bible have to say on this subject? Where should we look first?

13 Humans and creation: In Gods Image Gen 1:26-28: the image of God Gen 1:26-28 The wide sense = what distinguishes us from animals and likens us to God Rational capacity Moral nature Spirituality Personhood The narrow sense = the degree to which an individual conforms to the perfect character of God

14 The Image of God: 2 key aspects Our dominion over the earth Our religious choice of serving God or idols

15 Dominion over the earth Gen 1: Gods role Gen 1:26-28: humanitys role Develop Preserve

16 Developing the earth Culture: Rev 21:1-5Rev 21:1-5 Social interaction The toledoth (generations): Gen 2:4Gen 2:4 Historical/cultural development: Gen 4:20-22Gen 4:20-22

17 Preserving the earth Is exploitation biblical? Evaluation pantheism: Should we revere nature? How should we understand nature? Co-servants of God

18 Who am I? What have we learned about the biblical worldview on this question? We are creatures of Godco-servants with the rest of creation. We are uniquewe have been given authority to develop and preserve. We are stewards: Matt 25:14-30Matt 25:14-30

19 The 4 Basic Questions of Life Where am I? What is the nature of the universe/world? Who am I? What is my nature/task/purpose as a human? Whats wrong? What is evil? What is the remedy? How do I find salvation and overcome evil?

20 Whats wrong? How does the biblical worldview answer this question? Where do we start?

21 Humans and the Fall Gen 3:1-13: the Fall of Humanity Gen 3:1-13 What was the Fall? What were the consequences? Gen 3:14-24 Romans 8:19-23

22 What is sin? The choice: worship God or idols Remember: The image of God means humanity is to rule and to reflect God. What is Sin? Sin = disobedience = failing to be the image of God

23 What is sin? How do we know there really is a creator God? Rom 1:18-32 What is at the core of humans? God = Creator Humans = creature Humans have a need to worship

24 What is idolatry? Idolatry Idolatry = worshipping the creature rather than the Creator. Rom 1:21-25 Idol = a false image of God Humanity = the true image of God

25 Image and idolatry The image of God idea is only mentioned in 4 times in the HB: Gen 1:26-27 Gen 5:1 Gen 9:6 After that, idolatry enters the picture The term image: humans and idols

26 Image and idolatry An idol Idol = a symbolic image designed to mediate and manifest the gods glory and rule What is humanitys role as image of God? So, whats wrong with idolatry? It is false worship It is false imaging

27 What does God require? The Ten Commandments: Exod 20:1-5Exod 20:1-5 No other gods No idols What are the consequences of disobedience? Gen 3:14-18 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Rom 6:22-25

28 The sacred/secular split What is the sacred/secular split? What is the biblical view? Is God interested in the secular? Isaiah 28:24-29 Exodus 31:1-5 Are there sacred versus secular jobs/skills?

29 Whats wrong? What is the biblical answer to whats wrong with the world?

30 Next Week Chapters 3-5: The Fall and Redemption Critical Thinking Paper #1: WM ch 5