Romans 1:18-32
Overview
From Romans 1:18 through Romans 3:20, Paul is explaining why God’s wrath will come upon this world. The subject of God’s wrath is not one of our favorite topics, but it is essential that we understand it so we can explain the reasons for it to those who reject this truth. Many times, believers go to two extremes on this topic, which is not helpful to a balanced presentation of the gospel. Some teach that there will be no wrath because God is a God of love and mercy, while others preach hell fire and damnation to all they meet. If you only preach about God’s love and mercy, and fail to explain God’s wrath, then you are not sharing the complete gospel message. Notice how Jesus shared the complete message of the gospel in one of the most well-known passages of Scripture. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16). If Jesus shared the possibility of someone perishing, while also giving the option of everlasting life, then so should you. Paul declared to the Ephesian church, “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). My encouragement is that you follow Jesus’ and Paul’s example.
Why the wrath of God will come upon this world? (Vs. 18-20)
Paul states that the wrath of God comes upon men for two reasons; because of the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Ungodliness means that men are irreverent and rebellious toward God, and unrighteousness describes man’s injustice toward other men. These two words cover both men’s attitudes and actions toward God and men.
The ungodliness and unrighteousness of men are also covered in the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). God gave the first four commandments to address man’s relationship with God, and commandments five through ten addresses how we should relate with other men. In addition, the two great commandments that Jesus taught in the New Testament reveal the same two distinctions (Matt. 22:37-40). These commandments described God’s righteous requirements, and if men violate these commands, they are in danger of the judgment. Jesus explained, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matt. 5:21-22). After reading these words, every one of us should realize that we rightly deserve judgment.
Men suppress the truth (Vs. 18)
The natural question at this moment should be, “Why do men choose to live in an ungodly and unrighteous way?” Paul answered this question in the very next phrase. He declared that they pursue ungodliness because they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. What does Paul mean by this phrase to suppress the truth? The word suppress in this verse means to prevent or restrain the truth. We know that Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit has come to “convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). Therefore, men are suppressing and preventing this conviction in their lives. They are refusing to allow the truth of God’s Word to persuade their hearts toward what is righteous and true.
It is essential to understand that the light of God’s truth is something that is given to every person on this earth. In John 3:18-20, Jesus explained why men will be condemned. He said, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Note this statement that the light has come into the world. In other words, God gives the light of His truth to every man. Either they love and come to the light, or they hate and reject the light. They either suppress the light of truth, or they yield to it. Jesus explained that the reason a person hates the light is because they do not wish to have their evil deeds exposed. This is why some people will listen to the gospel, and others reject it. How does this light of God’s truth come to men?
They reject the light of creation (Vs. 19-20)
Paul explained in Romans 1:19-20 that, “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” God first gives to every person on this earth the light and revelation of creation as proof that God exists and is very powerful. Men understand this by just looking at the things He has made. He made the universe of trillions upon trillions of stars and galaxies, the earth and every creature in it, and His highest creation of all, men and women. Paul taught that by considering the truth of creation all men could come to this obvious understanding of His existence and power. Simple logic demands that a big bang in the universe could never create the order and design that we see all around us. It is just not logical to think that a stick of dynamite in a lumber yard can create a beautifully designed home, because a home requires an architect and a wise master-builder. This is the truth men suppress in their hearts. Therefore, they are absolutely without excuse before God. He will never accept the excuse from anyone that, “I never heard the gospel.” He will not accept this excuse even from a person who grew up in the jungles of Africa or South America. All of these people are equally without excuse. Why? Because the witness of creation has already been given to all men to prove that God exists.
Why did Paul address this most fundamental and basic truth of the light of creation? Because creation is the most obvious and powerful testimony that God exists! Throughout time men have looked up into the heavens and thought, Wow, all that I see declares that there is an awesome Creator that has created all these things. They looked at their physical body and everything around them and acknowledged God’s intelligence and craftsmanship. However, today men have such a high opinion of themselves, their technology, and their own wisdom that they think, We don’t need God! We can go into space whenever and wherever we want. With our technology we know how life began, and we can fix or replace any organ that malfunctions in the human body. But this is only man’s arrogance on full display.
