Justification Through Faith (1:18-11:36)
Sin: The Need For Salvation - The Real Problem (1:18-3:20)
The Gentile Need
Romans 1:18-32
Reading: Heb 3:8-14
Songs:
Theme:
INTRODUCTION
A. Suppose you were digging in the ground and found a piece of broken pottery. What would be your conclusion? No doubt you would conclude that there had once been a potter. You might even make a decision from looking at the pottery, as to how skillful was the potter.
B. Abraham Lincoln said, “I see how it might be possible to look down upon the earth and be an atheist but I cannot conceive of how you could look up into the heavens and say there is no God. The scriptures make it clear there is no reason for anyone not to know about God. However, how can it be that God will hold everyone accountable to the gospel who has not heard it? Part of the reason is, that which they do know they reject.
I. NO EXCUSE FOR THE WICKED (1:18-32).
Refusing To Know The Truth
A. ... the wrath of God is revealed ... against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men ... (1:18-20).
2Th 1:8-9
KJV
18 For <1063> the wrath <3709> of God <2316> is revealed <601> (5743) from <575> heaven <3772> against <1909> all <3956> ungodliness <763> and <2532> unrighteousness <93> of men <444>, who hold <2722> (5723) the truth <225> in <1722> unrighteousness <93>;
19 ¶ Because <1360> that which may be known <1110> of God <2316> is <2076> (5748) manifest <5318> in <1722> them <846>; for <1063> God <2316> hath shewed <5319> (5656) it unto them <846>. {in them: or, to them}
20 For <1063> the invisible things <517> of him <846> from <575> the creation <2937> of the world <2889> are clearly seen <2529> (5743), being understood <3539> (5746) by the things that are made <4161>, even <5037> his <846> eternal <126> power <1411> and <2532> Godhead <2305>; so <1519> that they <846> are <1511> (5750) without excuse <379>: {so…: or, that they may be}
Textus Receptus
18 apokaluptetai <601> (5743) {V-PPI-3S} gar <1063> {CONJ} orgh <3709> {N-NSF} yeou <2316> {N-GSM} ap <575> {PREP} ouranou <3772> {N-GSM} epi <1909> {PREP} pasan <3956> {A-ASF} asebeian <763> {N-ASF} kai <2532> {CONJ} adikian <93> {N-ASF} anyrwpwn <444> {N-GPM} twn <3588> {T-GPM} thn <3588> {T-ASF} alhyeian <225> {N-ASF} en <1722> {PREP} adikia <93> {N-DSF} katecontwn <2722> (5723) {V-PAP-GPM}
19 dioti <1360> {CONJ} to <3588> {T-NSN} gnwston <1110> {A-NSN} tou <3588> {T-GSM} yeou <2316> {N-GSM} faneron <5318> {A-NSN} estin <2076> (5748) {V-PXI-3S} en <1722> {PREP} autoiv <846> {P-DPM} o <3588> {T-NSM} gar <1063> {CONJ} yeov <2316> {N-NSM} autoiv <846> {P-DPM} efanerwsen <5319> (5656) {V-AAI-3S}
20 ta <3588> {T-NPN} gar <1063> {CONJ} aorata <517> {A-NPN} autou <846> {P-GSM} apo <575> {PREP} ktisewv <2937> {N-GSF} kosmou <2889> {N-GSM} toiv <3588> {T-DPN} poihmasin <4161> {N-DPN} nooumena <3539> (5746) {V-PPP-NPN} kayoratai <2529> (5743) {V-PPI-3S} h <3588> {T-NSF} te <5037> {PRT} aidiov <126> {A-NSM} autou <846> {P-GSM} dunamiv <1411> {N-NSF} kai <2532> {CONJ} yeiothv <2305> {N-NSF} eiv <1519> {PREP} to <3588> {T-ASN} einai <1511> (5750) {V-PXN} autouv <846> {P-APM} anapologhtouv <379> {A-APM}
1. Paul wrote about not having been ashamed of the gospel in verses 1-17, of which he wrote was “the power God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (v 18).
a. Most people are unchanged by the gospel and live in “ungodliness and unrighteousness.”
b. Of those who have heard it, most either don’t believe it, or they refuse to respond to it properly.
c. Though they know the immoral things they do are wrong, but ignore it and thereby ‘hold the truth in unrighteousness.”
