Romans, Part 3 Series

Romans, Part 3

Romans 1:18-25

Introduction

- Continuing on our study of Romans, we see Paul’s writings to the church

- This letter is to the church in Rome, consisting of Jews and Gentiles

- It is an encouragement, a constitution of HOW to live for Christ

- Today, in 2011, we would be wise to read this and apply it immediately

- Stand and read Romans 1:18-25 / Pray

Point 1 – God’s Revelation through Wrath (v18-19)

- The Greek word used to describe this wrath is thymos (literally, to boil up)

- First thing to understand is that God is love …

-- 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

-- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only son …”

- Second, God is the supreme ruler and creator of ALL creation

-- He is righteous (entire scripture proclaims God is righteous and He gives it)

-- He is Truth (Romans 3:4, “Let God be truth and every man a liar …”)

- So, in our lives – the application is this: Having ungodliness and unrighteousness is a deliberate violation and disrespect to how God calls us to live

- Paul was writing to the church in Rome not to show us “God’s checklist”

- He was writing to reveal who God is so we would recognize it and CHANGE

- Today, God’s righteousness is revealed at all times when the Word is preached

-- Because of man’s rebellion, v18 shows us the outcome of our actions

-- We are created to fellowship with – and to DESIRE to be closer to God

- Jesus was sent to reconcile this relationship, because you and I could not

- It is not about religion, it is not about rules, it (our lives) are about CHRIST!

- TRANS: God also shows us Himself in all of creation

Point 2 – God’s Revelation through Nature (v19-20)

- God has given us nature (creation) to identify us who He is

- Remember the conversation between Philip and Jesus in John 14? (Go there)

-- Just after Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life …”

-- We have this dialogue which tells us so much about God’s desire to show us

- John 14:8-9, “Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

- Consider the obviousness of this statement: Philip wants to see the Father

- We talked about this last week; there are two things revealed to us

- Jesus is fully God and yet fully human (see Romans 1:3-4)

- But, since we cannot see Jesus today; look at what God has given us to see!

- APP: Consider: stars, planets, galaxies, insects, trees, and sunsets … LIFE!

- John Calvin writes, “By saying that God has made it manifest, he means that man was created to be a spectator of this formed world; and that eyes were given to him, that he might (by looking on such a beautiful picture) be led to the Author Himself.”

- 1) God is the revealer – nature is how He reveals Himself to you and I

- 2) God’s revelation doesn’t guarantee a positive response

- 3) God’s revelation gives EVERYONE a chance to see Him … and RESPOND!

- Re-read verse 20

- APP: No one has an excuse for their rebellion (this is key in understanding God)

- TRANS: Paul then gives us insight to man’s response so we might be wise

Point 3 – How Does Man Respond? (v21-25)

- Preface: We have issues!! No one is absolved of having rebellion against God; so this application of this entire point applies to you and I (stay with me on this)

- Re-read verse 21-25

- Ask yourself, “What is a fool?” Someone who’s silly? Arrogant? Ignorant?

-- Hebrew culture shows us that the greatest fool of all is the one with the intelligence who is totally disobedient and rebels against God.

- Paul writes and uses the Greek word “moros”

-- It means sluggish, morally worthless in character, of no use to those around

-- The English word here is “moron”

-- Isaiah 32:6, “For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the LORD; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water.”

- Paul says that mankind responds to God in three ways:

-- 1) Rebellion: Chooses to not acknowledge who God is

-- 2) Arrogance: Rejecting God in place of his/her own knowledge