Romans 1:18 - 2:16
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Paul could have used those excellent words in his letter because Romans 1:18 is the door that leads us into God's courtroom.
The theme of Romans is God’s righteousness, but Paul had to begin with mankind’s unrighteousness. Until a person knows he is a sinner, he cannot appreciate the gracious salvation God offers in Jesus Christ. Paul followed the basic Bible pattern: first, law and condemnation, then grace and salvation.
In this section, God makes three declarations, proving that all people are sinners and need Jesus Christ.
1. THE DEGENERATION OF MAN - THE GENTILES (Romans 1:18-32
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
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:
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.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
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.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
The picture Paul paints here is an ugly one.
There are places in this world you and I would never want to visit.
Avoiding them does not change them or eliminate them. God's description of sinners is not pretty, but we cannot prevent it. This section does not teach evolution (that humans started low and climbed high), but devolution:
Because of sin, he started high and sank lower than the beasts. Four stages mark humankind's tragic DEGENERATION.
Sin is not a Problem of lack of INTELLIGENCE v. 18-20
Human history began with people knowing God. Human history is not the story of a beast that worshipped idols and then evolved into a person worshipping one God. Human history is just the opposite: People began knowing God but turned from the truth and rejected God. God revealed Himself to humankind through creation, the things that He made.
From the world around them, humans knew that there was a God who had the wisdom to plan and the power to create. Humans realized, too, that this Creator was eternal ... "His eternal power and Godhead" (Rom. 1:20), since God could not be created if He is the Creator.
These facts about God are not hidden in creation; they are "clearly seen" (v. 20). "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork" (Ps. 19:1).
The word "hold" in Rom. 1:18 can also be translated as "hold down, suppress." Men knew the truth about God, but they did not allow this truth to work in their lives. They suppressed it so they could live THEIR lives and not be convicted by God's truth. The result, of course, was refusing the truth (Rom. 1:21-22), and then turning the truth into a lie (Rom. 1:25).
Finally, humankind so abandoned the truth that they became like beasts in their thinking and living.
Willful IGNORANCE (Romans 1:21-23
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.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
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.
Humans knew God; this is clear. But they did not want to know God or honor Him as God. Instead of being thankful for all God had given them, humans refused to thank God or give Him the glory He deserves.
They were willing to use God's gifts but not to worship and praise God for His gifts.
God’s resources
God’s air
The result was an empty mind and a darkened heart.
Man, the worshipper, became man, the philosopher, but his empty wisdom only revealed his foolishness.
Paul summarized Greek history in one dramatic statement: “The times of this ignorance" (Acts 17:30). First Corinthians 1:18-31 is worth reading.
Having SUPPRESSED God's truth and refusing to acknowledge God's glory, humankind was left without a god, and humanity is so constituted that they must worship something. If they will not worship the true God, they will worship a false god, even if they have to manufacture it themselves.
This fact about humankind accounts for their propensity to idolatry. They exchanged the glory of the true God for substitute gods that they made. They exchanged glory for shame, corruption for corruption, and truth for lies.
Carthaginian Civilization -
Carthage was destroyed in 146 BC at the end of the Third Punic War, a conflict between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian Empire.
Baal Hammon was considered the chief god of fertility, agriculture, and weather.
Tanit is a goddess associated with fertility, motherhood, and the moon. She became particularly significant in Carthage and was often depicted alongside Baal Hammon.
Regarding child sacrifice, there is evidence that the Carthaginians did practice a ritual known as Moloch or Tophet, which may have involved the sacrifice of infants and young children. This practice has been described by ancient sources, including the Greeks and Romans, who portrayed it as a central aspect of Carthaginian religion. Archaeological findings, such as urns containing the cremated remains of infants
Aztec Civilization —
The Aztec civilization was effectively destroyed in 1521 when the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his Indigenous allies captured the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán.
The Aztecs believed these sacrifices were essential to maintaining the cosmic order, appeasing the gods, and ensuring the prosperity of their society.
Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war, the sun, and the patron deity of Tenochtitlán was one of the most important gods in the Aztec pantheon.
Known as the "Smoking Mirror," Tezcatlipoca was a powerful god of the night, sorcery, and destiny. He was also associated with conflict and chaos. Sacrifices to Tezcatlipoca were meant to appease him and maintain balance in the world.
Note that we are first on the list of false gods. This fulfilled Satan’s purpose when he told Eve, “You will be like God” (Gen. 3:5 NASB). “Glory to man in the highest!”
Satan encouraged humans to say. Instead of being made in God’s image, man made gods in his own and descended so low as to worship birds, beasts, and bugs.
In NEBUCHADNEZZAR
3.) INDULGENCE (vv. 24-27).
From idolatry to immorality is just one short step. If man is his god, he can do whatever he pleases and fulfill his desires without fear of judgment. We reach the climax of man's battle with God's truth when man exchanges the truth of God for "the lie" and abandons truth completely.
"The lie" is that man is his own god and should worship and serve himself, not the Creator. It was "the lie" Satan used in the garden to lead Eve into sin: "Ye shall be as gods." Satan has always wanted the worship that belongs only to God
Isa. 14:12-15; “I will exalt my throne”
Matt. 4:8- 10 “Fall down and worship me”
and he receives that worship in idolatry…
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
The result of this self-deification was self-indulgence, and here Paul mentions a vile sin that was rampant in that day and has become increasingly prevalent in our day: homosexuality. This sin is repeatedly condemned in Scripture (Gen. 18:20ff.; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Jude 7). Paul characterizes it as "vile" and "unnatural," as well as "against nature." Not only were the men guilty, but "even the women."
Because of their sin, “God gave them up” (Rom. 1:24, 26),
which means that He permitted them to continue in their sins and reap the sad consequences.
They received Rom.1:27
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving
in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
This is the meaning of Romans 1:18: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven" (literal translation).
God revealed His wrath, not by sending fire from heaven, but by abandoning sinful men to their lustful ways. But there was one more stage.
(4) REPROBATION (vv. 28-32).
When man began to feel the tragic consequences of his sins, you would think he would repent and seek God, but just the opposite was true. Because God abandoned him, he could only become worse. Man did not even want to retain God in his knowledge!
So, "God gave them over,” this time to a "depraved mind" (Rom. 1:28), which means a mind that cannot form right judgments - they see no distinction between right and wrong.
They now abandoned themselves to sin.
Paul names twenty-four specific sins, all of which are with us today. (For other lists, see Mark 7:20-23; Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Tim. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 3:2-5.)
But the worst is yet to come. Men not only committed these sins in open defiance of God but encouraged others and applauded them when they sinned. How far man fell!
He began glorifying God but ended up exchanging that glory for darkness and idols. He began knowing God but ended up refusing to keep the knowledge of God in his mind and heart. He started as the highest of God's creatures, made in the image of God, but he ended lower than the beasts and insects because he worshipped them as his gods. The verdict? "They are without excuse" (Rom. 1:20).
This portion of Scripture gives ample proof that the heathen are lost.
Dan Crawford, a British missionary to Africa, said, “The heathen are sinning against a flood of light.” We desperately need to carry the gospel to all men, for this is the only way they can be saved.
THE DECEPTIVENESS OF EPMTY RELIGION (2:1—3:8) THE JEWS
Bible scholars disagree on whom Paul was addressing in Romans 2:1-16. Some think he was dealing with the moral pagan who did not commit the sins named in Romans 1:18-32 but sought to live an ethical life. But Paul was addressing his Jewish readers in this section. To begin with, his discussion of the law in Romans 2:12-16 would have been more meaningful to a Jew than to a Gentile. In Romans 2:17, he openly addressed his reader as "a Jew." This would be a strange address if he were addressing Gentiles in the first half of the chapter.