(1) hold, 722. katecw KATECHO kat-ekh’-o; from 2596 and 2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively):—have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
2722 katecw KATECHO kat-ekh’-o from 2596 and 2192; TDNT- 2:829,286; v AV-hold 3, hold fast 3, keep 2, possess 2, stay 1, take 1, have 1, make 1, misc 5; 19 1) to hold back, detain, retain 1a) from going away 1b) to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of) 1b1) that which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance 1b2) to check a ship’s headway i.e. to hold or head the ship 1c) to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of 2) to get possession of, take 2b) to possess
5723 Tense-PresentSee 5774
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - ParticipleSee 5796
Count-2549
(2) There are many who have worked in the area of science for years, who know by everything they study that science confirms a creator yet restrain the truth from being known.
(3) The real problem with the world is not so much that it is messed up.
(4) That is just a symptom of something much greater.
(5) The real problem is the avoidance of or abstinence of God in their lives which results in sin.
d. The consequences of their disobedience and sin is God’s wrath against them.
(1) wrath, 3709. orgh ORGE or-gay’; from 3713; properly, desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy,) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment:—anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath.
3709 orgh ORGE or-gay’ from 3713; TDNT-5:382,716; n f AV-wrath 31, anger 3, vengeance 1, indignation 1; 36 1) anger, the natural disposition, temper, character 2) movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but esp. anger 3) anger, wrath, indignation 4) anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself 4a) of punishments inflicted by magistrates
(2) it is not true to God’s word and righteousness to speak only of his love, ignoring his wrath (cf. Ro 2:6;11:22).
2. Paul made it clear that of those who do not respond properly to the gospel, they are without excuse for having refused what they do know of God (vs 19-20).
a. That would even include those who have never heard the gospel (Psa 19:1-3; 2Th 1:8).
b. God “hath shewed it unto them” (v 19).
(1) There are evidences which draw us to necessary conclusions.
(a) For example, when archeologists dig in the earth and they find a piece of flint in triangular shape, sharpened on two edges, they conclude that they have found an ancient arrowhead. The evidence is given in the design and it demands such a conclusion.
(b) If you were to find a watch, and carefully examined it, you would quickly come to the conclusion that the watch has an intricate design, and the mechanism is designed for the purpose of made a slow measured march in time. From seeing both design, combined with purpose, you would have to conclude that there was intelligence behind the design, or a designer.
(c) Neither with the arrowhead nor the watch would people conclude that they happened by chance over millions of years, rather than conclude they were made by the designer who created them.
(2) All any thinking person has to do is look around at creation and consider its amazing wonders, it design, from the intricacy of living things to the design in the great universe, whether through mechanization, mathematics , beauty, science or a thousand other things, to realize there is a creator.
(3) They instead people as a majority, most lead by lying or ignorant scientists, refuse to accept what is so obvious, the evidence that points to a necessary conclusion.
(4) In the story of Robinson Crusoe, the a sailor was shipwrecked upon a deserted island. He spent years searching the horizon for a ship, but none came. Then one day, while he was walking along the beach, and he saw in the sand, a footprint. He could see the footprint matched his own in form. His conclusion upon seeing this footprint that looked like his own, was that another person was on the island.
(a) He didn’t conclude that the wind and the waves had sculptured the sand on this beach so that it resembled a human footprint!
(b) He didn’t conclude that over billions of years such a design had come about by mere chance!
(c) However, when most people look at life on earth, the planets, moons, and stars, etc., though they see obvious grand design pointing to a designer, they conclude it happened from nothing and by chance..
(d) The entire universe is a giant billboard which points to the fact of God’s existence.
(5) Darwin's theory of evolution is fine to study as an explanation for the existence of life but there are other better theories which are suppressed, because they contain the hint of God, the designer.
(a) The areas of physics and quantum mechanics is repeatedly coming up with demonstrations that our universe has been specifically designed to support life.
(b) These evidences called "anthropic coincidences" (at least 50 of them) have been noticed by those examining the very atoms to the stars our.
c. It is not that they can’t know, but they just don’t want to know.
d. What about you? Does your life and reaction to God’s word reflect an acceptance of it or a rejection of what God has revealed to you?
