Paul_and_the_Human_Condition

In his letter to the Romans one can get a grasp on Paul’s understanding of the human condition. Romans 1:18- 3:20 is where one can see Paul outlining his view of the human condition. The notion that Paul is putting forth is that God is not something, or someone that people can see. Yet all humans need to do is look around and they will know that God exists. Because of this humanity should obey, honor, and respect God, but they chose not to. They disobey him and therefore they have fallen away from him. Paul also says that God gives humans up to impure desires and behavior. Finally humanity is sinful and they are to be punished by God, for their actions. This will be the bases of this paper, looking further into what Paul says concerning the human condition, and looking at what others have said about Paul’s ideas. The wrath of God is reveled in Romans 1:18. This wrath is for the ungodly people, who have chosen not to acknowledge that there is a God who created the universe. They have fallen away from God therefore he has shown them his wrath. God’s way of ‘setting things right’, which is his judgment and the manifestation of his wrath, is [a] present eschatological reality in the visible consequences of here-and- now evildoing. Yet Paul goes on to say in verse 20 that “ever since the creation of the world [God’s] power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood…” In every part of his creation God shows his majestic power, and humanity should stand in awe of it all; humanity has no excuse to deny God in the world. “God has revealed himself in nature in such a way as to hold all people responsible.” God’s son Jesus came to earth to die for the salvation of humanity. Even though this is the case humans do not recognize what it means for them; often they live in the darkness of sin. The fact is that when Adam and Eve ate from the tree in the garden they were no longer ignorant to the things of the world; they had obtained the knowledge of good and evil and would die (Gen.2:17). This is considered the fall of the human race, and the reason why Jesus had to come for the atonement of sins of all people. Just as Adam and Eve knew that God had told them not to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden, people know that sinning is wrong, yet they continue to do it. Paul states in Romans 1:22-23 that sometimes humanity does not show any signs that they believe in the one true God. They often manufacture their own gods; they have a tendency towards ideology. Humankind has exchanged God for human-made idols, the desires of their own human hearts, and sexual immorality. In verses 24, 26 and 28, Paul declares that God has ‘given up’ on humanity and by doing so they have been handed over to their desires. Because they do not do what is right God gives them up. God is saying to humanity that if that’s what you want, your sinful ways, then that is what you will get. People would rather worship creation then the Creator; and when one has been practicing a behavior for long it is hard to give it up. Humans tend to go little by little into a sinful path and then the small things escalate into larger things. They reap the fruits of their sinful behaviors. Yet again in 26-27, it is stated that God gave them over. Humanity continues to act in their sinful ways, not placing God in the place that he deserves. Hence the punishment for the sin that they do is indeed sin itself . People disobeyed God and his commands so therefore God gave them over to the things they chose over him; verse 24 told the reader that he gave them over to sexual impurity. Note that in verses 26 and 27, Paul talks about “passions that bring dishonor” (v.26). Here Paul is referring to homosexuality. Paul describes it as “shameful,” “unnatural,” indecent,” and as a “perversion.” And there will be penalty for this perversion. Things like this occur because God does not have a place in the life of many people. They have decided to do what they want to do, and although God is saddened by this, humanity still continues with its depravity. Paul is likely to say that if anyone wants to engage in homosexual activity then one can. God is not going to stop anyone from doing what they want to do. God is not just giving people over to the desire to do bad but actually do the behavior itself. It is also important to note that why humans put homosexuality in an area by its own, Paul puts gossips and other horrific deeds like murdering all in the same category-sin. People do know they are responsible yet they do not hold up their responsibilities. Humanity has failed to follow the law of God and therefore as a result will face punishment and judgment. Paul also talks about the fact that there are Jewish people who think they are safe because they come from the chosen people. There is no division between Jew and Gentile; they are under the wrath of God. As a result no one can judge others, for everyone is caught under the wrath and no one escapes. No one can place the blame on others, unless they equally put the blame on themselves. Paul asks the question to the Romans, that if they judge others do they think they will escape the judgment of God' In Romans 2:1 Paul says that as soon as one judges the other entire people then one condemns themselves because everyone does things just like they do. God judges those who do such things; but when you judge those who do such things, do you really suppose that you will escape the same judgment'” God is being patient with humanity. There is time to repent for people. That is why God still allows one to live. Having said that, God will severely punish those who decide to continue on sinning. The Jewish people kept the law and believed that they were safe because they had been chosen by God. Still they lived in sin and denounced God with their actions. Now Paul is saying that the Roman people that this is not the case, there is no difference between Jew or Gentile. “The true people of God…are those who have pure hearts.” Paul is saying that it is not by simply keeping the law that one is saved, but rather it is by having a pure heart. The next question to ask then would be what advantage does the Jewish person have' Should the Jews not be above Gentiles because they are the chosen ones' Paul would say no. The fact is that Jews have sinned, just like the Gentile people. They have disobeyed and dishonored God by sinning and going against his teachings. This is what puts them in the same position as the Gentiles. Israel itself falls under the same indictment as the Gentile; it is this which makes the indictment truly universal. Romans 3:9-18 reveals that all are under the power of God. There is no one who is righteous. “The Jews have joined the Gentiles in the dock, with nothing to say in their defense, they are equally guilty before impartial judgment.” The advantages that the Jewish people hold can be found in Romans 3:1-4; the Jews are the ones who have been entrusted with the oracles of God. The law causes every mouth to be silenced because all are condemned under the law. No human being will be justified through the deeds that they do. One saved by what is in the law. This shows that God’s faithfulness is still shown to the human race. Those that were a part of God’s chosen plan have fallen away from Him to sin. Sin is a rebellious act that God’s people do rather than follow him and his commands. “The whole human race is guilty and the law can do nothing but show up that guilt.” People know that they are in need of salvation; no one is able to escape the wrath or judgment of God. But humans do not fear God, they know he is there but they do not respect him or his creation. Humans like to do what they want to do, and it is very easy to leave God to the side. Humans have a tendency towards sin; Paul calls this flesh. The flesh is what causes humanity to sin. Humanity knows the God exists, even though he is an invisible being; he functions in the world around them. Humans disobey God and go against what he intended from them, and because of this disobedience God gives them over to their impure desires and behaviors. Paul suggests in Romans that humans have free-will to do evil things. As a result God has to punish those who do wicked things. Since the beginning of time humans have given into their desires, and they disobey God; from the first time that the Serpent convinced Eve that it was ok to eat the fruit. Humanity must come to the realization that they are sinful and they must repent for what they have done; from there then they will be able to fully see how sinful they are. Bibliography Black, Matthew. New Century Bible Commentary: Romans. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1986. Dunn, James D. G.. The Theology of Paul the Apostle. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2006. Dunn, James D. G.. Word Biblical Commentary: Volume 38A, Romans 1-8. Waco, TX: Thomas Nelson, 1988. Fleming, Don. Amg's Concise Bible Commentary (Amg Concise). Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 2002. Keck, Leander E.. Interpreters Bible (A Complete New Commentary in Twelve Volumes, 1 - 12). New York, New York : Abingdon Press, 1952. Mounce, Robert H.. Romans (New American Commentary). Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 1995.