It would not be an easy task to find the Jews guilty since disobedience to God was one sin they did not want to confess. The Old Testament prophets were persecuted for indicting Israel for her sins, and Jesus was crucified for the same reason. Paul summoned four "witnesses" to prove the guilt of the Jewish nation.
(1) The Gentiles (Romans 2:1-3
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Indeed, the Jews would applaud Paul's condemnation of the Gentiles in Romans 1:18-32. Jewish national and religious pride encouraged them to despise the "Gentile dogs" and have nothing to do with them. Paul used this judgmental attitude to prove the guilt of the Jews for the very things they condemned in the Gentiles they were practicing! They thought they were free from judgment because they were God's chosen people. But Paul affirmed that God's election of the Jews increased their responsibility and accountability.
God's judgment is according to truth. He does not have one standard for the Jews and another for the Gentiles. One who reads the list of sins in Romans 1:29-32 cannot escape that each person is guilty of at least one.
There are "sins of the flesh and of the spirit" (2 Cor. 7:1
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved,
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
there are "prodigal sons" and "elder brothers" (Luke 15:11-32). When they condemned the Gentiles for their sins, the Jews were condemning themselves. As the old saying puts it when you point your finger at somebody else, the other three-point at you."
(2) God's blessing (Romans 2:4-11).
Instead of giving the Jews special treatment from God, the blessings they received from Him gave them a greater responsibility to obey Him and glorify Him. In His goodness, God had given Israel great material and spiritual riches: a wonderful land, a righteous law, a temple and priesthood, God's providential care, and many more blessings.
God had patiently endured Israel's many sins and rebellions and had even sent them His Son to be their Messiah. Even after Israel crucified Christ, God gave the nation nearly forty more years of grace and withheld His judgment. It is not the judgment of God that leads men to repentance, but the goodness of God—but Israel did not repent.
In Romans 2:6-11, Paul was not teaching salvation by character or good deeds. He was explaining another fundamental principle of God's judgment:
God judges according to deeds, just as He judges according to truth. Paul deals with the consistent actions of a person’s life and the total impact of his character and conduct.
For example, David committed some terrible sins, but the total emphasis of his life was obedience to God.
Judas confessed his sin and supplied the money to buy a cemetery for strangers, yet the total focus of his life was disobedience and unbelief.
Authentic saving faith results in obedience and godly living, even though there may be occasional falls.
When God measured the deeds of the Jews, He found them to be as wicked as those of the Gentiles. The fact that the Jews occasionally celebrated a feast or even regularly honored the Sabbath day did not change the fact that their consistent daily life was one of disobedience to God. God's blessings did not lead them to repentance.
(3) God's law (Romans 1:12-24).
Paul's statement in Romans 2:11, "For there is no respect of persons with God," would shock the Jews, for they considered themselves deserving of special treatment because God chose them. But Paul explained that the Jewish law only made Israel’s guilt that much more significant.
God did not give the law to the Gentiles so the law would not judge them. The Gentiles had "the work of the law written in their hearts" (Rom. 2:15).
Wherever you go, you find people with an inner sense of right and wrong and this inner judge, the Bible calls "conscience." Among all cultures, you see a sense of sin, a fear of judgment, and an attempt to atone for sins and appease whatever gods are feared.
The Jew boasted in the law.
He was different from his pagan neighbors who worshipped idols. But Paul made it clear that it was not the possession of the law that counted but the practice of the law.
The Jews looked at the Gentiles as blind, in the dark, foolish, immature, and ignorant. But if God found the "deprived" Gentiles guilty, how much more guilty were the "privileged" Jews?
God not only judges according to truth (Rom. 2:2) and according to men's deeds (Rom. 2:6), but He also judges "the secrets of men" (Rom. 2:16). He sees what is in the heart.
The Jewish people had a religion of outward action, not inward attitude. They may have been moral on the outside, but what about the heart? Our Lord's indictment of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 illustrates the principle perfectly. God not only sees the deeds, but He also sees the "thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). a Jew can be guilty of theft, adultery, and idolatry (Rom. 2:21-22) even if no one saw him commit these sins outwardly. In the Sermon on the Mount, we are told that such sins can be committed in the heart.
