Introduction In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul addresses many issues that are relevant to today’s modern Christian. Although things have greatly changed since Rome ruled the world, the human condition hasn’t changed much. We have much faster transportation and wifi now, but the issues that plagued the minds of Christians back then and the ones that do today remain remarkable similar. The first chapters of Romans serve to remind us that we are all sinners in the eyes of a holy God that can only be justified through faith in Jesus Christ through whom we can live a victorious life.
The Natural World In the book of Romans, Paul establishes that God not only created the natural world, but that through creation the world reveals His divinity …show more content…
We are reminded that judging is the work of God. Additionally, we are taught that all men are sinners, and not righteous in their own works. We should take this into account when dealing with people and accept the realization that we are also sinners. This should compel us to react to our fellow man with compassion, just as the Lord reached towards us with compassion and mercy when He saved us from ourselves while we were yet sinners. The Lord continues to grant us forbearance as we struggle to follow him. Even the apostle Paul admits that he continues to struggle with the sin that dwells in him (Rom 7:19) as it does with all of …show more content…
The late Dr. Jerry Falwell frequently used the phrase “Going to Hell in a hand basket” to describe this phenomenon. As we survey the first chapter of Romans, however, we discover that this is not a new circumstance, nor one that is unique to American culture. There has always been an element of sin in culture ever since the Fall of Man. “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless“ (Rom1:29-31) just as much in the days of the Roman Empire as they are in 2014. Romans also details God giving people who have turned against him over to a debased mind after they rejected Him (Rom 1:28). This serves as a reminder not to reject God and to be sensitive to his leading. We may not be able to change the culture that surrounds us. This, however, does not negate the call to share the Gospel, as Paul declares himself an apostle and he had that function in the early
The Natural World In the book of Romans, Paul establishes that God not only created the natural world, but that through creation the world reveals His divinity …show more content…
We are reminded that judging is the work of God. Additionally, we are taught that all men are sinners, and not righteous in their own works. We should take this into account when dealing with people and accept the realization that we are also sinners. This should compel us to react to our fellow man with compassion, just as the Lord reached towards us with compassion and mercy when He saved us from ourselves while we were yet sinners. The Lord continues to grant us forbearance as we struggle to follow him. Even the apostle Paul admits that he continues to struggle with the sin that dwells in him (Rom 7:19) as it does with all of …show more content…
The late Dr. Jerry Falwell frequently used the phrase “Going to Hell in a hand basket” to describe this phenomenon. As we survey the first chapter of Romans, however, we discover that this is not a new circumstance, nor one that is unique to American culture. There has always been an element of sin in culture ever since the Fall of Man. “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless“ (Rom1:29-31) just as much in the days of the Roman Empire as they are in 2014. Romans also details God giving people who have turned against him over to a debased mind after they rejected Him (Rom 1:28). This serves as a reminder not to reject God and to be sensitive to his leading. We may not be able to change the culture that surrounds us. This, however, does not negate the call to share the Gospel, as Paul declares himself an apostle and he had that function in the early