Without Excuse Pt. 2

One of the most common questions we preachers get asked frequently is

“What about the people who have never heard the Gospel before?”

The Book of Romans deals with that question head on.

And it is my GO TO, in regards to answering that question.

Before we get into the meat of the first chapter of the letter to the believers to whom Paul wrote this epistle,

I would like to share three different stories with you all if you’ll indulge me

Temba lived in a Himalayan village cut off from the rest of the world. His people bowed to carved idols and worshiped mountain spirits. But Temba saw through it. Something told him those things weren’t real gods. He would climb the mountain and speak to the sky, saying, “Whoever made this world... I want to know You.”

One day, while hiking, a rockslide trapped him in a cave. He found an old hiking pack left by a lost traveler. Inside: a solar-powered audio Bible—still working. The words of Jesus came alive in his own language. Temba gave his heart to Christ right there.

God responds to the seeker. He doesn't ignore those who long for truth. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13)

Amira lived under an oppressive regime, locked away in a labor camp. Raised with no faith, she had no access to books or teaching. But scratched into her prison wall was a figure on a cross. She didn’t know who he was. Still, she began to speak to him at night. Then came the dreams. Every night, this same man—silent, wounded, compassionate—looked into her soul.

Years later, a new prisoner—a gentle elderly woman—arrived. Amira described the man from her dreams. The woman wept and said, “That’s Jesus. He’s been calling you.”

Amira believed

Jesus can introduce Himself even before His name is known. No bars, walls, or governments can stop Him from reaching a heart that’s ready.

Luka was a boy in the Amazon. His tribe had never seen a Bible. But every morning, Luka whispered thanks to a “Creator” he had no name for. One day, a missionary pilot crash-landed near the village. While healing, the man shared about a Creator who became a man—who loved, died, and rose again.

When Luka heard the story, he said, “So that’s His name! I knew He was real!”

God plants eternity in the human heart (Eccl. 3:11). When someone responds to the light they’ve been given, God makes a way for the gospel to come.

The Bible tells us God reveals Himself through creation (Romans 1:20)

God searches hearts (Jeremiah 17:10)

God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)

Jesus says He has "other sheep not of this fold" (John 10:16)

These three stories are fictitious but I think they serve to illustrate the answer God lays out for us in answering that age old question

“What about those who have never heard?”

These stories—but they are based on of how God is able to bring the gospel to those whom seek Him and are sensitive to the nature of God

Through dreams and visions (Acts 16:9)

Through creation and conscience (Romans 1–2)

Through divine appointments (Acts 10:1–33)

You may not live in a remote village, but the same God who sees Temba, Amira, and Luka sees you. He sends the gospel to all who seek Him but haven’t yet heard,

And usually He sends you or I, the believer, AMEN

If you are interested in reading about some real life stories about how God calls and answers those all over the world

who have never heard about Him,

I recommend reading the book, “Eternity in their hearts,”

By Don Richardson

Some of us just came back from Mexico where we took the gospel to idol worshipers, devil worshipers, pagans and even some who were willing to listen to us.

Who knows where He might be sending us next.

Who knows, He might be sending you next!

About ten years ago or so, I was joined another Pastor on a mission trip to Ciudad Juarez,

This was back when the bloody cartel wars had only begun to terrorize the country of Mexico,

This was a time when they were still hanging bodies from over passes.

It was a horrific time.

I went there thoroughly prepared to bring them the gospel,

I had fasted, I had practiced all that I was going to say and do.

To my utter surprise instead of me encouraging them through this terror filled chapter in their country’s history,

They ended up encouraging me in my spirit.

After this recent trip, I asked each missionary to give a brief testimony about their experiences.

It was Sergio that repeated the same sentiments last week as he gave his testimony

that I had experienced all those years ago.

He went there with the expectations to encourage them, but he was encouraged by them.

AMEN

But Paul tells us to expect that in his letter to the believers in Rome,

He says there is an expectation to be mutually encouraged, by their faith, and ours.

Romans 1:11–12 NKJV

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

We should expect both our faiths to be encouraged, AMEN

That’s when you know the Spirit is working with your obedience of having gone where ever it may be that God sends you.

The first day I arrived at the border of the US, and Mexico as we arrived for our trip,

I must confess to you that something took over my mind and spirit

To this day I can’t tell you with certainty that is wasn’t all fear, or God’s hand preventing me from entering.