Instead of glorifying God among the Gentiles, the Jews were dishonoring God, and Paul quoted Isaiah 52:5 to prove his point.
The pagan Gentiles had daily contact with the Jews in business and other activities, and they were not fooled by the Jews' devotion to the law. The very law that the Jews claimed to obey only indicted them!
(4) Circumcision (Romans 2:25-29
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
This was the mark of the covenant, and it began with Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation (Gen. 17 To the Jews, the Gentiles were "uncircumcised dogs."
The tragedy is that the Jews depended on this physical mark instead of the spiritual reality it represented (Deut. 10:16; “foreskin of your heart”
Jer. 9:26; “uncircumcised in the heart”
Ezek. 44:9). “uncircumcised in heart”
A true Jew has had an inward spiritual experience in the heart, not merely an outward physical operation. People today make this same mistake about baptism, the Lord's Supper, or even church membership.
God will judge by Jesus Christ and according to "the secrets of men" (Rom. 2:16), so He is not impressed with outward formalities.
An obedient Gentile with no circumcision would be more acceptable than a disobedient Jew with circumcision. A disobedient Jew turns his circumcision into uncircumcision in God's sight, for God looks at the heart. The Jews praised each other for their obedience to the law, but the important thing is the "praise of God" and not the praise of men (Rom. 2:29).
When you recall that the name "Jew" comes from "Judah," which means "praise," this statement takes on a new meaning (Gen. 29:35; 49:8).
3. HE AFFIRMED HIS CONFIDENCE (1:16-17)
What a testimony: "I am a debtor! I am eager! I am not ashamed!" Why would Paul even be tempted to be ashamed of the gospel as he contemplated his trip to Rome? For one thing, the gospel was identified with a poor Jewish carpenter who was crucified. The Romans had no special appreciation for the Jews, and crucifixion was the lowest form of execution given a criminal. Why put your faith in a Jew who was crucified?
Rome was a proud city, and the gospel came from Jerusalem, the capital of one of the little nations that Rome conquered. The Christians in that day were not among society’s elite; they were familiar people and even slaves. Rome had known many great philosophers and philosophies; why pay any attention to a fable about a Jew who arose from the dead (1 Cor. 1:18-25)? Christians looked on each other as brothers and sisters, all one in Christ, which went against the grain of Roman pride and dignity. To think of a little Jewish tentmaker going to Rome to preach such a message is almost humorous.
But Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. He was confident in his message and gave several reasons for his confidence.
The origin of the gospel: It is the gospel of Christ (v. 16a). Any message handed down from Caesar would immediately get the attention of the Romans. But the gospel’s message is from and about the very Son of God! In his opening sentence, Paul called this message "the gospel of God" (Rom. 1:1). How could Paul be ashamed of such a message when it came from God and centered on His Son, Jesus Christ?
Entrusted with a message from an authority it carries the power of the of the one who sent the message:
The operation of the gospel:
It is the power of God (v. 16b).
Why be ashamed of power? Power is the one thing that Rome boasted of the most.
Greece might have its philosophy, but Rome had its power. The fear of Rome hovered over the empire like a cloud. Were they not the conquerors? Were not the Roman legions stationed all over the known world? However, with all of her military power, Rome was still a weak nation.
The philosopher Seneca called the city of Rome "a cesspool of iniquity,” and the writer Juvenal called it a "filthy sewer into which the dregs of the empire flood."
No wonder Paul was not ashamed: He was taking to sinful Rome the one message that had the power to change people's lives! He had seen the gospel work in other wicked cities, such as Corinth and Ephesus, and he was confident it would work in Rome. It had transformed his own life, and he knew it could transform the lives of others. There was a third reason why Paul was not ashamed.
The gospel’s outcome: It is God’s power unto salvation (v. 16c).
