The Wrath and Wisdom of God: A Call to Righteousness

Romans 1:18–32 NLT

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. 28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

ETS: In Romans 1:18-32, Paul addresses the reality of God's wrath against unrighteousness, revealing how humanity suppresses the truth and falls into sin, ultimately leading to moral decay and separation from God.

ESS: This passage confronts Christians with the seriousness of sin and the consequences of turning away from God. It encourages believers to examine their own lives, seek righteousness, and share the truth of the Gospel in a world that often chooses to reject it.

OSS: The sermon will teach that God's wrath is a response to human sinfulness, but it also highlights his righteousness and the necessity for believers to live out their faith authentically, against the backdrop of a society that often embraces unrighteousness.

PQ: How has man responded to God?

UW: facts

INTRODUCTION:

1. RECOGNIZING THE REALITY (Romans 1:18-20)

A. Reckoning with God's Wrath (Romans 1:18)

Romans 1:18 NLT

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

“Ἀποκαλύπτεται γὰρ ὀργὴ θεοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἀσέβειαν καὶ ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων τῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν ἀδικίᾳ κατεχόντων,”

1- Rejecting and attempting to suppress (κατεχόντων) the truth causes God to reveal (“Ἀποκαλύπτεται) his anger (ὀργὴ).

B. Recognizing God's Attributes (Romans 1:19)

Romans 1:19 NLT

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.

“διότι τὸ γνωστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ φανερόν ἐστιν ἐν αὐτοῖς, ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἐφανέρωσεν.” 1- God has made the truth about Himself clear to people.

2- This is why the Psalmist speaks of the foolishness of saying there is no God.

(Psalm 14:1)

Psalm 14:1 NLT

1 Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

C. Revealing Creation's Testimony (Romans 1:20)

Romans 1:20 NLT

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

“τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἥ τε ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους,”

1- Creation testifies to the fact of our divine creator.

a. Anyone who takes an honest look at the world and the visible universe has to conclude that there is a magnificent design.

b. Such a magnificent design requires a designer/creator!

(Psalm 19:1-4)

Psalm 19:1–4 NLT

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

2. REJECTING TRUE GLORY (Romans 1:21-23)

A. Recognize the Root of Ruin (Romans 1:21)

Romans 1:21 NLT

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

“διότι γνόντες τὸν θεὸν οὐχ ὡς θεὸν ἐδόξασαν ἢ ηὐχαρίστησαν, ἀλλὰ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία·”

1- Mankind recognized the existence of God (γνόντες τὸν θεὸν), but rejected him and chose to invent gods to worship.

2- The result of this idolatry resulted in confused and darkened minds.

a. Their to reasoning ability led them to nonsense (ἀλλὰ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς)

b. Their hearts and minds became unable to understand thus became filled with darkness (ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία·).

(Jeremiah 17:9)

Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

(Mark 7:21-23)

Mark 7:21–23 NLT

21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

B. Resist the Folly of Foolishness (Romans 1:22)

Romans 1:22 NLT

Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.

“φάσκοντες εἶναι σοφοὶ ἐμωράνθησαν,”

1- When man refuses to acknowledge the true God, he becomes a fool.

a. The way to wisdom begins with knowing and revering God.

(Proverbs 9:10)

Proverbs 9:10 NLT

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

C. Return to the Glory of God (Romans 1:23)

Romans 1:23 NLT

And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

“καὶ ἤλλαξαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἀφθάρτου θεοῦ ἐν ὁμοιώματι εἰκόνος φθαρτοῦ ἀνθρώπου καὶ πετεινῶν καὶ τετραπόδων καὶ ἑρπετῶν.” 1- God forbids us to worship anything but him.

(Exodus 20:3-5)

Exodus 20:3–5 NLT

3 “You must not have any other god but me. 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

(1 Corinthians 10:14)

1 Corinthians 10:14 NLT

14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.

