Biblical Worldview Essay

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Human identity can be summed up by looking at it from two perspectives. Who we are in our natural state and who we are in Christ. Mankind in his natural state is driven by his sin nature. Romans 1-8 perfectly lays out who and what we are in our natural state. It also lays out who and what we are in Christ. “For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.” (Romans 3:9 NIV) In Romans 1:29-31, Paul gives a long list of wicked behaviors that are still prevalent in today’s society, which lets me know that we, in our natural state, are the same as we always have been. There are no exceptions to the rule, besides that of Christ. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (3:23) Paul emphasizes in Romans 1-3 how people have tried to free themselves from their sin nature by depending on the Law to no avail. The Law could not bring about justification (Acts 13:39), produce righteousness (Galatians 2:21), produce life (Galatians 3:21), bring about perfection (Hebrews 7:19) or free the conscience from a knowledge of sin (Hebrews 10:1-4). (Johnson, 1896) The fact is that God’s standards are perfect and we alone can never live up to them by any religious act or moral behavior. The good news is that God knew all of this. He knew that by our strength alone, we could not overcome our own sin nature. He sent us a perfect sacrifice to permanently fulfill the Law. That sacrifice was his only Son, Jesus Christ. “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:25) Through faith in Jesus Christ, the grace of God has been given to us. Now, rather than being bound we are made free. Instead of unrighteousness abounding in ou...

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...everyone else. From a murderer to a thief or liar, we are all the same. It is amazing how a few verses from the word of God can “knock us all down a few pegs”, so to speak. I stepped back, and with the help of God, examined myself. I did not like most of what I found. We think we are good, but being good is nothing, if it is done for the completely wrong reasons, such as self-glorification. We lie to ourselves, but God knows what lies deep in our hearts. I am thankful that through His love and grace, God is willing to accept me and mold me to fit His purpose. Now more than ever, I am eager to take the example of Paul and tell the world, not of condemnation, but of the love of Christ.

Works Cited

Johnson, A. (1896). Condensed biblical encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/condensed-biblical-encyclopedia/the-law-of-moses.html

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