Table of Contents
Initiating
Natural World
Human Identity
Human Relationships
The collective beliefs, customs, and values of a particular group of people.
In conclusion
This is the beginning
A worldview is the way an individual views and thinks about their life. They are two types of dominant worldviews. The world we live in is increasingly humanistic.
This paper will explore the world of nature, human identity and relationships, along with the importance of a worldview based on the Bible. Romans 1-8 are our main passages, and they will shape our Christians’ beliefs when we talk about the four above topics. Paul, Romans’ author, is mentioned in multiple places, verses from Romans will be used to support our focal text and I will demonstrate my personal belief as a biblical thinker.
Natural WorldThe Romans tells Christians how the world was created. God said that he created the world. God’s specific revelation is what He wrote, His Word. This section will focus on natural revelation. Romans 1 :20 states that God has revealed himself in the natural realm.
It is a divine, sovereign king who has created His work. You only have to look around for man to realize there is a God. Unreached peoples construct a religious hierarchy that often includes a heaven and hell, even if they have not heard of the gospel. All of creation is a tribute to the Father, and we are His pinnacle. Our DNA longs to worship God. Acts 17 reveals how man, in his sinful flesh, makes the fatal decision to worship creation instead of creator. Sin prevents us from making good decisions, which God created us to be able make (Genesis 1:27). This fight of sin, in our humanness, in the physical world, which is a war for our hearts.
Romans 1:8-32 may be the best place to understand what makes us sin. In these verses the author explains that the world’s nature is driven by humanistic desires, not Biblical ones. Romans is written at a time when the Roman Empire ruled. It was a pagan society. They thought they could save themselves on their terms. As the Romans once believed, today’s culture believes that one can reach heaven by doing good things. Romans 3:10 states that “…there’s no righteous.” So, there is no way for anyone to get into heaven through their good works alone. This is because man has a sinful nature. Paul wrote about this in Romans to show how their way of living was wrong. In this letter written to the Romans we find the “Roman’s Road”. The road explains sin and punishment (Romans 3 and 6), forgiveness (Romans 5) and making Jesus Lord of your life (Romans 10).
Human IdentityWhere and how we define ourselves says alot about our beliefs. If we conform to the world’s influences, then that is what will happen. If we look at ourselves as God does, as righteous and redeemed people, then everything changes. Christ is the only thing we look at. Even though we’ve surrendered our lives to Christ and have a new relationship with Him, our human nature will not disappear. Every day, we must fight the evil (Satan), world, and flesh.
Our three enemies are these three. Paul said at the end Romans 7 that he did not understand his actions. Paul is saying that he does not do what he wants to do but does what he hates. Paul does have a redeeming quality. He is able to look at Christ and praise God in his weakness because he understands that Christ is the source of His identity. I’m a miserable man. Who will save me from my death-like body? Thank you, Jesus Christ! Hence, in my mind I obey the Law of God and with my flesh I obey the Law of Sin. The sin-stricken man turns to God for help, knowing that Christ alone is the answer to his struggle with sin (Galatians 2.20, Ephesians 4.22-24).
So, our identity or destiny is not determined by sin. Our destiny is also based on our identity in Christ. We are enabled by Christ’s forgiveness to live a holy life, dedicated to Christ. Humanistic view: We were not created to live the life we choose (we are here to glorify the Lord and live in relationship with Him). In a worldview based on the Bible, man cannot understand God. This leads to a view that human identity is immoral.
Paul tells us in Romans 8:30 that those who have placed their identity in Christ will enjoy a future of glory. “The Spirit Himself bears witnesses with our Spirit that We are Children of God. Then heirs – heirs both of God and of Christ, should we indeed suffer with Him so that we might also be glorified with Him.” This would not have been possible without Christ, but our relationship with Him makes us co-heirs of Christ.
No matter how many times the world has changed, sin is still sin. People still want their own pleasures. Pleasure by itself isn’t bad (Ecclesiastes 2, 24). It is wrong to put pleasure before Christ. We pervert our lives in Christ when we do so and pursue things that are vain (Ecclesiastes 1:1). Humanistic pleasure leads to sin. Hedonistic pleasure has consequences for everyone. All of us are prone to sin. No one has ever lived a life without sin except Jesus. Romans 5, 12-19 shows how Jesus, who did not deserve death on the cross, was faithful until the end of the cross to make us His righteousness. On that note, it is important to be thankful for the grace shown us by Christ.
In order to do this, we need to show grace to one another by forgiving others, showing patience with them, and being generous, just like Christ, who gave His own son on the Cross to pay for our sin. Christ never had any prejudices, and I believe that we should too. Romans 2 says that if we follow this example, we will be able to show our good heart and spirituality. Matthew 5 verse 16 paraphrases the verse to say that we must be led by Spirit and not live to please men. Instead, we should live so that our Father in Heaven will praise how we live. The fruits of the Spirit are always present in our lives when we show that we are good-hearted people (Galatians 5.22).
Christian satisfaction comes from the Lord and his relationships. People who are not Christians and do not possess the Spirit will instead look to the world’s things for fulfillment. The key is human relationships, but only Christ can provide that. The world is meaningless if you do not believe in Jesus Christ. Because we are conquerors through Christ, who loved us so much that he gave himself to us (Romans 8, 37), I also believe in the power of God.
CultureJesus culture is the culture we must have. Our purpose was to be in fellowship with one another and to experience Christ together. Community exists outside of our normal comfort zone. Fellowship isn’t just for those of us who share our values, but can also be enjoyed by those who do not. Our purpose was to create relationships with all people. Non-believers are not excluded. We must love everyone the way Jesus loved, despite their differences in culture. Paul wrote of how the Jews did not include the Gentiles in their plan of salvation and rejected them unnecessarily (Acts 11.17).
Paul clarifies that “it is God who works, saving all those who believe-both Jews and Gentiles” (Romans 1:16). God did not consider the gentiles worthy enough of salvation, so he died in order for everyone to receive it through Christ. All people are equal in God’s sight. Christians are to be open-minded when it comes culture. After all, we are all the same in God’s eyes. We will live a culture of gratitude and thanksgiving if we are grateful for God’s work. This will allow us to be accepting of others, no matter what their differences may be.
ConclusionThrough this essay, we have primarily discussed both the benefits of a Biblical worldview as well as the dangers associated with humanistic thinking. In the section of the natural universe, we have discussed that man was created by God.
We discussed in the Human Identity Section how sin attacks our flesh, and attempts to steal our identity as Christians. We can, like Paul, overcome sin with the help of the Holy Spirit who enables us to have godly relationships (Romans 7). According to the Human Relationships section, the relationships we have with others are not dependent on our abilities, but rather, they are based on what God did at the cross (Romans 8:37). The grace of God allows us to triumph over sin (Romans 8.37), and we can live better as an example before Christ. We serve as His ambassadors.
Finally, we talked about the importance of living boldly before God with a heart of service (Romans 1:16). As we do this, we hope that people will be drawn from their menial humanistic lives and into a meaningful, Christ-centered relationship (Romans 6;10).
