Go! And See What God Has Made Known - Romans 1:20
Romans 1:20 (New Living Translation)
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God."
Introduction: See What God Has Made Known
My dear friends, we live in a world filled with evidence of God. We breathe in air that we cannot see, yet without it we would die. We stand on a planet perfectly positioned in space, not too close to the sun to burn, not too far to freeze. We witness sunsets painted with glory, oceans roaring with majesty, and stars that shine as if whispering His name. And Romans 1:20 tells us: you have no excuse not to know God!
This sermon, part of our "Go! And..." series, is titled Go! And See What God Has Made Known. It is a call to open our eyes, our hearts, and our minds to the God who reveals Himself both through His creation and through His Son, Jesus Christ. And it is a call to repent, believe, and proclaim this truth with boldness.
1. God Reveals Himself in Creation (Romans 1:20)
Let us begin with the key verse:
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." (Romans 1:20, NLT)
Aoratos (???at??): "invisible" — the unseen characteristics of God.
Theiotes (?e??t??): "divine nature" — Godhood, deity, the very essence of God.
Paul writes to a Roman audience steeped in idol worship and paganism. Yet he proclaims that nature itself declares the existence of a Creator. From the vastness of the cosmos to the intricacies of a human cell, creation shouts: God is real!
When was the last time you marvelled at a sunrise, or considered the complexity of a snowflake? Every aspect of creation preaches a silent sermon of divine glory.
Quote: Charles Spurgeon once said, "He who looks at the sun with a telescope, but refuses to see the Son with the eye of faith, is blind indeed."
Beloved, are you seeing only what is visible, or are you allowing the visible to point you to the invisible?
2. The Witness of the Word (Psalm 19:1-4; John 1:1-3)
Psalm 19:1-4 (NLT) declares: "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world."
Creation is God's megaphone. But the Word of God is His direct voice. John 1:1-3 (NLT) adds:
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him."
Here the Word, the Logos, is Jesus Himself.
Logos (?????): "Word"—the expression of divine reason and order, personified in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is not just the messenger, He is the message. He is not just the creator, He is the sustainer of creation.
John Piper said, "Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. All the fullness of God dwells in Him."
So, when you look at creation, and when you read Scripture, it all points to Christ.
3. The Rebellion of the Human Heart (Romans 1:21-23)
Romans 1:21-23 (NLT): "Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools."
This passage reveals humanity's wilful rejection of the truth. Despite the evidence, the heart prefers darkness to light.
Mataiothesan (µata????sa?): "became futile" — to become empty, meaningless.
A man once ignored his car's warning lights. The signs were there. Smoke started to rise, the engine made noises, yet he continued until it broke down. Likewise, God has provided countless signs, but the world often chooses to ignore them.
Don’t be like that man. Don’t silence your conscience or ignore the Holy Spirit. The world may deny truth, but God still declares it through His creation, His Word, and His Son.
4. The Revelation of Christ in the Gospel (Colossians 1:15-20)
Colossians 1:15-20 (NLT): "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation... For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself."
This is the Gospel: God revealing Himself through Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.
This is not a distant, unknowable God. This is a God who entered creation to redeem it.
Tim Keller wrote, "The Gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."
That, my friends, is grace!
5. Go! And Proclaim What You Know (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NLT): "And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him... So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!'"
If you know the truth, go and make it known!
Imagine a man in a desert finding an oasis. Would he not run to tell others dying of thirst? So must we, who have drunk from the living water of Christ.
The Gospel Presentation:
God created all things and revealed His nature in them. Yet we rebelled. In love, God sent His Son Jesus—born of a virgin, sinless, crucified for our sins, buried, and raised to life on the third day.
Through Jesus, we can be forgiven, restored, and have eternal life. That is the Good News!
Call to Action:
Repent! Turn from sin. Believe! Trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Go! Proclaim the Gospel to a world without excuse.
Invitation to Salvation:
Friend, if you've heard His voice today, do not harden your heart. Respond to the One who reveals Himself through creation, through the Word, and ultimately through Christ.
Place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. He is calling you. Come.
Benediction:
May you go into this week with eyes wide open to the glory of God. May you walk in wonder, speak with boldness, and live as one who has seen what God has made known.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14)
