Eric Varela

BIB 104

3-24-15

Biblical Worldview Essay-Romans

The book of Romans really exemplifies the importance of Christian truths and applying them to your daily life. In chapters 1-8 Paul educates, challenges and gives believers insight on how to navigate life facing four obstacles. The first is understanding the natural and how human beings replace the eternal God with mere idols. The second is even though we have sinned we can look to God for our own Identity and purpose. Another consistent problem through history is the impurity of relationships and how it could turn us away from our relationship with God. Lastly, how culture can either positively or negatively affect your walk with our Father in heaven. Each one of these components can have a lasting impact on your worldview and how you conduct your lifestyle in choices that you make.

“ Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. They made idols, natural.”(Rom 1: 22,). This verse shows us how in the natural, humans have a history of making idols of worship. Although we know God, instead of having patience and trusting in God, we place objects (idols) and choose to put our gaze and attention on them. As a believer of Christ and understanding the pattern of mankind’s sin, I am able to see how easily things around me such as my car, money, or even music could easily become an idol in my life. It changes my worldview and gives me the ability to stop and turn my eyes back on Christ.

Webster defines Identity as: the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others. As human beings we are in constant battle with our fleshly desires. “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh” (Gal 5:17). It is hard to find ones Identity when we don’t like whom we are when we sin. Although it is in our nature to we should not feel condemn for it. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). God promises us that we are made in his image. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”(Gen 1:27). We can be secure in our own identity, because the blood of Christ covered all our sins. We are also victorious in defeating sin. “Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2).

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones (Rom 1:26). In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error (Rom 1:27). These types of relationships were very common in the culture of Rome. Because of this type of sin God decided to give them over to their wickedness. Since God is all holy and pure, there is no way that God could be apart of this sin and selfishness. “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing” (Habakkuk 1:13). God is so pure and good that sin and God don’t really belong in the same sentence. This gave me the allowed me to understand that when I sin it separates me from the will of God. Not his love but, its stopping me from fulfilling the promises that God has given me.

Much of Roman culture truly clashed with Christianity, which was just introduced to Rome. With over twenty different Gods and Goddesses the society of Rome was very different from the views and culture of the Jews and Gentiles. Because Rome accepted other types of cultural influences such as Egyptians and Greek practices, being a Christian proved to be