Ancient men were so much wiser than men today. In Psalms 19:1-3 David declared, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth His handiwork.” Through His creation God is speaking every day and every night to every creature on this earth. He is saying, “I am bigger, more powerful, and more intelligent than you could ever imagine!” Oh, may we bow our hearts to our loving and powerful Creator!
How do we know God created all these things? Simple logic teaches us that the masterpiece of creation must have a master Craftsman that created it. The logic of cause and effect and order and design demand a Creator and Designer. If I told you the paintings on the inside of the Sistine Chapel in Rome just appeared one day on the walls and ceiling, you would think, How ridiculous. Why? Because simple logic tells us that beautiful works of art like that, don’t just happen. They require a master painter using intelligence and skill. Likewise, the masterpiece of creation also demands a master builder to create all these things that we see.
In the biological world, there is no such thing as spontaneous generation of life. Life doesn’t just occur from nothing. It took an incredible craftsman to create your physical body. As you look at your body and all of its functions, it declares to you every single day that there is a God who created it. Can man make an artificial heart that can function for 70 to 100 years, that will pump millions of gallons of blood over a lifetime? No! The longest anyone has lived with a single artificial heart is 7 years, 5 months, and 5 days given to a man named Peter Houghton. Think of it, the human heart will pump more than 46 million gallons of blood over 70 years. Nothing man has ever made is as durable and efficient as that simple little muscle God put inside of your chest. Consider - every day two billion cells reproduce themselves inside your body. What an awesome creation you are! Consider your mind, which controls every function of your body, and you don’t have to think about any of those functions. They have been all ordered and designed by a master Craftsman. Please don’t suppress these truths!
Later in this epistle, Paul will explain that there is also the light of conscience that is given to every man (Rom. 2:15). Man’s conscience is the proof that God has written His moral law on every human heart. If you add the light of conscience to the light of creation, all men are without any excuse to believe that God exists, and He has a moral requirement for each one of our lives.
Now, if men respond to the light of creation and the light of conscience, God will give them more light, which would be the light of the gospel. Cornelius, the Roman centurion, is the best example of this truth (Acts 10). This man believed and feared God. However, he didn’t know very much about who God was. This is why God sent an angel to tell Peter to go witness to this man. He heard the gospel and was saved. I believe this is why God has sent out missionaries into the jungles and unreached people groups around the world. I am completely assured that there are those who are just like Cornelius who are asking and seeking for more light. This is also the reason Philip was sent by God to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:29). God saw this eunuch’s heart and was determined to reach him. Never forget that God sees the heart of all those who are seeking the light of understanding of who He is, and His love will always reach out to them!
The Results of Man’s Rejection (Vs. 21-32)
There are always consequences for rejecting the truth of God. Paul lays out these consequences in a very clear and enlightening way in these next few verses. Consider these consequences.
Futile thoughts in a darkened heart (Vs. 21-22) Paul goes on to teach that futile thoughts are the result of a person’s choice to suppress the truth of God, and to reject the light that He has given them. People know about God, but they will not glorify Him as God, which means that they won’t give Him the supreme place in their lives. They are unthankful for all of God’s blessings, and praise themselves and their own achievements. People profess themselves to be wise, when in reality they have become fools. The hypothesis of evolution is a good example of this foolishness of men’s minds at work. Have you noticed how hard scientists work to try to find some way to prove this foolish idea? Reality should reveal to them that evolution contradicts the second law of thermodynamics. This law of science declares that entropy always increases in an isolated system, meaning that natural processes tend to move towards a state of greater disorder and disorganization. This fact of nature reveals the opposite of the teaching of evolution, which asserts that mankind through natural selection is moving genetically toward greater order and organization. The proof of this fact is that scientists tell us that trillions of mutations take place every day in each of our bodies. Thank God that most of these mutations are harmless, and that the body also has ways to repair itself. But the reality is, the body is genetically breaking down slowly but surely. In addition, the facts from archeologists and paleontologists reveal that there is no evidence for evolution, because the fossil record reveals no transitional forms that graduate from one species to another. On the contrary, the fossil record reveals that every species abruptly appears in the fossil record fully formed just as the Genesis record teaches. If you doubt this fact, I would suggest you pick up a copy of Dr. Duane T. Gish’s book, “Evolution: The Fossils Still Say No.”
