Christian Worldview: Paul's Letter To The Romans
Christian Worldview
Introduction:
A worldview is how someone sees life, reasons for making decision, and the filter they use to understand life and everything in it (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011). Knowing what a worldview is makes it easier to understand what a Christian Worldview is. A Christian Worldview uses the Bible as its filter for understanding the world around us and how we should act. Paul addresses a lot of perspectives of the Christian Worldview in his letter to the Romans. Paul touches on the Christian worldview in the areas of the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture.
Natural World: The hands of God created the world and everything in it. Paul states in Romans 1: 20 (NIV) “For since the creation of …show more content…
the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” This verse clearly shows that you can see God’s existence in all that He has made. By looking at the world around you and seeing all that God has created leaves us with no excuse to not believe that He is the Creator. Paul also refers to God as the Creator when he speaks of how people worship created things over the Creator (Romans 1:25). Christians should worship God, the Creator, and see all that he has created as evidence of his presence. A Christian Worldview would see that God created everything and use that as proof that he exists.
Human Identity: Humans have a sinful nature (Romans 7:18 and 8:5).
We battle within ourselves with our sinful wants and desires and following the Lord. Paul talks about the war that occurs in the members of his body (Romans 7:21-23). Romans (3:9-20) also speak about how no one is righteous. Paul continues by saying “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This continues to prove that we have a sinful nature. We are not stuck in our sinful ways. Paul also speaks about our sinful nature does not control us but that the Spirit does as long as the Spirit of God lives in us (Romans 8:9). You also need the Spirit of Christ in order to belong to Christ (Romans 8:9). Even though we are born with a sinful nature and fall short of God’s glory we also have God’s grace by having the Spirit of God in us as long as we accept Christ …show more content…
Jesus.
Human Relationships: Paul speaks of relationships with each other and how it should be.
In Romans 1: 11-12 Paul is speaking to the Romans about building each other up and encouraging each other in faith. This can be taken into relationships with have with one another in today. We should be there for one another and help each other with our faith and to be there for one another. Paul also prays for the Romans (Romans 1:9-10). This is also important that we remember each other in our prayers. Paul also talks about how men and women should have relations with each other. Romans 1:26-27 talks about how men and women gave into sin and started unnatural relationships over natural ones and how men did sexual acts with one another instead of with women. Paul’s writing shows that we should abstain from sexual temptation but that we should also build each other up and be supportive of one another in
Christ.
Culture:
Paul talks about spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and the gospel being spread all over the world in Romans 1:8. He talks about being eager to spread the gospel with others, the Jews and the Gentiles (Romans 1:14-15). Not only should we be sharing the gospel with others we should rejoice in suffering because it produces perseverance (Romans 5:3). The perseverance produced from suffering can produce character and from character we can get hope (Romans 5:4). When speaking of Romans 5:3-4 Matthew Henry says “Patient sufferers have most of the Divine consolation, which abound as afflictions abound.” Romans 8:37-39 talks about how nothing can separate us from the love of God. Our culture is in God, nothing can take us away from Him and we should rejoice in all things, even suffering. It is also very important for us to share the God’s word with others throughout the world.
Conclusion:
Paul teaches us a lot about the Christian Worldview in Romans 1-8. He talks about how God created the world and that is proof that He exists. He talks about humans have a sinful nature but that through the Spirit of God and Christ Jesus we can be free from our sins. Our relationships with one another should be encouraging and with faith in God and we should spread the gospel with everyone throughout the world. With these guidelines from Paul it makes it easier to follow the Christian Worldview.
Bibliography
Henry, M., & Scott, T. (1963). Concise commentary on the whole Bible. Chicago: Moody Press.
Weider, L., & Gutierrez, B. (2011). Consider. Virginia Beach, VA: Academx Publishing Services, Inc.
Introduction:
A worldview is how someone sees life, reasons for making decision, and the filter they use to understand life and everything in it (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011). Knowing what a worldview is makes it easier to understand what a Christian Worldview is. A Christian Worldview uses the Bible as its filter for understanding the world around us and how we should act. Paul addresses a lot of perspectives of the Christian Worldview in his letter to the Romans. Paul touches on the Christian worldview in the areas of the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture.
Natural World: The hands of God created the world and everything in it. Paul states in Romans 1: 20 (NIV) “For since the creation of …show more content…
the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” This verse clearly shows that you can see God’s existence in all that He has made. By looking at the world around you and seeing all that God has created leaves us with no excuse to not believe that He is the Creator. Paul also refers to God as the Creator when he speaks of how people worship created things over the Creator (Romans 1:25). Christians should worship God, the Creator, and see all that he has created as evidence of his presence. A Christian Worldview would see that God created everything and use that as proof that he exists.
Human Identity: Humans have a sinful nature (Romans 7:18 and 8:5).
We battle within ourselves with our sinful wants and desires and following the Lord. Paul talks about the war that occurs in the members of his body (Romans 7:21-23). Romans (3:9-20) also speak about how no one is righteous. Paul continues by saying “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This continues to prove that we have a sinful nature. We are not stuck in our sinful ways. Paul also speaks about our sinful nature does not control us but that the Spirit does as long as the Spirit of God lives in us (Romans 8:9). You also need the Spirit of Christ in order to belong to Christ (Romans 8:9). Even though we are born with a sinful nature and fall short of God’s glory we also have God’s grace by having the Spirit of God in us as long as we accept Christ …show more content…
Jesus.
Human Relationships: Paul speaks of relationships with each other and how it should be.
In Romans 1: 11-12 Paul is speaking to the Romans about building each other up and encouraging each other in faith. This can be taken into relationships with have with one another in today. We should be there for one another and help each other with our faith and to be there for one another. Paul also prays for the Romans (Romans 1:9-10). This is also important that we remember each other in our prayers. Paul also talks about how men and women should have relations with each other. Romans 1:26-27 talks about how men and women gave into sin and started unnatural relationships over natural ones and how men did sexual acts with one another instead of with women. Paul’s writing shows that we should abstain from sexual temptation but that we should also build each other up and be supportive of one another in
Christ.
Culture:
Paul talks about spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and the gospel being spread all over the world in Romans 1:8. He talks about being eager to spread the gospel with others, the Jews and the Gentiles (Romans 1:14-15). Not only should we be sharing the gospel with others we should rejoice in suffering because it produces perseverance (Romans 5:3). The perseverance produced from suffering can produce character and from character we can get hope (Romans 5:4). When speaking of Romans 5:3-4 Matthew Henry says “Patient sufferers have most of the Divine consolation, which abound as afflictions abound.” Romans 8:37-39 talks about how nothing can separate us from the love of God. Our culture is in God, nothing can take us away from Him and we should rejoice in all things, even suffering. It is also very important for us to share the God’s word with others throughout the world.
Conclusion:
Paul teaches us a lot about the Christian Worldview in Romans 1-8. He talks about how God created the world and that is proof that He exists. He talks about humans have a sinful nature but that through the Spirit of God and Christ Jesus we can be free from our sins. Our relationships with one another should be encouraging and with faith in God and we should spread the gospel with everyone throughout the world. With these guidelines from Paul it makes it easier to follow the Christian Worldview.
Bibliography
Henry, M., & Scott, T. (1963). Concise commentary on the whole Bible. Chicago: Moody Press.
Weider, L., & Gutierrez, B. (2011). Consider. Virginia Beach, VA: Academx Publishing Services, Inc.