Through examining Romans, chapters 1-8, we see Paul covers a variety of theological and apologetic information for the Christ followers. In writing to the followers in the church in the city of Rome He makes it clear he wishes he could visit them (Romans 1:8-17) but is writing this letter to clear up the dissension between an identity crisis between the Jewish and Gentile members of the church as to whether they were to live by the law or by grace. Through this letter he writes many of the foundations of what it looks like to be a follow of Jesus and what that means for our battle with our nature and understanding our identity. Paul addresses the natural world, recognizing the hard truth about where it is in relation to God. He describes the opposition the natural world will have towards God and His will. He gives clear words that God is the Creator of our world, assigning Him as the cause. Paul states that the creation of the world itself is God’s way of showing His invisible qualities (Romans 1:18-21). He did this to show Himself to us and there are people who will choose to neglect giving glory to God and/or recognize Him for what they have in thankfulness. Paul recognizes the problem with the natural world is that they have chosen to worship the created things rather than the One who created it (Romans 1:25). He states the origin of this fall of the natural world saying, “just as sin entered the world through one man, and death came through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). While Paul makes this clear, this is not his focus. He does not only look at the fact that we do not measure up and are all sinners, rather he continuously points to who we are apart from that because of God’s grace and righteousness. Paul notes in our most basic level we are of a sinful nature and slaves of that identity from our birth in the flesh (Romans 5:12-14). All of us are sinners (Romans 3:9).
Through examining Romans, chapters 1-8, we see Paul covers a variety of theological and apologetic information for the Christ followers. In writing to the followers in the church in the city of Rome He makes it clear he wishes he could visit them (Romans 1:8-17) but is writing this letter to clear up the dissension between an identity crisis between the Jewish and Gentile members of the church as to whether they were to live by the law or by grace. Through this letter he writes many of the foundations of what it looks like to be a follow of Jesus and what that means for our battle with our nature and understanding our identity. Paul addresses the natural world, recognizing the hard truth about where it is in relation to God. He describes the opposition the natural world will have towards God and His will. He gives clear words that God is the Creator of our world, assigning Him as the cause. Paul states that the creation of the world itself is God’s way of showing His invisible qualities (Romans 1:18-21). He did this to show Himself to us and there are people who will choose to neglect giving glory to God and/or recognize Him for what they have in thankfulness. Paul recognizes the problem with the natural world is that they have chosen to worship the created things rather than the One who created it (Romans 1:25). He states the origin of this fall of the natural world saying, “just as sin entered the world through one man, and death came through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). While Paul makes this clear, this is not his focus. He does not only look at the fact that we do not measure up and are all sinners, rather he continuously points to who we are apart from that because of God’s grace and righteousness. Paul notes in our most basic level we are of a sinful nature and slaves of that identity from our birth in the flesh (Romans 5:12-14). All of us are sinners (Romans 3:9).