Another example of the foolish and futile thoughts of men would be the contradictory philosophies of man. These are man’s attempt to understand himself, others, and the world around him. Consider the Stoics. They believed that virtue was the greatest good in life. Yet, the Epicureans believed that finding the greatest pleasure in life was most important. In our modern times philosophers became Existentialists, who believed that life was absurd and therefore, you must find good wherever you can find it based on your own values and choices. Paul rightly described the struggle of these individuals as those who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). Remember, this is only because their understanding has been darkened, simply because they are “alienated from the life of God” (Eph. 4:18). Why are men alienated from the life of God? Because they have suppressed the truth in unrighteousness. Therefore, if you want to keep yourself from this frustration, it is very important that you purpose to glorify God in your life, and yield to the truth instead of suppressing it.
Idolatry (Vs. 23) The second consequence of suppressing the truth is that men foolishly give themselves over to idolatry. Man is a spiritual being, and therefore must worship something. But the question is, what will he worship? Paul explained that the darkened hearts of men will change the “glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” Man will either deify himself, or some other creature that God has created. Consequently, if men refuse to be changed by God, they must change God into their own image and after their own likeness. How many times have you heard someone say to you, “If I were God, I would do _______,” depending on what the issue might be. However, the Lord wants to transform us into His own image (2 Cor. 3:18). He wants us to become like Him, not like other people.
Now you may be thinking, I don’t see everyone in the world worshipping idols. How can this verse be true? However, there are 1 ½ billion people who openly worship Hindu idols. Hinduism has deified every desire of the heart of man, so that there are millions of gods. There are also another 320 million Buddhists who worship and serve the teachings of a man. Greek mythology deified humans such as Hercules, Jupiter, and Apollo. The Egyptians deified the cat and the ox. In every culture that does not know God, you will find some form of idolatry. Even here in the western world of Europe, Australia, and the United States there is great idolatry happening every day. Paul explained that the essence of idolatry was covetousness. He wrote, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5). The word covetousness describes a lust and desire to be greedy for things. Materialism is idolatry, and is a sign of the darkness of a person’s heart.
God has given mankind up to his own immoral desires (Vs. 24-28) The last consequence of suppressing the truth is that God eventually will give men up to their own immoral desires. Paul wrote, “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Romans 1:24-28).
Now you may be thinking, Does God really give someone over to do what they desire? Yes! If God did not allow men to do as they desired, then He would be forcing people to do what He desired. The words, God gave them up means that God handed them over or delivered men up to their own desires. This truth is found throughout the Scriptures. In Genesis 6:3, God declared, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” The word strive means to plead, argue, or contend with men. God proved His determination not to strive with men by not forcing people to come into the Ark. Peter declared that God, “did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5). God used Noah as the preacher to warn people of what was coming, and then allowed them to make the choice. But they continued to do the evil they desired. Remember, God’s patience always has a limit. This is why judgment will always come upon people individually, as well as upon this world, because of their personal decisions to continually suppress the truth and turn away from the Lord.
The level to which God has given up those in our country today is seen by the number of people who live in adulterous relationships, practice fornication, and openly display homosexuality and lesbianism. These behaviors clearly violate God’s will for men and women, and reject the natural use of their bodies. There are many other passages that teach this same truth throughout the New Testament. Paul also taught the Corinthian church, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
However, participation in these sins does not mean that these people cannot be saved. Just because God has given them over to do these things, does not mean that He would not forgive them if they chose to repent. Paul explained that many such people were a part of the Corinthian church of his day. After writing the above passage, the very next verse declared, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11 – Underline added). What a glorious statement Paul made when he declared, “and such were some of you.” God forgives any and all sinners who come to Him in honesty and repentance. All you need to do is confess your sins to God, and He is faithful to forgive you your sins (1 John 1:9). God spoke through the Prophet Isaiah and encouraged the sinners of his day, “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool’” (Is. 1:18). The Lord is the only One who can take the stain of sin and make it as white as snow!
In addition, if men continually refuse to repent of such sinful lifestyles, He will finally give them over to a reprobate mind. The word reprobate means to have a mind that is rejected, or worthless. Because men did not want to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them what they wanted, a mind that did not ever think about God. The Hebrew equivalent of reprobate in the Old Testament are the words for silver dross. When silver was heated to remove the impurities from it, the dross was the material on the surface of the molten metal that was scraped off and thrown away. Why did they do this? Because, the dross was rejected and worthless. To be reprobate is the same thing that Jesus called the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:31). This is where a man or woman fights so hard against God in rebellion that they harden their hearts so they cannot believe or repent. In John’s gospel, he explains that there were people who hardened their hearts and rejected Christ to the point that they could not believe. “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?’ Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them’” (John 12:37-40 – Underline added). Make note that John declared that it was the men Jesus ministered to that made the willful choice to not believe, even though they had seen all the miracles that Jesus had done. Only then did God harden their hearts so they could not believe.
By knowing these truths, this should motivate each of you to share with people where they are headed when they reject your testimony. Make it clear that they are hardening their hearts to their own ultimate destruction. This is not a pleasant thing to discuss with people, but you are declaring the truth, and being a faithful witness for Christ.
Men exchange the truth of God for the lie (Vs. 25)
Paul was very clear about why men become reprobate. He explained that mankind had, “Exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever” (Rom. 1:25). This point is very important to enable you to understand the thinking of those who are unconverted. Note that Paul declared that this is an intentional decision that men make when they reject the gospel message. All men have the truth of the light of Creation, and the light of conscience. But men choose to exchange this truth that they know for the lie. Note that Paul did not write “a lie” but, “the lie.” What is the lie? This is the original lie that Satan used against Eve so effectively in the Garden of Eden. Remember that Eve protested to Satan that God had commanded that she should not eat of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and if she did eat of this tree she would surely die. Scripture records for us, “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Gen. 3:4-5). In other words, Satan told Eve that she could live independently from God and do as she pleased. In essence he was telling her that she could be self-sufficient, self-directed, and self-fulfilled, and she could be just like God. Every time that a person rejects the gospel, this is the lie they are believing. Each person then sets himself up as his own god in place of the true and living God. Thus, the creature takes the place of the Creator who is blessed forever. Don’t ever make this mistake! Why? Because King David declared that it was obvious that we are not gods, because we will all die like men (Ps. 82:7).
Every evil behavior (Vs. 29-32) The ultimate result of living independently from God is that men are then susceptible to commit every evil behavior known to man. Paul now lists these behaviors. He declared, “Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” What a list!
The word filled in verse 29 is the same word used in Ephesians 5:18 where Paul commanded believers, “Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” This word filled means to cram full to overflowing. Therefore, you can be crammed full of all unrighteousness, or you can be crammed full of the Holy Spirit. Which experience do you want? If you don’t want to behave as described in this list, then walk under the control of the Spirit! Don’t suppress the truth in your life, and you will not fulfill the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). If you choose to suppress the truth of God in your life, then the sinful behaviors listed above will easily consume your life.
Worthy of death (Vs. 32)
I want you to especially take note that Paul declared that all of the behaviors listed above make a person deserving of death. Most of us have committed just about every one of these sins, which makes us deserving of death. And if we didn’t commit some of these sins, we have approved of those who practiced them. This is why Paul later will write in this epistle, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Isn’t this a marvelous truth? Eternal life is a gift! We deserve death, but God still amazingly wants to give us eternal life. We can’t earn this gift, and we can never deserve it. All you have to do is simply repent of your sin, ask Him to forgive you, and you will be cleansed. He then gives you a gift of eternal life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit that enables you to follow and to serve Him (John 14:16-17). What a deal this is! This is the good news we need to share with others!