Romans 1:18-20

The good news of the gospel is really good when it is heard in the context of bad news that is really bad.  Thus the revelation of God’s righteousness (v17) begins with the revelation of God’s wrath (v18).

Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of the wrath of God.  They may relate it to human wrath which often is out of control or misdirected.  God’s wrath is not like that. It is the normal response of a holy God to sin.  If I jump off the roof and try to fly like a bird the normal response is to drop, like a rock.  It is not in our nature to fly.  If a bird tries to pick up a football … well, excuse the silliness.  But it is just as natural for God to see sin in the universe and to respond with wrath. 

God’s wrath exists in the mix of attributes such as mercy and love.  But it still exists.  God’s own revelation of Himself in Exodus 34:6-7 makes this clear.  He is good, merciful, forgiving; but He will not leave the guilty unpunished.  As our passage says, His wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men!

The question we must ask is: what sin has been committed by men?  God’s answer: they suppress the truth in unrighteousness.  God says men know the truth but push it down or ignore it purposefully.  This is a charge against all men.

We may wonder, do all men really know the truth?  What if they have never read a Bible?  What if no one ever told them about God and His plan of salvation?  Do all men have access to the truth?  And what truth are they supposed to know?

God claims that men can know about Him because the truth is clear or manifest in them.  It is not difficult to find.  Further God claims that He has shown it to them in creation.  Though God Himself is not visible to the naked eye, His invisible qualities are clearly seen.  This is the truth that men suppress.

What truth can be learned about God from a little stargazing or a hike in the mountains or time spend in your rose garden?

·        Rom. 1:20: the power of the Creator should be evident.

·        Rom. 1:20: the divine nature (deity) of the Creator should be clear.  We can conclude there is a God or Supreme Being that made these things.

·        Psalm 104:24: the wisdom of the Creator will be clear, especially as the things we see are enhanced by telescope and microscope.

·        Psalm 8:3-4: the distinction between Creator and Man will be clear.  No one on earth can create these things.  Further, we can know we also are created.

·        Psalm 19:1: the glory of the Creator should be evident.  It’s not a stretch to say, “Wow, Supreme Being is awesome.”

·        Psalm 148:13: we can know that the Creator must be praised.  Again, this is not hard to conclude that this God should be thanked.

Think about this.  The most common way of suppressing this truth is by a philosophy that looks at nature and concludes that, 1) something came from nothing; and 2) the intricacies of nature are the product of chance.  These are two rules we never live by at any other time in our lives.  When we see something beautiful, complex and beneficial we say, “Somebody knew what they were doing!”  So why would we defy common sense in the face of creation?  God says it is our penchant for suppressing the truth, and concludes we are without excuse.  What do you say?