PF - Romans 1:18-32

As we’ve said this evening, we’re starting a new series in the book of Romans. And, like we did with Matthew, we’re going to have to skip a couple of bits here and there. But hopefully this will mean that you get a general idea of what Romans is all about!

Now, before we come to our passage, let me pray and then I’ve got a question for us to think about.

PRAY

So, here’s my question. If someone asked you to give them evidence that God exists, what would you say? What things might you point to?

Turn to the person next to you and discuss that for a few moments.

ANSWERS

Good answers. Well, our passage today talks about that. But, as we’re going to see, it’s not good news. Because this passage does tell us that there is evidence out there that God exists! But that evidence is only good enough to condemn us, not save us.

Let ‘s read our passage. 18-25 + 26-32

Now, the passage doesn’t really start with good news, does it? Look at verse 18. What is it about God that is revealed? Why?

And why is God angry at humanity? It’s because, although God has shown us that He exists, verse 21 - we refuse to worship Him.

So, here’s what Paul is saying: “Guys, God has shown everyone that He exists. Look at the world He made! It shows that He is the powerful Creator! But humanity - WE - refuse to worship God. We refuse to say ‘Fair enough God, I need to follow you’.”

But why would we do that? Tell me some reasons why people might refuse to worship God even though the world shows He exists.

Well, here’s the reason that’s behind all of what you just said. End of verse 18 again.

What does humanity - WE - what do we do with the truth that God exists? What does that mean?

Do you understand what’s happening? Here’s what we should do.

We should look at the sun. At our bodies. We should look at nature. And instead of saying “Well, nature happened I guess!”, we should be saying “This is too well made to be random. There must be a God who made this!”

But what happens instead? “Look at the sun. It’s so pretty and it makes me feel warm. I know - I’m going to worship the sun!” And guys, we’ve done this with rain, crops, fire, all sorts of things you can imagine.

Why? Because we suppress the truth. Because, as verse 25 says, we change the truth that God exists for a lie - that God doesn’t exist.

Lots of people will say “I don’t have enough evidence to believe in God.” But Paul is telling us that there is enough evidence!

After all, he says in verse 20 that we have NO EXCUSE not to believe in God. God has given us enough evidence to believe that He exists!

The problem, gang, is not that God hasn’t given enough evidence. The problem is that we ignore the evidence. We push it to the side.

Because deep down we don’t want God to exists. Why? Because that means that we’re in charge. And we can do whatever we want! We can sin as much as we want!

And here’s what’s really sad. We think that being able to do whatever we want is a good thing, right?

Well, if you read verse 24 onwards, you will see something shocking.

This is a bit of a hard question. But look at verses 24, 26 and 28. What’s the little expression that gets repeated over and over? What do you think Paul is saying?

Do you see? Because we’ve chosen to ignore God and the evidence He gives us that He exists, God has decided to punish us. How?

By letting us do whatever we want. God has said “Fine, you want to live not following me? You want to do whatever you want? Go for it! But I’m taking the protection off.”

Think about a bowling alley. What’s the point of having those rails to the side? So, what happens if you take the rails off?

That is what God has done to punish us for not believing in Him. He has let us face the full consequences of our actions.

Look at the list in verse 29-31. Isn’t that a good description of what stuff that’s happening all over the world?

We are disobeying God more and more and we’re facing the consequences of that more and more because God is punishing humanity. Why? Because we’ve turned our backs on Him.

So guys, humanity has a problem. A big, gigantic problem. According to this passage, by default, God is angry at us. Because we refuse to follow Him. And because we really love to disobey Him. That’s what the Bible calls sin. And Paul later on in chapter 3 says “All of us have sinned. No exceptions”.

But some of you might be thinking “God is angry. Sure, I guess. What’s the big deal?” The big deal is that, if this doesn’t change, you and I won’t go to heaven. If things stay like this, then we won’t have eternal life. We will have eternal torment instead.

But you know that something has changed, right?

I know this talk has probably been very negative and maybe a bit scary. I understand.

I promise you this - the good news are coming! But, like someone once said to me, the good news about Jesus begin with the bad news about our sin.

Let’s pray.