The Unjust Shall Live by Sight

Romans  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  41:11
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Introduction

A light switch is a marvelous thing. With one flick of a finger, a dark obstacle-laden room filled with peril is instead filled with light, its obstacles laid bare and easily avoided.
We don’t always turn lights on
We easily turn lights off

Transition

Having reminded us that “the just shall live by faith” (we might says with the lights on), Paul turns his attention to another way to live (we might say with the lights off).

Illumination

Sight Should Be Enough, Romans 1:19

Romans 1:19 NKJV
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

The knowledge of God is manifest IN them, literally

manifest in them = visible in them (humanity is a part of God’s natural revelation)
manifest in them = known in them (innate knowledge of God, usually mis-defined by those who help us make sense of the world around us)

The knowledge of God is shown to them, Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1-4

Romans 1:20 NKJV
20 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,
Psalm 19:1–4 NKJV
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

The greatness of the created world

both how big it is and how small it is
it is like “to infinity and beyond” in either direction

The oneness of the created world

All of nature just works together.
Imagine the chaos that would ensue if any pagan pantheon with gods each having their own domains were really true…nature would be in competition with itself rather than harmony

The wisdom of the created world

Wisdom is a deep level of knowledge applied with skill to practical life.

Related to oneness, the wisdom required to keep the complexity functioning is beyond comprehension!
Transition: Quote from Apollinaris of Laodicea (4th-century bishop of Laodicea)

This means that although the visible creation was sufficient to reveal the invisible God, they nevertheless abandoned God and deified creatures instead, “suppressing the truth of God in unrighteousness.”

Sight Isn’t Enough, Romans 1:21-27

Romans 1:21–27 NKJV
21 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. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 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. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 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.
Because they suppress the truth that they do or could know, 18
Because they choose foolishness and darkness, 21
Because they see what they want to see (exchanging truth for a lie), 22-23
Because they do what they want to do (exchanging the natural for the unnatural, 24-27
Because they worship the creature rather than the creator, 25
They create a god in their own image
They worship this god who allows their impulses and fills their needs/wants
They define this god by their thoughts
Matthew 6:22–23 NKJV
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Sight Doesn’t Work in the Dark, Romans 1:12-31

Romans 1:28–31 NKJV
28 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; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
This description matches the world as we see it in our own day (as it likely always has). There is just a staggering variety of error and consequence listed here that we don’t want to dwell long on it.
Transition: Quote from Chrysostom (4th-century bishop of Constantinople)
New Testament VI: Romans (Revised) From Gentler to Dreadful Things

The ways of ungodliness are many, but the way of truth is only one. Error is something various and multiform and compound, but the truth is one.

Sight Still Sees the Light, Romans 1:32, 18

They are self-condemned but persistent

Romans 1:32 NKJV
32 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.

They are subject to wrath but insistent

Romans 1:18 NKJV
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Ungodliness = failure to love and obey God
Unrighteousness = failure to love and respect people
Matthew 22:37–40 NKJV
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
New Testament VI: Romans (Revised) Ungodliness and Wickedness

UNGODLINESS AND WICKEDNESS. GENNADIUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE: Generally speaking there are two main types of sin—discord with God and discord with one’s neighbor. Paul mentions them both, putting discord with God first because it is the greater sin, and calling it “ungodliness.” He then mentions the second kind of discord, the one with one’s neighbor, calling it “wickedness.” He even states that our entire race has rightly come under judgment, saying that they have suppressed the truth in wickedness. Nor can they claim to be ignorant, for knowing the truth, they perverted it.…

Conclusion

Paul says “the wrath of God IS revealed”. This statement is present tense, not future. It is clear that God reveals Himself but also restrains Himself. The punishment most receive in the present is the natural consequence of their own choices and actions.
God has not removed the opportunity to repent and turn toward Him
God has not removed the opportunity to reject and turn away from Him
God has not removed the opportunity to choose for ourselves
God HAS removed the opportunity to make excuses for ourselves

WITHOUT EXCUSE. AUGUSTINE: How does Paul mean that they are without excuse, except by reference to a kind of excuse that usually prompts human pride to voice such protestations as: “If only I had known, I would not have done it.” … This kind of excuse is taken away from them when a precept is given or when the knowledge of how to avoid sin is made clear to them.

Application

Though we have largely explored why the unbelieving world is the way it is and could relegate this section to the acquisition of knowledge, there is a real and pertinent application for us. We are as capable of turning off the light of truth as anyone else. If we have been born again, we cannot lose that. But we can live in ignorance, disregarding knowable truth or perverting it. Many Christians do. And they, like their unbelieving counterparts, receive the consequences of their choices and actions.
Seeing this and knowing this, should compel us to daily rededicate ourselves to avoiding this by retaining our knowledge, restraining our foolishness, and living our faith.
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