This paper examines the Biblical Worldview as displayed in Romans 1-8. A worldview is how people see the world (Brown, Phillips, & Stonestreet, 2008). However, a biblical worldview is anything that can be proved by the word of God. It is a framework of belief and ideas for which a person interprets. The analysis of Romans 1-8 will cover the following areas of interest; the natural world, human relationships, human identity and culture. Paul authored Romans due to the fault line he identified in the Roman society and culture, which he used to frame the book. The sins that were committed in the Roman society still occur today (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The world can take a major lesson from Romans 1-8, in that Rome was in total decay and decadence, just like today’s society. However, the world cannot change as a whole; each person
...requires divine intervention, revelation and salvation to escape the decayed world. The worldview is that Christ is the sole route to escape the rotten world.
The Natural World
The Roman society was in deep sin, murder, and sexual depravity, all who are being committed today (Genesis 6:5). In Romans 1:18-32, Paul states that Rome was full of unimaginable sin. For example, there was the worship of gods and homosexuality (Boehme, 2012). Moralist and pagans believed that they could acquire salvation and redemption in their ways. Some believed that by being good and outwardly doing good, they could get to heaven, which is contrary to Romans 3:10. Today, similar sins are committed, mainly propagated by technology and the internet, which connects the whole world. In the Rome society, the Romans worship gods, and they took
them to every state and nation they conquered. The Romans did this to gain favor with the people they conquered. Paul, Romans 1-8, examines the subject and identified a fault in the Roman society and the natural world, which he addressed to the church at Rome.
Human Identity
In Romans 1-8, Paul recognized the human identity by displaying the Gentiles and Jews, the saved and unsaved. For example, in Romans 2:15, Paul states that the Jews had the law while the Gentiles didn’t. However, Paul noted that even with the difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, all the of them were condemned, with or without the law (Romans 2:12). He states that people are doomed when the sin, whether they sin by the law or not (3). Also, Paul says that the Jews would face tougher condemnation because they knew and had the law all along.
Consequently, Paul says that since the Jews had knowledge of the law, the same would bring wrath to them. However, the Gentiles did not have the law and hence would face a lesser punishment. In the Roman society, the Jews were held in higher esteem that the Gentiles. Paul stated that the human identity is that; despite one is a gentile or a Jew, they are all condemned by God, but with different degrees (Brown, Phillips, & Stonestreet, 2008). Paul states that humanity is doomed because of his evil thoughts, evil doings, and actions. In Romans 7:9, Paul says that the knowledge of the law caused death to the world. Today, people believe that if they are “nice” and “fair,” they will acquire righteousness and get to heaven. Humanity assumes that
since God is a loving father, he can assume sin. However, God is strict with sin and is committed to separate it from himself (1st John 1:5).
Human Relationships
Paul highlights the human relationships in the Rome society by differentiating the Jews and the Gentiles. Human relationships are still the same in today’s society. Whether one is a Jew or a gentile, they are prone to failures and sin. Human relationships are an important aspect of a successful life. People interact daily, whether with family, friends or strangers. It is important to intact under the Faith of Christ because he guides the human experience which was perverted since the days of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Romans 2:29 states that God is God to all his creation. Humanity has put off the desire to know and interact with God, which has affected the capacity to lead blessed, productive and God-filled lives. It is imperative for people to have a repentant heart and go back to Christ. Also, Paul examines the institution of marriage and how God wanted in to be (Romans 7:1-4)
Culture
Culture has a great role in the purpose of God to humankind (Boehme, 2012). Today, humanity has taken up the culture of pluralizing GOD. God is not just the God of Christians or Israelites. In the Rome society, Caesar declared that he was a savior and God to all in his kingdom. In Romans 5:12-14, Paul shows that man’s culture was and has always been at enmity with God. The world and human culture have become ungodly. Paul states that Christ is the way to righteousness for everyone. However, in God’s eyes, humanity may not
change because people with always fall short of the mark (Romans 5:12)
Conclusion
So, this paper concludes that examining the areas of interest; the natural world, human relationships, human identity and culture, God need be preached to all societies for success to be achieved. The world has taken a new system of doing things. However, God has not given up on humanity. People just have to accept and run to Christ, who is the hope for the world. The world today is similar to Rome, and Paul explains, in Romans 4-8, that the worldview is of moral depravity and decadence. However, he states that Jesus Christ is the only escape from the world that could eventually face judgement and condemnation (Brown, Phillips, & Stonestreet, 2008). Rome fell because of Caesar considered himself God. People are living in immorality and sin, thinking what they do as good. Also, just like Rome, people are worshiping many gods. Rome conquered many countries and worshipped many gods. Paul demonstrated that the world has not changed, and the society still promotes decadence, which makes it look like the modern day ROME.
Today, there are still Jews, Moralist and Pagans who believe that will get to heaven with their odd practices. Also, the people think that they can acquire righteousness on their terms. Further, Jews still think that being an offspring of Abraham automatically qualified them to righteousness and getting to heaven. In, addition John the Baptist examined the egoism, selfishness, self-centeredness in stating they are better placed with God for being the offspring of Abraham.
References
- Boehme, A. J. (2012). Think Christianly: Looking at the Intersection of Faith and Culture–By Jonathan Morrow. Reviews in
Religion & Theology, 19(3), 350-353.
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