Biblical Worldview Essay
Eunice Lee
BIBL 104
July 7, 2017
Introduction/Thesis
Reading the book of Romans can be a depressing book. With all the negativity surrounding the
world and who we are, there is no hope for us on this Earth and definitely not beyond it. Yet in
chapter 1 of Romans, there is the ultimate hope, found in Jesus Christ. He is due the glory and
honor to save us from our sins and depravity. The author of Romans, Paul, ascribes Jesus the
glory throughout chapter 1 and declares that he himself is a servant of Christ (vs 1) and Jesus,
being the son of God, with that power, has given us grace to follow obediently by faith.
The Natural World
The world is naturally opposed to who God is and what entails Him. We can naturally see the
creation of God in the everyday things which display the attributes of God and show His glory
(1:20). Originally intended to be good, man has sinned and fallen short of God’s standards
(3:23). Chapter 3 describes the world to hold no one that is equal to the standard of God. It cites
passages of Old Testament Scriptures from Psalms and Isaiah to state the “there is none
righteous, not even one” (3:10) and “there is no fear of God before their eyes” (3:18). The world
naturally does not have any reverence for the almighty God of our world.
In regard to the Jewish culture of that day, they were still trying to follow the rules of the old
Law. However, with the death and resurrection of Jesus, there was no need to follow the old
covenant laws such as circumcision. Those who were given the Law were under the Law to keep
the Law (3:19). If those were broken, they were condemned according to that Law. However, for
new Gentile Christians, who were not obligated to follow that law, and have a new covenant to
follow under Christ.
Human Identity
Humans are ungodly and unrighteous (1:18). Being given the Law from God, we are able to
know the heart of God and what He requires of us, however, disobedience leads to not knowing
God and dishonoring of Him (1:19). Without the constant praise and thanksgiving unto God, we
lose sight of who truly deserves worship and our hearts become darkened to the Truth (1:21).
The things we worship become creation objects and other earthly forms of gods (1:25). Chapter 1
verses 29 to 31 clearly state our natural tendencies: “being filled with all unrighteousness,
wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers,
haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without
understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful” (NASB).
We deserve death for all the wrong and bad that we have done. “There will be tribulation and
distress for every soul of man who does evil” (2:9). But there is an option for receiving
forgiveness and living life on this Earth. Jesus on our behalf has taken our debt and exchanged it
for life as children and heirs of God (8:16-17). That amazing news allows us to live “free from
the law of sin and death” (8:2).
Human Relationships
Under sin, humans like to indulge in whatever satisfies them. According to 1:26-27, God allowed
men and women to undergo their unnatural acts. Originating from Old Testament times of the
pagans, homosexually had prospered amongst those we did not know God. God relinquishes His
restrain on us and allows us to practice whatever evil, to do whatever is not proper (1:28).
Culture
The surrounding culture of this era, not only practiced the evil written in Romans, but it allowed
those around themselves approval to practice these evil acts (1:28). Staying enclosed within their
own thoughts and minds, they were not actively seeking God to know what He wanted for their
lives (3:11). The allusions to the Old Testament Scriptures again, portray them as “full of cursing
and bitterness” and being “swift to shed blood” (3:14 and 15). Verses 16 and 17 state that peace
was a foreign concept to them, destruction and misery were of known ways.
In this natural state of the culture, creation groans as if it were in childbirth. (8:22). The
destruction and curses of the world are too great of a pain to bear, until the glory of God is
revealed to us (8:18). We are promised that if we accept the Spirit of life that is given through
Jesus, we can rejoice in this freedom from our sins (8:2-3).
Conclusion
Under the new law of Jesus’ covenant, all of us are equal (3:31) and we are able to approach God
to daily forgive us of our sins. While we were still living in our sins, Christ died for us to cleanse
us of our ungodliness (5:6, 8). We no longer are bound by our earthly bodies that are tied to
fleshly desires but can be free from sin (6:6). Because it is Christ that has freed us from our sin,
we are to live in His ways to become like Him. When our sins are far too great for us to put into
words, the Holy Spirit translates our groans to be lifted up to our Father (8:26). Daily we are to
come before Him to act on our behalf to transform us to His image.
However, daily surrender is not easy and even Paul states that what he wishes to do, his flesh
does not allow him to escape from. But we are reassured that Jesus dwells within us and helps us
to overcome our earthly desires and tendencies (8:11). Nothing can separate us from the love that
God displays for us, which is ultimately shown through Jesus Christ, our Lord (8:38, 39).
Bibliography
Hindson, E., & Towns, E. L. (2013). Illustrated Bible Survey. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic.