(1 John 5:21)

1 John 5:21 NLT

21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

3. REAPING THE CONSEQUENCES (Romans 1:24-27)

A. Rejection Leads to Ruin (Romans 1:24)

Romans 1:24 NLT

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.

“Διὸ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς ἐν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τῶν καρδιῶν αὐτῶν εἰς ἀκαθαρσίαν τοῦ ἀτιμάζεσθαι τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς,” 1- Part of God’s judgment is abandoning (παρέδωκεν) people to follow their passions (ἐπιθυμίαις) into “vile and degrading”( ἀτιμάζεσθαι ) acts.

2- This is truly judgment because it leads to destruction. (James 1:14-15)

James 1:14–15 NLT

14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

B. Reality Replaced by Lies (Romans 1:25)

Romans 1:25 NLT

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

“οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει, καὶ ἐσεβάσθησαν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρὰ τὸν κτίσαντα, ὅς ἐστιν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας· ἀμήν.” 1- Mankind chose to reject the truth of God and invent lies to believe.

a- Man-made religions have proliferated around the world.

There are over 4,000 religions in the world. (according to answers.com)

Men have worshipped over 18,000 distinct deities that have been identified.

Man invented the Theory of Evolution to get around the need for a creator-God.

C. Relationships Refashioned by Sin (Romans 1:26–27)

Romans 1:26–27 NLT

26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

“Διὰ τοῦτο παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς εἰς πάθη ἀτιμίας· αἵ τε γὰρ θήλειαι αὐτῶν μετήλλαξαν τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν εἰς τὴν παρὰ φύσιν,

27 ὁμοίως τε καὶ οἱ ἄρσενες ἀφέντες τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν τῆς θηλείας ἐξεκαύθησαν ἐν τῇ ὀρέξει αὐτῶν εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἄρσενες ἐν ἄρσεσιν τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην κατεργαζόμενοι καὶ τὴν ἀντιμισθίαν ἣν ἔδει τῆς πλάνης αὐτῶν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀπολαμβάνοντες.

1- Homosexuality is clearly outside of God’s design for people.

2- Sexually transmitted diseases began with people not following God’s design for the sexual relationship (one man and one woman for life).

(Genesis 2:24)

Genesis 2:24 NLT

24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

(Matthew 19:4-6)

Matthew 19:4–6 NLT

4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ 5 And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

4. REALIZING THE COST (Romans 1:28-32)

A. Rejecting God Leads Reprobate (Romans 1:28)

Romans 1:28 NLT

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

“Καὶ καθὼς οὐκ ἐδοκίμασαν τὸν θεὸν ἔχειν ἐν ἐπιγνώσει, παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς εἰς ἀδόκιμον νοῦν, ποιεῖν τὰ μὴ καθήκοντα,” 1- When people refuse to acknowledge God and his word, no moral compass is left.

B. Rampant Sinfulness Revealed (Romans 1:29-30)

Romans 1:29–30 NLT

29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.

“πεπληρωμένους πάσῃ ἀδικίᾳ πονηρίᾳ πλεονεξίᾳ κακίᾳ, μεστοὺς φθόνου φόνου ἔριδος δόλου κακοηθείας, ψιθυριστάς,

30 καταλάλους, θεοστυγεῖς, ὑβριστάς, ὑπερηφάνους, ἀλαζόνας, ἐφευρετὰς κακῶν, γονεῦσιν ἀπειθεῖς,”

1- The result of rejecting God and His word leads to evil of all types.

C. Rejection Brings Judgment (Romans 1:31-32)

Romans 1:31–32 NLT

31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

“ἀσυνέτους, ἀσυνθέτους, ἀστόργους, ἀνελεήμονας·

32 οἵτινες τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπιγνόντες, ὅτι οἱ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες ἄξιοι θανάτου εἰσίν, οὐ μόνον αὐτὰ ποιοῦσιν ἀλλὰ καὶ συνευδοκοῦσιν τοῖς πράσσουσιν.”

CONCLUSION: