What do the four parts of the Christian biblical narrative (i.e., creation, fall, redemption, and restoration) say about the nature of God and of reality in relation to the reality of sickness and disease? From where would one find comfort and hope in the light of illness according to this narrative? Explain in detail each part of the narrative above and analyze the implications.
Please use 2 APA references
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The four parts of the Christian biblical narrative are central to Christian theology and understanding of the nature of God and reality.
Creation: The Bible teaches that God created the world and everything in it, including human beings. According to Genesis 1-2, God created the world in a state of perfection and declared it “good.” In this state, there was no sickness or disease.
Fall: The Bible teaches that humanity disobeyed God and fell into a state of sin and brokenness, leading to a separation from God and the introduction of suffering, including sickness and disease, into the world. According to Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, their disobedience introduced sin and death into the world.
Redemption: The Bible teaches that God sent his son Jesus Christ to redeem humanity and bring salvation and the possibility of restoration. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christians believe that the penalty for sin and death has been overcome and that believers have the opportunity to be restored to a right relationship with God.
Restoration: The Bible teaches that one day, God will restore the world to its original state of perfection and there will be no more sickness or disease. In the book of Revelation, it speaks about the New Jerusalem, a perfect city without any pain, mourning, crying or death, and all those who have faith in Jesus will be with God.
In light of illness, Christians find comfort and hope in the belief that God is sovereign and loving, that Jesus’ death and resurrection has overcome the penalty of sin, and that one day, there will be complete restoration of all things. The Bible encourages Christians to trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty, even in the midst of suffering.
References:
The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV)
Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth. Victor Books, 1999.
