Why do People refuse to Believe?

Romans 1:18-32

Romans 1:18–32 NKJV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

It is interesting that the Holy Spirit linked unbelief or rejection of the obvious truth that God exists to a word that is often used in modern psychology, that is, the idea of suppression or repression.

Skeptics often seek to argue that Christianity unnecessarily represses natural desires in man, yet the Holy Spirit says that the rejection of God’s truth is the real repression.

“It is a repressing or holding down a truth that ought not to be repressed or held down” (If there’s a God, why are there atheists? R.C. Sproul, p. 60).

The Evidence is not the Problem

God has clearly revealed Himself in various ways at various times.

This chapter, as well as other verses (Psalm 19:1), make it clear that “the knowledge of God is not a problem of obscurity that can be detected only by an intellectually elite group or by a skilled master of esoteric mysteries” (Sproul p. 61).

Psalm 19:1 NKJV

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Here is how the Holy Spirit worded this point, “Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them” (Romans 1:19).

The word evident means “plain”, and the idea is that God makes His existence “clear” to everyone who has ever lived, for it is made plain each and every day in everything we see (Romans 1:20).

“In this case if the pupil doesn’t learn, it is not because the teacher didn’t teach” (Sproul p. 61).

Therefore, no one can logically cite insufficient evidence, for not believing in God.

In fact, learned men and women and even some scientists who claim that the evidence for God’s existence is insufficient should be embarrassed to make such a statement, seeing that around 96 percent of the population claims that they can see the evidence for God’s existence.

So the professor who claims that the evidence is “insufficient” is really indirectly admitting that 96 percent of the population has a clearer insight than he or she does.

The light does get through.

Even though we cannot read a person’s heart, the Holy Spirit is reading the hearts of unbelievers for us in this chapter and others.

Christians at times wonder if the die-hard atheist in his or her heart really believes in their atheism or actually does have an idea that God exists, yet he is not wanting to serve Him and is looking for an excuse.

The following verses demonstrate that God knows that His truth gets through; it does penetrate even the hearts of those who claim that He does not exist:

Who suppress the truth” (1:18)

“Even though they knew God” (1:21)

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (1:25)

“Just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer” (1:28)

“And, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death” (1:32)

God’s wrath is not directed against people who supposedly had no possible way of knowing anything about Him.

“That would hold people accountable for ignorance that could not be overcome. But the point is that such a revelation is given so that invincible ignorance cannot be the plea” (Sproul p. 64).

Unbelief is a retreat.

From honesty.

“For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (1:25).

Therefore, atheism and false religion are not movements toward truth, but man-made attempts to flee from the truth.

“Either option, atheism or diluted religion, manifests an exchange of the truth for a lie. The truth is exchanged for the lie simply because the lie seems easier to live with” (Sproul p. 76).

From humility.

“Professing to be wise” (Romans 1:22, 28).

Romans 1:22 NKJV

Professing to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:28 NKJV

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

In fact, to claim that no God exists is to claim that one is omniscient, for one would have to be all-knowing, omnipresent and eternal to realistically make such a claim.

Only one who has been around forever, knows everything and has been in every corner of reality, both physical and spiritual, could make such a claim.

Yet a finite, limited man who is confined to only one planet in the galaxy for about seventy some years is in no position to positively claim that God does not exist.

Observe that the unbeliever does believe in some absolute truths, for the statement, “God does not exist” is an absolute and dogmatic statement.

From Honor.

It is noteworthy that what begins as an act that dishonors God (1:21), ends up being a lifestyle that ends in dishonoring men (1:24,26). In other terms:

Man has no honor in a society that rejects God.

When God is not valued the value of human life decreases.

When man no longer keeps his commitments to God—do not be surprised when men do not honor their commitments among each other.

Ridicule God and you make yourself an object of ridicule, for you are made in His image

Hate God and you will end up hating yourself

Abandon God and you will find yourself without any restraints and in a life of complete abandon (1:24)

The Unbeliever is Religious

A culture that departs from the truth fuels idolatry and immorality.

It is noteworthy that the Holy Spirit does not view natural religion or the idolatry of paganism as a positive step in man’s supposed evolution, but rather views idolatry as an irrational flight from God.

Idolatry and immorality are evidence that a man or woman or a culture are on the run from truth. Romans 1:25 “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

“The practice of idolatrous religion is not viewed as an approximate form of authentic religion but as a negation of it. It is one thing to deny the existence of God; it is another thing to add insult to the denial by worshipping something that is clearly of the created order. The worship and service rendered to idols may be sincere, yet it is regarded as being sincerely evil. A sincere distortion of the truth that dishonors God evokes nothing less than the sincere wrath of God” (Sproul p. 69).

Most religions are man-made.

The skeptic is partially right. Ninety nine percent of the religions on this planet are human inventions, yet what the skeptic forgets is that one true religion, the faith revealed by the Holy Spirit does exist, from which all other religions are departures.

Every generation has been confronted with all sorts of attempts to soften the demands imposed by the true God.

Unbelief suppresses our true desires.

Often the argument is made that Christianity harms man by suppressing or repressing man’s natural sexual desire, yet this chapter says the exact opposite.

In fact, the chapter claims that homosexuality is not only an evidence that one is running from God, but equally evidence that one is suppressing the natural desires (Romans 1:26-27 ).

Romans 1:26–27 NKJV

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

Thus, this behavior not only damages a person physically and spiritually, but emotionally and mentally as well. I say mentally, because the text says in the very next verse, that God gave them over to a “depraved mind” (1:28).

They know the Righteous Judgment of God!

Our unconscious memory of God continues.

“And, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death” (Romans 1:32). Even though the knowledge of God or the truth is repressed, put down, or held in captivity, it is not destroyed.

“The memory remains, though it may be buried in the unconscious realm. Knowledge of God is unacceptable to man, and as a result man does his best to blot it out or at least camouflage it in such a way that its threatening character can be concealed or dulled” (Sproul p. 75).

Yes, the knowledge of the truth can be deeply buried, yet this chapter suggests that men and women, even when in full flight and rebellion, have a knowledge of the truth that is very near the surface.

They not only know that there is a God but often they are very aware of His specific instructions and moral standards. What this says is that the average unbeliever might be far more biblically literate than they admit.

Collective Unbelief encourages us to remain in sin.

Romans 1:32 NKJV

who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Not only did the average unbeliever in Paul’s day know that his deeds were evil and would be punished by God, but he also applauded and encouraged others to “participate in the madness with him” (Sproul p. 71).

It is far easier to engage in sin when there is no disapproval from others but rather there is a collective approval.

This explains our modern societies emphasis on “tolerance”, which is nothing more than an application of Romans 1:32 “hearty approval”.

For the believer this chapter says that you are not only on the right track, but you are honest, courageous, honoring God, self and others, and that you are quite sane.

How Can we Help the Unbeliever?

Be the example God wants you to be. Titus 2:7-8

Titus 2:7–8 NKJV

in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

Strive to be holy, and allow God to separate you from the majority of the religious world. Rev. 22:11

Revelation 22:11 NKJV

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

Be a friend. Mark 2:15-17

Mark 2:15–17 NKJV

Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”