Romans 1:18-32
Thanks for joining me once again here at Grace Outpost. If you have questions about anything you read
here, feel free to contact me crgalarneau@gmail.com. Also if you have prayer concerns I would be
thrilled to be included in praying alongside of you in those. I am thrilled to be able to share from God’s
word with you again today.
Perhaps you
don’t think much about morality, where it comes from, or maybe you do think
about it a great deal. Either way when
you do examine it you will eventually come down to a single question that has
to be answered, ‘Is there absolute truth?’
Is there a universal standard of right and wrong that is beyond mans
definition, is truth a constant; or is it relative to each person and there is
no true right and wrong? If one ops for
relativism then there is no basis for right or wrong other than human whims, it
then is a made up concept. However, if
one subscribes to absolute truth, then you understand there is a definitive
standard. Maybe at this point you don’t
know what that standard is, but you acknowledge that there must be one. So the question for absolute truth, is what
is the standard? As Christians the
answer is God, God is the Supreme and Righteous Creator who defines right and
wrong. Many ask where is your proof for
God? How can one be held to a standard
that they do not know? Paul answers
these very questions in our passage today.
It is as relevant today as the day he penned the words.
Paul begins in Romans 1:18 declaring that God’s wrath, or
judgment, will be revealed* (I will come back the phrase will be revealed
later) from heaven against ungodliness and unrighteousness to those who
suppress the truth, or that deny the truth of God’s existence which has been
made plain to them. Let’s stop here for
a second; some would let out a sigh of relief because they don’t think that
God’s existence or presence has been made plain to them. However, Paul did not leave it at that phrase
alone, he went on to say that God’s attributes, mainly his eternal power and
divine nature, are obvious for all to see, it is on display throughout nature
that is all around us. Psalm 19:1-6 says
much the same thing that creation testifies to the All-powerful Creator. Paul concludes that because of this, we are
without excuse, we should know that there is a God and seek him out.
8 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
(Romans 1:18-20 ESV)
Paul continues, they have denied God and denied him the
honor and praise that he deserves and because they deny God their thinking
becomes clouded. It is not a punishment,
but a side effect of denying the plain truth that is before them. They exchanged the God of the Universe, the
maker and creator of all things, for worship of the creation rather than the
Creator. Before you smirk at those silly
ancient people, ask yourself if these people exist today, maybe you are one of
them. I would assert that there are many
who worship at the altar of environmentalism.
There is nothing wrong with being a good steward of the environment, I
believe that is a responsibility of Christians is to care for the nature the
best we can. However, it cannot be our
god and trump the welfare of people.
Are we more concerned with the planet than God? Do we spend all of our time pursuing it? If it is taking the place of God in your
life, no matter what it is, it is worshipping the creation over the
Creator.
21 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. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
(Romas 1:21-23)
Paul goes on to give examples what a lack of belief in God
will lead to, what things will reign and rule in those who do not know
God. God lets them fall into their
debased minds filling their lives with unrighteousness. (By the way if you’re like me you found
something about yourself on that list.)
Paul says though they know God’s righteous decree states that death is
required, they not only participate, but encourage or endorse others who do
this too. The payment for sin has always
been the same from the beginning of Creation, death. I look around at the world we live in and
can’t help but think that Paul is describing our world. The truth is that there is nothing new under
the sun as far as sin goes. We live in a
world of envy, murder, deceit, strife, slander, haughtiness, boastfulness, and
we have no lack of those who proudly hate God.
Paul is talking to all of us at
some point in our lives, no one is born a Christian and at some point we were
enemies of God.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
(Romans 1:26-32)
Paul has told us that the evidence for God surrounds
us. The everyday miracle of life, the
precision of the solar system, and the beauty of the Earth all testify to the
Creator God. Paul tells us that we are
without excuse, because the evidence surrounds us. If you feel like Paul is only riding those
who don’t believe just wait, he has plenty to say to the religious as
well. Paul’s point in writing Romans
remember is to ensure a correct transmission of the Gospel to this group of
believers in Rome. We will see that we
are sinners, each and every one of us, not one is righteous. The Gospel is all about the hope we have in
spite of our sin. If you remember back
in verse 18 I put a little notation, well this is because in my studies this
week (and I might be off base in this as I am not a Greek scholar) but it
appears that this has a dual tense to the phrase. So it would be that God’s wrath has been and
will be poured out. To me this made
perfect sense, as Jesus took the wrath for those who believe that Jesus is LORD. We believe that Christ lived a sinless life,
died on the cross, and rose again as the only substitute that can take away
sin. The only part we play in it is
believing and following Jesus. For those
who persist in their denial of God, who die and never believe and follow, then
the full wrath will be poured out upon them having no substitute.
The brimstone approach rarely convinces anyone and I
understand because it didn’t work for me either, however, I am not trying to
scare you into belief today if you are not a Christian. I am merely showing you what it is that we
are saying that Jesus saves us from, it is a vital component in the
Gospel. Why do you need a savior if
there is nothing to be saved from? For
those that are Christians, how often do we look out at the world with
disgust? For some of us probably less
than we should and others much more than we should, sin should break our
hearts, because these people are slaves who will never true life. Do you see the walking dead as you look at
the sea of people that you interact with everyday? The Bible uses the phrase that Jesus had
compassion on them, when dealing with the crowds and the people he interacted
with. Are you giving that same
compassion? Yes we should call sin what
it is, but in compassion and love, out of a heart for the lost. Join me back next week to continue our
exploration of Romans.
‘Father, I thank you
for each and every reader who reads this message. I ask that you open our hearts, eyes, and
ears to your Word and that we would let it penetrate us and move us. God thank you for your mercy and compassion,
help us to be loving compassionate people who care about those who don’t yet
know you. God thank you for meeting us
right where we are in life. It is in
Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen’