When you look up at stars and the vastness of creation,
what do you see? Do you see a divinely created universe? Do you see a natural
phenomenon? When you morn the loss of a love one, where did they go? Are they
reincarnated? Are they in heaven? When you are searching for comfort, where do
you turn? Do you turn to God? To most, these are some of life’s biggest
questions. Questions like these shapes how one perceives and relates to the
world around them. The answers to these questions can be found by first examining
the lens in which an individual chooses to view the world through- their
worldview. While many of these questions seem improbable to answer, the simple
truth of the matter is that the Bible answers them all. In his letter to the
Romans, Paul gives a very systematic approach to the Gospel of Jesus and
addresses some of these fundamental questions regarding life and the Biblical
Worldview.
God:
First and foremost, Paul contests to the existence and
character of God which is presupposed from the very beginning. Our creator’s
righteousness is revealed by fellow Christians. It is for our good that He is
righteous. (1:17) His creation; the trees, the mountains, the animals, the sunsets
-all attribute to revealing God’s glory. (16:26) Paul writes of Gods truth,
love, and mercy. He reminds us that “while we were still sinners, Christ died
for us”, solely because of the grace and love given by God. Meaning that even
while we were lost and sinful; unworthy, God sent us a savior to redeem us.
(5:8) The Lord is merciful, solely because of His character, it is not
dependent on man’s will or desires, but rather the nature of God. (9:16) He is
sovereign, holy, and just – “all things work together for His good.” (8:28) Every
little thing, living or otherwise was created from God, it is through Him and for
His glory that all things exist. His creation was made by Him. Everything takes
place through Him. Everything attributes to His divine glory. (11:36)
Creation:
Paul answers the question of origins in his letter to the
Romans as well. Proclaiming God, the Creator, (1:25) Paul reminds us of God’s
creation and how it longs to be set free from sin and evil and enter holiness
with God. (8:20) He attests to man’s sinful nature from the very beginning
(1:26-28), and yet reveals hope that is found through Christ. (8:20) No man is
past their sinful nature, and there is nothing in this world (other than
Christ) that can redeem us. (3:20) Only through Christ can we be justified and
redeemed. (10:13)
Sin:
Where did sin originate is something that Paul addressed in
his letter to the Romans as well. Paul states that, “sin entered through one
man”- Adam. (5:12) When Adam ate from the Tree of Life, he committed man’s
first sin against God and forever separated humanity from the Lord’s intention.
Paul reminds us that all of us are sinners, and that because of this, no one
deserves God’s glory. (3:23) The consequences of our sin is eternal damnation -or
separation from glory, yet God offers salvation through Christ. (6:23) Because,
“while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us, so that we might live.” (5:8)
Jesus offers us eternal life. We only find death and sorrow through sin. (5:21)
Salvation:
In his letter the
Romans, Paul teaches about the solution to the problem of sin. What can we do
about our innate, sinful nature? Romans reminds us that it is not about what we
can do, but rather, what has already been done. The gift of redemptive grace is
free and is provided by the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. Paul says that, “everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (10:13) The sins of man will
be justified in the eyes of God, if only they accept Jesus as their Lord and
Savior. (10:9) It’s through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that man has hope for
salvation. Through the grace and blood of Jesus, God revealed His righteousness
and hope for the world. (3:24-26)
Ethics:
Paul interacts and addresses the idea of ethics and
morality as well in his letter to the Romans. How should we as Christians live
within this immoral world? What are the attributes of a true Christian? Paul
appeals to the subject in the following manner: We should live according to
God’s will. Our goal is to become as holy as we can possibly be. Present ourselves
as a Christian while upholding Christian values. (12:1) We should not let the
world around us affect our perspective. Instead, we must study and pray and
continue to draw closer to God. The closer we are to our Creator, the better we
can determine what He desires for our lives. (12:2) We must not consider
ourselves above others and be slow to judge We must not look down on others or
think that we are better than another individual. (12:3) Considering the different gifts that
God has given us, we must remember that every individual has something unique
to offer the Kingdom. (12:6-8) Our love must genuine and real, holding on to
what is righteous and good while despising what is evil. (12:9) We must rejoice
in hope, be constant in prayer, bless those who curse us, rejoice with those
who rejoice, and try our best to live in peace with one another. (12:12-16) We
must never let evil overcome us, but rather, overcome evil with good. (12:21)
We must be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and let hope and joy fill our
hearts and give us peace. (15:13)
Eschatology:
Paul also teaches about humanities hope for the future in
his letter to the Romans. He talks about where creation is heading and what the
Lord’s ultimate goal is. Creations future glory. He reminds us that there is
nothing on this earth that can compare to the glory that will be revealed
through Christ upon His return. (8:18) That one day we will be set free from
the bondage of sin and evil and receive God’s eternal glory. (8:21) All things
are working together, for the good of God, for God’s ultimate purpose -which is
holy. (8:28) We are predestined and called by God. We are justified through
Christ, and because we are justified, we will also be glorified one day. (8:30)
Throughout all these references, Paul is writing about what comes after. He
uses words like saved, predestined, and future glory to address the matter of
eternity. What happens to those who believe when they die? What are they saved
from? Paul is clear that we are saved from the wages of sin, which is death. We
will be justified and glorified through Christ and bask in Gods glory for
eternity.
In conclusion, Paul’s letter to the Romans addresses many
of life’s biggest questions regarding God, creation, sin, salvation, ethics and
eschatology. When questioning any of these subjects one can turn to the book of
Romans and find guidance. The book of Romans is a strong apologetic tool used
for the defense of the Biblical worldview. Paul’s writing is foundational when
trying to understand what it truly means to be a Christian. He highlights the
character of the God we serve. He emphasizes that God is our creator and is
faithful and just to His creation. He addresses the matter of sin, and man’s
inherited nature. He teaches us what to do about our sinful nature, how to live
by denying our nature, and how to be saved from the consequences of that
nature. One saved, Paul reminds us of our reward and destination through
Christ. Teaching us all of the salvation found in Jesus. The book of Romans is
an essential tool when addressing and defending the Christian faith and is one
that I turn to often.
References
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2001). Minneapolis, MN.: Crossway.
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