Five Themes in Summary

• Let us now summarize the five central themes of this study.
• These are motivation, structure, dynamics, evidence & the Supernatural.
• Figure: "A Quest for Meaning, A Rediscovery of God & His World."

• Need & fulfillment form a motivational theme in life.
• The questions of life broke down the issues of life into their basic form.
• This work has shown Christianity's answers category by category.
• Figure: "Seven Questions of Life."
• In our search, the questions break down issues & God's answers have built up.
• Figure: "The Seven Questions of Life & the Fall."
• It has been shown that God's answers spans the philosophical to the practical.
• Ultimately, it is Jesus who offers us a new start on life.
• Jesus gives us rest from the weariness & burdens of life (Mt 11:28).

• The hourglass symbol depicts the "building up" of truth in this study.
• Figure: "God & His Works, The Building Blocks of Life."
• Jesus, the "Chief Corner Stone," is Christianity's foundation of truth (Mt 21:42).
• He demonstrates God's attributes & is intimately involved with God's every work.
• God's creation & revelation are the basis of our existence & meaning.
• They touch most areas of life giving a starting point for understanding the world.
• Creation & revelation form, then, the broad underpinnings of salvation.
• The thin middle section represents Jesus as the narrow gate to life (Mt 7:13-14).
• While God's world is open to other systems, He came to give us life (Jn 10:10).
• The top section shows the broad renovation of life that results from salvation.
• All areas of life are linked to God & His works & ultimately Jesus.

• The dynamics of God's world is seen within each of God's works.
• God's dynamics follow the pattern of His providential rule over history.
• He initiates, oversees & receives all things (Rom 11:36).
• As beginning & end, Jesus encompasses God's dynamic world (Rev 22:13).
• Figure: "The Dynamics of God's World."

• Jesus said to believe His claims or otherwise his works (Jn 14:11).
• This study has demonstrated Christianity's claims & evidences.
• Paramount to this are Jesus' claims, prophetic fulfillment & resurrection.
• Figure: "A Spectrum of Evidences Supporting Christianity."

• Ancient & medieval philosophers sought after the quintessence or fifth essence.
• This was the highest essence after the four elements of earth, air, fire, & water.
• More recently, Christianity viewed theology as the "Queen of the Sciences."
• Today, science seeks a "theory of everything" (TOE) to explain all.
• The whole of life, however, is not ultimately understood in a science or model.
• Life is understood in the person of Jesus Christ:

Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the life" Jn 14:6
"Jesus Christ, by whom are all things" 1 Cor 8:6
 

• Jesus encompasses the five themes of this study.
• Figure: "All Things Point to Jesus."

• There is a challenge here for those who do not know Jesus.
• God desires a personal relationship with each of us (Jn 17:3).
• Figure: "Four Essentials of Salvation."
• What is your response?

• There is also a challenge here for those who know Jesus.
• As Lord of all, Jesus demands all of our life.
• Figure: "Passion & Abandon."
• What is your response?