Rejection Of God
B. ... when they knew God, they glorified him not ... (1:21-23).
21 Because <1360> that, when they knew <1097> (5631) God <2316>, they glorified <1392> (5656) him not <3756> as <5613> God <2316>, neither <2228> were thankful <2168> (5656); but <235> became vain <3154> (5681) in <1722> their <846> imaginations <1261>, and <2532> their <846> foolish <801> heart <2588> was darkened <4654> (5681).
22 Professing themselves <5335> (5723) to be <1511> (5750) wise <4680>, they became fools <3471> (5681),
23 And <2532> changed <236> (5656) the glory <1391> of the uncorruptible <862> God <2316> into <1722> an image <1504> made like <3667> to corruptible <5349> man <444>, and <2532> to birds <4071>, and <2532> fourfooted beasts <5074>, and <2532> creeping things <2062>.
21 dioti <1360> {CONJ} gnontev <1097> (5631) {V-2AAP-NPM} ton <3588> {T-ASM} yeon <2316> {N-ASM} ouc <3756> {PRT-N} wv <5613> {ADV} yeon <2316> {N-ASM} edoxasan <1392> (5656) {V-AAI-3P} h <2228> {PRT} eucaristhsan <2168> (5656) {V-AAI-3P} all <235> {CONJ} emataiwyhsan <3154> (5681) {V-API-3P} en <1722> {PREP} toiv <3588> {T-DPM} dialogismoiv <1261> {N-DPM} autwn <846> {P-GPM} kai <2532> {CONJ} eskotisyh <4654> (5681) {V-API-3S} h <3588> {T-NSF} asunetov <801> {A-NSF} autwn <846> {P-GPM} kardia <2588> {N-NSF}
22 faskontev <5335> (5723) {V-PAP-NPM} einai <1511> (5750) {V-PXN} sofoi <4680> {A-NPM} emwranyhsan <3471> (5681) {V-API-3P}
23 kai <2532> {CONJ} hllaxan <236> (5656) {V-AAI-3P} thn <3588> {T-ASF} doxan <1391> {N-ASF} tou <3588> {T-GSM} afyartou <862> {A-GSM} yeou <2316> {N-GSM} en <1722> {PREP} omoiwmati <3667> {N-DSN} eikonov <1504> {N-GSF} fyartou <5349> {A-GSM} anyrwpou <444> {N-GSM} kai <2532> {CONJ} peteinwn <4071> {N-GPN} kai <2532> {CONJ} tetrapodwn <5074> {A-GPN} kai <2532> {CONJ} erpetwn <2062> {N-GPN}
1. They refused to glorify God (v 21).
2. Having rejected God in their minds and professing to be wise, they do in their speech or behavior, what proves them foolish (vs 22-23).
Transition: Paul’s gave us God’s reaction to the rejection.
II. JUDGMENT OF WICKED PEOPLE (1:24-32).
A. ... Wherefore God also gave them up ... (1:24-28).
24 Wherefore <1352> God <2316> also <2532> gave <3860> <0> them <846> up <3860> (5656) to <1519> uncleanness <167> through <1722> the lusts <1939> of their own <846> hearts <2588>, to dishonour <818> (5729) their own <846> bodies <4983> between <1722> themselves <1438>:
25 Who <3748> changed <3337> (5656) the truth <225> of God <2316> into <1722> a lie <5579>, and <2532> worshipped <4573> (5662) and <2532> served <3000> (5656) the creature <2937> more than <3844> the Creator <2936> (5660), who <3739> is <2076> (5748) blessed <2128> for <1519> ever <165>. Amen <281>. {more: or, rather}
26 For <1223> this <5124> cause God <2316> gave <3860> <0> them <846> up <3860> (5656) unto <1519> vile <819> affections <3806>: for <1063> even <5037> their <846> women <2338> did change <3337> (5656) the natural <5446> use <5540> into <1519> that which is against <3844> nature <5449>:
27 And <5037> likewise <3668> also <2532> the men <730>, leaving <863> (5631) the natural <5446> use <5540> of the woman <2338>, burned <1572> (5681) in <1722> their <846> lust <3715> one toward another <1519> <240>; men <730> with <1722> men <730> working <2716> (5740) that which is unseemly <808>, and <2532> receiving <618> (5723) in <1722> themselves <1438> that recompence <489> of their <846> error <4106> which <3739> was meet <1163> (5713).
28 And <2532> even as <2531> they did <1381> <0> not <3756> like <1381> (5656) to retain <2192> (5721) God <