Romans 1:18-23: The Wrath of God Upon the Unrighteous

Introduction

Outline

Romans 1:1-17 - Introduction

Romans 1:1-7 - Introduction

Romans 1:8-15 - Paul's Thankfulness and Desire to come to Rome

Romans 1:16-17 - Our Eschatological Hope in the Gospel

Romans 1:18-3:20 - The Unrighteousness of Humanity

Romans 1:18-23 - The Wrath of God Upon the Unrighteous

Romans 1:18-20 - Why the Righteousness of God is Needed

Romans 1:21-23 - The Unrighteous Fail to Glorify God

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Romans is the righteousness of God

Main Point

The wrath of God is applied to those who are unrighteous and ungodly whose minds and hearts have rejected God

Romans 1:18-20 - Why The Righteousness of God is Needed

Exegesis

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Similar verbiage between this and previous verse

Romans 1:17 ESV

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

For the wrath of God

This provides the reason as to why the Righteousness of God is needed, so this is not a contradiction to the righteousness of God - God is righteous to inflict His wrath upon sinful humanity

John 3:36 ESV

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

This is in the present tense revealing the wrath of God is happening now

This is not given out in fits of anger against the unbeliever, but is justified because He is giving them the consequences of their sin

Revealed from heaven

Where God rules

Psalm 11:4 ESV

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

Revelation 4:2 ESV

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.

Against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men

All sin is in view here

Who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth

This knowledge can be known if they suppress it

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

There is abundant proof of God’s existence already

General Revelation

Psalm 19:1 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Humanity cannot know everything about God, but He has certainly revealed Himself enough that all and thus are held responsible for what information is available to them

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Invisible attributes - eternal power and divine nature

Clearly perceived

There is convincing evidence already on display of the existence of God

Ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made

Job 38 details the greatness of God in creation

Job 38:4-11 - Creation Established

Job 38:12-38 - Governance of Creation

Job 38:39-40:2 - Give life to all creatures

Job 38:4–11 ESV

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9 when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

So they are without excuse

No one is without excuse - every single person has enough evidence of the existence of God because of general revelation

Thus God’s wrath being poured out on humanity is entirely just and fair

The Conscience

Application

Romans 1:21-23 - The Unrighteous Fail to Glorify God

Exegesis

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Now we see why no one is without excuse

Although they knew God - summarizes 19-20

Giving thanks and honor to God is the role of a creatures, yet these don’t

Failing to glorify God is the root sin

Failure to glorify God even though they know Him

Futile thinking - foolish because it accomplishes nothing

22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

These Gentiles claimed to be wise… futile thinking vs. 21

The logical/rational wisdom of humanity (failure to worship the Creator) has led them to become fools

Psalm 14:1–4 ESV

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?

What are the results of their rejection of God? idol worship

Isaiah 6:3 ESV

3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

The Conscience

Application