Romans 1:18-23

Romans 1: 18-23 – Text will be King James for this online study. Class versions will be ESV/HCSB.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

Main Point: Mankind has known about God by the things He has created, but idolatry has been mankind’s preference over the obvious power of Jehovah. This is not an excuse for ignoring Jehovah God. (We can assume due to the idolatry inference that he is addressing Gentiles). Why would he say this?

10. Write down all the things the wrath of God is revealed again and explain what those things are.  Ungodliness, unrighteousness, which ultimately suppress the truth. In this context it will be ignoring the deity of Jehovah and replacing Him with all manner of manmade gods.

11. How has God been made plain to the world? Explain how these things are clearly seen. The basic understanding of a created world demands a creator. This verse clearly pierces the heart of current “science” whose basic objective is to remove the instinctual seeking of God by removing the perceived possibility of any god. When one frees the mind of talking heads and simply, honestly looks at creation….God is the only honest answer (truth). The complexities of life are only now becoming apparent and most science against God is crumbling under its own weight of failures.

12. What are the two sins that lead to the immorality of the Gentiles? What lessons do we learn from this? They knew God, but did not glorify Him, or thank Him. First one must consider these truths….about who God is and what he has done….His power and fully encompassing wisdom. And, how He has supplied us with all we need. The scriptures are full of examples of strong characters who give themselves credit when it is God who has performed great deeds through them. It is easy to move from the paradigm of humility. This is why God asks us to remind ourselves of Him….through prayer…worship…Lord’s Supper

13. What will happen to us when we commit these sins? Claiming to be wise, we become fools. It’s interesting how many in our culture point a finger at Christians as fools…scoffing, mocking and ridiculing. Then turn and bow to the new gods of today. Seeking confirmation of their biases based in failing sciences and mock intellect. We should not however become angry when these people come after us with their spite. Spite and insult is the mark of someone whose conscience is haunting them. They are to be pitied, and helped if they are willing. They live in perpetual fear.

14. Explain verse 23. What is Paul describing the Gentiles doing? Paul is describing what many humans do to get God out of their hearts/minds. They take a wonderful, perfect God, fully worthy of glory….fully worthy of worship…and turn Him into something carnal. This is done for a multitude of reasons, but it starts with a selfish heart. Self serving. Self aggrandizing. Self motivated. Remove God from the equation, and do whatever you want. Many people see freedom as being “free from a deity” whose only purpose is to control and punish. These actions can be motivated by a view of religions’ over-zealous need to control peoples’ lives. The gospel will set us free. What is ignored is that one God is being replace by another god. Either way, we serve something…it is inescapable.

Additional:

18) UNGODLINESS: G766 - From G765; impiety, that is, (by implication) wickedness:

      UNRIGHTEOUSNESS: G93 - ad-ee-kee'-ah From G94; (legal) injustice (properly the quality, by implication the act); moral wrongfulness (of charater, life or act): - iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.

      TRUTH G225- al-ay'-thi-a From G227; truth: - true, (G227 – not concealing)

21) HONOR (glorify) G1392: dox-ad'-zo From G1391; to render (or esteem) glorious

      THANKFUL _G2168_ yoo-khar-is-teh'-o From G2170; to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude (towards); specifically to say grace at a meal: