Romans 1:18-25 (Notes and Thoughts)
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 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, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 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.”
God, what is man that you are mindful of him? The more and more I look at these seven verses I realize that God has not left anything up to chance. With that being stated here is what I got out of them:
1.) God’s wrath, what is it? God’s wrath is His personal expression of His righteousness and opposition against sinfulness (not the human). The way I understand verse 18 is that God’s wrath is continually being revealed against all sinfulness and will culminate and climax during the 7-year period that has been set-aside until the completion of the “Church Age”. God must judge sin, or else He is unjust. In the midst of His judgment against sin He allowed (and gave) His Son Jesus to pay in full the balance we owe to God because of our sin. When we (Any person who decides to place their trust and hope in Jesus) believe this truth God’s wrath (or judgment) is satisfied, however, there is personal judgment and then there is global judgment. I believe that when both Adam and Eve rejected God by disobeying Him a curse was placed on their blood (Life is in the blood. Don't think so? Tell me how you can live without blood, but also be reminded our genetic code is found in our DNA and that my friend is in the blood.) line but also the earth came under this curse too because they were given dominion to care for it. So since the person who is in charge (managerial) of the land is held responsible, so is the land that has been entrusted to the person. Maybe this is why the earth is waiting for the day to be completely purged of the wickedness that has been found on it and in it.
2.) So what has God’s wrath been revealed against? God’s wrath is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. According to Pastor Chuck Smith the Ten Commandments were broken up into two sections per se. The first half of commandments dealt with our relationship with God. So that is why God’s wrath is poured out on all ungodliness, because it is man’s rejection of God’s way of having a proper and correct relationship with Him. The second half the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship with fellow man. So when we sin against our fellowman we are judged as being “unrighteous”.
3.) There are three things why God’s wrath will be poured and is continually being poured out:
a. Man suppressing God’s truth. (V18) This happens when man willfully (purposely) ignore God’s truth and choose to squeeze it out of their life, mindset, relationships, values, etc. They purposely believe a lie, rather than the truth. That is why the bible teaches let every man be a liar but God is truthful in all that He does.
b. Man ignoring God’s revelation. (V19-20) God has revealed Himself through the development of the creation; every detail is accounted for from the earth, the atmosphere, the galaxies, human beings and their genetic make-up, etc. Like I stated earlier God left nothing up for chance, everything is and was perfectly planned and created. Man is without excuse when it comes to acknowledging that God exist, because His fingerprints are all over this world. God purposely made know Himself to us, the fact of the matter is that man has chosen to simply ignore this truth and entail will be held accountable for such disregard for who He is.
c. Man perverting God’s glory. (V21-23) God’s glory is found in His most prized creation, the amazing specimen we call “human beings”. Humans from the beginning of the “Age of Man” have purposely chosen not to glorify Him for His involvement in our lives and creation, but rather we have chosen to worship (glorify) the "created" rather than the "Creator".
Final thoughts:
Man has lost their way by rejecting God in every way possible. We (man) reject His existence! We reject His truths about who He is! We reject to glorify (worship) Him! Now, if you were a creator and your creation looked at you and said, “You did not create me. You do not exist! I can’t trust you! I don’t believe in you!” How would this make you feel? Let me just state that as a father if my children were to look me in my eyes and tell me that I was not their father and that I had no place in their lives I would be devastated. My heart would literally collapse inside of me! Do you not think that God does not feel this way about His creation? Heart broken? Not only did His creation reject His existence, they made up their own gods. They rejected their Creator and made up their own creator and in doing so their (man) minds were darkened. We (man) became foolish and futile in our thinking because we rejected the existence of God.
In essence God said, “Hey you want nothing to do with me, then I will give you what you want.” This type of thinking by man was all caused by one little act of disobedience and from the moment that Adam and Eve rejected God sin was birthed. Since conception sin has grown and continues to grow until we have a “face to face” encounter with Jesus, our ransom. When you continue to look at the first few verses you will see that God has made Himself known in us because He (God) has shown Himself to us (man), that we are all without excuse! Daniel Webster was asked, “What is the greatest thought to enter into the mind of men? Mr. Webster responded by stating, “My personal accountability to God!” Whether you have faith or not a day will come when we will have to meet your Creator face to face and give an account on the “whys” of your life. I cannot fathom what it will be like on that day, but I must say it might what many call “a day of reckoning”.
