Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

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3. How does the biblical teaching express the fact that all humankind was made in the imago Dei ? Are there any human beings who, for some reason, no longer share this image? Do even the most rebellious and irreligious human beings, regardless of their individual or communal state, share in the imago Dei? What is the biblical evidence for your answer? 4. In light of the imago Dei , what are some of the ways in which the Word of God describes the implications of the imago Dei in humankind? How ought these various implications transform our understanding of human persons, even those we find distasteful or obnoxious? 5. How do the Scriptures describe God’s inclinations and feelings toward those who are poor, oppressed, and broken? What are the implications for this in understanding the poor as special objects of God’s unmerited, unconditional favor and grace? Explain your answer with Scripture. 6. What is the significance of the fact that human beings, regardless of their background, can be so transformed and renewed as to become partakers of the divine nature through faith in Jesus Christ? Can all human beings come to share this new nature? 7. What can be said of those who reject the offer of God’s grace in Christ – do they still share God’s likeness as human beings? Explain. 8. In light of the insights above, what would you consider to be the fundamental ground for doing justice and loving mercy among the poor in the city? How does this ground inform us of the worthiness of each person in the city, regardless of the character of their lives and histories? This lesson focuses upon the theology and vision of the Kingdom, both in terms of God as our creator who is concerned about the world and those who live within it. We also considered the power of the image of God in every person, and how that image serves as the ground for doing justice and loving mercy among the poor in the city. Although Christians have traditionally taken differing positions in regards to the Church’s relationship to the world, we must engage it. The Church is both the locus and agent of the Kingdom of God in the world but not of it . The God and Father of our Lord Jesus is a God of nature, creation,

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CONNECTION

Summary of Key Concepts page 194 & 6