ViaCrucis
Confessional Lutheran
- Oct 2, 2011
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Since this is a matter of theology, not science I am going to continue to respond theologically:
His invisible attributes, His power and Deity. The Deus Absconditus.
Your reading of this passage, however, ignores several things:
1) God's Revelation.
2) Paul's argument here is ultimately to demonstrate how everyone has gotten things wrong, he begins here talking about the error of the Gentiles, but see what he says as we move into Romans 2:1,
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."
To quote Dr. Luther in his Heidelberg Disputations,
"That person does not deserve to be called a theologian who looks upon the »invisible« things of God as though they were clearly »perceptible in those things which have actually happened« (Rom. 1:20; cf. 1 Cor 1:21-25).
This is apparent in the example of those who were »theologians« and still were called »fools« by the Apostle in Rom. 1:22. Furthermore, the invisible things of God are virtue, godliness, wisdom, justice, goodness, and so forth. The recognition of all these things does not make one worthy or wise." - Heidelberg Disputation, 19
Note that Luther specifically quotes Romans 1:20 in defense of his disputation here. The raw invisible qualities, the divine glory, borne witness in the natural world does not lead to the truth. For if the divine power expressed through nature is seen and yet men turn to the creature rather than the Creator, then the mere perception of divinity is hardly sufficient for anything. But rather many idolatries have arisen.
So how can one know God? Only through God in His Revelation, the Deus Revelatus,
"He deserves to be called a theologian, however, who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross." - Disputation 20
As it is written, "No one has at any time seen God, but God the only-begotten Son, He has made Him known." (John 1:18), or as Christ so explicitly says, "If you have seen Me you have seen the Father."
The Christian knows the God who has made Himself known through Jesus Christ, who emptied Himself into suffering and humility, even death on the cross. This is our God, the God who empties Himself into death.
The Christian does not merely confess "I believe in God", but rather,
"We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things seen and unseen."
And how can we confess this faith in the Father except by His Son?
"And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made; of the same Being as the Father. By Him all things were made. Who for us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, became flesh by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried. The third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end."
Even more, "The catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the Persons nor dividing the Substance."
This cannot be known, or believed, except by faith in the Christ who came, suffered, died, and rose again.
-CryptoLutheran
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