Romans 1:18-23

                                                         Romans 1:18-23

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

 

One of the great questions we have about the justice of God, is how those who have never heard the Gospel can be condemned.  This passage answers that question.  Man is responsible before God because they reject the initial revelation of God that is seen in creation.  This first section of Romans is about convicting mankind of being guilty before God.  The first witness Paul calls to prove the condemnation of man is creation.  Those who reject initial light are justly condemned because it can be inferred that they would also reject additional light.  

 

THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED: The attribute of God we like to focus on the most is His love.  However, love is not God’s primary attribute.  Holiness is God’s primary attribute.  This is why God’s wrath is revealed against ungodliness.  His hatred of sin requires that He pours out His wrath on the unrighteous.  He loves sinners so much that He sent Jesus to die in our place, take our sin upon Himself, and place His righteousness on all who believe.  However, those who do not believe, remain in their sin and are condemned under God’s wrath.  People of every culture realize this which is why “appeasing gods” is a part of the religions anthropologists and missionaries discover when working among “uncivilized” peoples.  People know they are under God’s wrath which is why we need to be active in sharing the hope of Christ.

 

THE GLORY OF GOD IS REVEALED: The reason that it is just for God to condemn those who have never heard the Gospel is because they have rejected His glory revealed in creation.  When men observe the testimony of creation and then decide to worship that which was created by their own efforts instead of worshiping God, they are rejecting God.  By rejecting the revelation of creation, general revelation, they are rejecting Christ, specific revelation from Scripture.  The revelation of creation is sufficient to condemn men who are born in sin and live in sin.  It is not enough to save them from sin.  However, I believe that those, few as they may be, who respond to the revelation of creation, initial light, will receive additional light in the form of a missionary who comes to reveal Christ to them.  This is why believers must actively participate in God’s mission to the nations.

 

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS REJECTED: When people adopt idolatrous lives, they are rejecting the knowledge of God.  When they are ungrateful for the life they have been given and the creation in which they live, they are rejecting the knowledge of God.  When they fail to honor Him as the Creator and the God of the universe, they are rejecting the knowledge of God.  When they claim to be wise while worshiping animals or objects made by their own hands, they are rejecting the knowledge of God.  Those who exchange God’s glory for their own are justly condemned and remain under God’s wrath.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t forget that God’s holiness is His primary attribute.  Understand that the wrath of God is just and certain.  Do all we can to reveal the Gospel in all nations to all peoples.  Worship and honor the Creator and not the creation.  Be eternally grateful that we have been blessed with the revelation of Scripture.  Guard our hearts from idolatry.

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