Now, let us take up creation. Everything that is seen has come from a creator or the Creator, with that being stated God will refute every excuse that man will throw at Him when we stand (or bow) before Him. The bible teaches that “ The heaven’s declare the glory of God” and I believe that they will stand as a witness either against those who have rejected God or with those who have chosen to believe. So not only will God have Himself as witness, but He will also have the angels, fellow humans and the creation to stand as a witness. Are you able to defend yourself in His court? What about these witnesses? Will you be able to refute their testimonies if they were against you? We all have a court date, are you prepared?
Changing the scene here, there was something rather interesting that caught my attention when I began to read this verse through again and it was the portion of scripture that stated “nor were thankful”. The more and more I began to ponder this verse it made me realize the thankfulness comes out of the heart of those whom are grateful for whatever reason. In this case, I believe God was looking for people who were thankful to be alive and were able to enjoy Him. Yet, there are people who could careless about being thankful to God for whatever reason. The are ungrateful, boastful, proud, arrogant, etc in their hearts and they chose not to thank God for His eternal power and the blessings in which He gives. Many people will be rebuked when they stand before God because of their lack of thankfulness; I am so glad unto God thankfulness matters to Him because it shows gratitude and respect.
Also, lets talk about how man confesses how wise he is; that there is no need for knowledge of God. The bible teaches that we reject God we become foolish! (Remember the fool says in his heart there is no God.) Man in their sinful state are just plain stupid and because of their refusal to acknowledge God they have chosen the dark road that leads to nowhere but death and separation from God. Why in the world would someone want to be separated from life? It makes no sense, yet billions of people have chosen to live this way without hope and void of God. What miserable people.
Finally I want to end with the portion of scripture that states, “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie”. Man in their darken state exchange life for death, how foolish is that? They took the very truth that was presented to them and refused to believe but rather they believe in something that would destroy them, why? I know the answer is because sin is deceitful but what I see here is that their lives had become to consumed with sin that they willfully exchanged the truth to believe in something that was completely false. At this I cannot even find the words to express how STUPID this is!
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 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, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 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.”
God, what is man that you are mindful of him? The more and more I look at these seven verses I realize that God has not left anything up to chance. With that being stated here is what I got out of them:
1.) God’s wrath, what is it? God’s wrath is His personal expression of His righteousness and opposition against sinfulness (not the human). The way I understand verse 18 is that God’s wrath is continually being revealed against all sinfulness and will culminate and climax during the 7-year period that has been set-aside until the completion of the “Church Age”. God must judge sin, or else He is unjust. In the midst of His judgment against sin He allowed (and gave) His Son Jesus to pay in full the balance we owe to God because of our sin. When we (Any person who decides to place their trust and hope in Jesus) believe this truth God’s wrath (or judgment) is satisfied, however, there is personal judgment and then there is global judgment. I believe that when both Adam and Eve rejected God by disobeying Him a curse was placed on their blood (Life is in the blood. Don't think so? Tell me how you can live without blood, but also be reminded our genetic code is found in our DNA and that my friend is in the blood.) line but also the earth came under this curse too because they were given dominion to care for it. So since the person who is in charge (managerial) of the land is held responsible, so is the land that has been entrusted to the person. Maybe this is why the earth is waiting for the day to be completely purged of the wickedness that has been found on it and in it.
2.) So what has God’s wrath been revealed against? God’s wrath is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. According to Pastor Chuck Smith the Ten Commandments were broken up into two sections per se. The first half of commandments dealt with our relationship with God. So that is why God’s wrath is poured out on all ungodliness, because it is man’s rejection of God’s way of having a proper and correct relationship with Him. The second half the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship with fellow man. So when we sin against our fellowman we are judged as being “unrighteous”.
3.) There are three things why God’s wrath will be poured and is continually being poured out:
a. Man suppressing God’s truth. (V18) This happens when man willfully (purposely) ignore God’s truth and choose to squeeze it out of their life, mindset, relationships, values, etc. They purposely believe a lie, rather than the truth. That is why the bible teaches let every man be a liar but God is truthful in all that He does.
b. Man ignoring God’s revelation. (V19-20) God has revealed Himself through the development of the creation; every detail is accounted for from the earth, the atmosphere, the galaxies, human beings and their genetic make-up, etc. Like I stated earlier God left nothing up for chance, everything is and was perfectly planned and created. Man is without excuse when it comes to acknowledging that God exist, because His fingerprints are all over this world. God purposely made know Himself to us, the fact of the matter is that man has chosen to simply ignore this truth and entail will be held accountable for such disregard for who He is.
c. Man perverting God’s glory. (V21-23) God’s glory is found in His most prized creation, the amazing specimen we call “human beings”. Humans from the beginning of the “Age of Man” have purposely chosen not to glorify Him for His involvement in our lives and creation, but rather we have chosen to worship (glorify) the "created" rather than the "Creator".
Final thoughts:
Man has lost their way by rejecting God in every way possible. We (man) reject His existence! We reject His truths about who He is! We reject to glorify (worship) Him! Now, if you were a creator and your creation looked at you and said, “You did not create me. You do not exist! I can’t trust you! I don’t believe in you!” How would this make you feel? Let me just state that as a father if my children were to look me in my eyes and tell me that I was not their father and that I had no place in their lives I would be devastated. My heart would literally collapse inside of me! Do you not think that God does not feel this way about His creation? Heart broken? Not only did His creation reject His existence, they made up their own gods. They rejected their Creator and made up their own creator and in doing so their (man) minds were darkened. We (man) became foolish and futile in our thinking because we rejected the existence of God.
In essence God said, “Hey you want nothing to do with me, then I will give you what you want.” This type of thinking by man was all caused by one little act of disobedience and from the moment that Adam and Eve rejected God sin was birthed. Since conception sin has grown and continues to grow until we have a “face to face” encounter with Jesus, our ransom. When you continue to look at the first few verses you will see that God has made Himself known in us because He (God) has shown Himself to us (man), that we are all without excuse! Daniel Webster was asked, “What is the greatest thought to enter into the mind of men? Mr. Webster responded by stating, “My personal accountability to God!” Whether you have faith or not a day will come when we will have to meet your Creator face to face and give an account on the “whys” of your life. I cannot fathom what it will be like on that day, but I must say it might what many call “a day of reckoning”.
Now, let us take up creation. Everything that is seen has come from a creator or the Creator, with that being stated God will refute every excuse that man will throw at Him when we stand (or bow) before Him. The bible teaches that “ The heaven’s declare the glory of God” and I believe that they will stand as a witness either against those who have rejected God or with those who have chosen to believe. So not only will God have Himself as witness, but He will also have the angels, fellow humans and the creation to stand as a witness. Are you able to defend yourself in His court? What about these witnesses? Will you be able to refute their testimonies if they were against you? We all have a court date, are you prepared?
Changing the scene here, there was something rather interesting that caught my attention when I began to read this verse through again and it was the portion of scripture that stated “nor were thankful”. The more and more I began to ponder this verse it made me realize the thankfulness comes out of the heart of those whom are grateful for whatever reason. In this case, I believe God was looking for people who were thankful to be alive and were able to enjoy Him. Yet, there are people who could careless about being thankful to God for whatever reason. The are ungrateful, boastful, proud, arrogant, etc in their hearts and they chose not to thank God for His eternal power and the blessings in which He gives. Many people will be rebuked when they stand before God because of their lack of thankfulness; I am so glad unto God thankfulness matters to Him because it shows gratitude and respect.
Also, lets talk about how man confesses how wise he is; that there is no need for knowledge of God. The bible teaches that we reject God we become foolish! (Remember the fool says in his heart there is no God.) Man in their sinful state are just plain stupid and because of their refusal to acknowledge God they have chosen the dark road that leads to nowhere but death and separation from God. Why in the world would someone want to be separated from life? It makes no sense, yet billions of people have chosen to live this way without hope and void of God. What miserable people.
Finally I want to end with the portion of scripture that states, “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie”. Man in their darken state exchange life for death, how foolish is that? They took the very truth that was presented to them and refused to believe but rather they believe in something that would destroy them, why? I know the answer is because sin is deceitful but what I see here is that their lives had become to consumed with sin that they willfully exchanged the truth to believe in something that was completely false. At this I cannot even find the words to express how STUPID this is!