I was scared to DEATH, I really was, but there was also something else going on in my Spirit,

As if, It Wasn’t the right time for ME to enter, because the rest of the group entered expect for the one who stayed behind with me.

I prayed all that night in shame and embarrassment before the Lord,

The next day, He answered in a big way

I experienced a presence of God that day that I have not felt again since then that stands out,

but I wholly long for the time when I get to feel it again.

You see the Bible tells us that even though the world, or even the place that God may be calling

YOU to go, may be a dark place.

God’s Word shines bright in the darkness.

John 1:5 NKJV

5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

AMEN

It is with that premise that we know dive into the Letter to the believers in Rome.

About the darkness in the world now through sin.

Romans 1:18–19 NKJV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

The Wrath is translated from the Greek, orgē = which can mean wrath, but carries the meaning of

“Hostility towards sin”

(Faithlife, LLC. “Ὀργή.” Logos Bible Study, Computer software. Logos Bible Study Factbook. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, LLC, August 6, 2025. https://ref.ly/logos4/Factbook?id=ref%3alemma.lbs.el.%E1%BD%80%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%AE.)

God’s hostility towards sin is revealed against all the ungodly who suppress the truth in sin.

The word translated Suppress is from the Greek katechō = Which means- ‘to arrest or to Bind”

Paul is conveying here that it is to the detriment of sinful man to bind up the truth as so it would not be seen,

So that man can continue to live in willful blindness

Ignoring the existence of truth.

Romans 1:20–21 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, 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.

You see it takes a willful rejection to ignore the proof of God through His creation.

Psalm 14:1 NKJV

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

The word Fool in the greek is Mōros- Which means lacking the ability to make wise judgements.

Basically its where we get the word MORON in the English.

So, if you reject the creation as proof of God’s existence, you’re a… Moron!

Not my words but thats scripture.

The scripture is calling out the unbeliever, saying, if you reject the Gospel you are a Moron who lacks the ability to make wise judgements.

Ive known a few like that in my life time.

Im sure you all have too.

J. Vernon McGee translated the word fool as- Insane.

I can see that correlation.

According to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary,

Insane Means - 1 in or relating to an unsound state of mind; seriously mentally ill. 2 extremely foolish; irrational. —derivatives insanely adverb insanity noun (plural insanities). —origin 16th century: from Latin insanus, from in- ‘not’ + sanus ‘healthy’.- Concise Oxford English Dictionary

This brings up a side topic for me,

I’ve also been asked the question about Tattoos,

Whether or not they can keep one out of heaven.

Although thats a question for another time, I will day this about them.

Tattoo’s are one thing, but anyone who gets a tattoo on their face in my, humble, opinion is infact

the definition of INSANE.

Someone who is not making decisions of a sound mind.

Likewise the person gives it to them.

I digress,

Romans 1:22–25 NKJV

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.

Now, doesn’t this sound like an accurate description of the unbelieving people of the world today?

They just think they are the smartest people on the earth, don’t they?

They teach that Christianity is a ridiculous fairy-tale.

A hero among many of todays progressive far left, is Karl Marx who said.

“Religion is the opiate of the Masses”

“A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right”

(https://sociology.cornell.edu/news/religion-less-opiate-more-suppressant-study-finds)

They don’t believe because they are too smart for such things.

That is ironic because the Bible clearly states that believing themselves wise they become fools.

No brothers and Sisters, they are not wise they are what the Bible calls Morons.

And they are without Excuse.

Romans 1:26–27 NKJV

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.

This "penalty" is possibly a loss of moral grounded-ness, or searing of the conscience, with all the negative physical and emotional consequences of engaging in such desires. 

But wait a minute,

Did we just read that correctly?

Yes, it was for that reason, the willful rejection of creation’s author, designer and owner,

That God gave them over their vile passions.

You see, it wasn’t the vile passions that caused all of this chaos.

It was the willful, blatant, rejection of God and His place in their lives, that

God delivered them up to what naturally comes next,

Debauchery and vileness.

Pleasures of the EGO in the Greek or Me in English take over and become God in His place.

That concept is certainly present in our time, and the proof is in all of the “Self help” Mentality of today.

Romans 1:28–32 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; 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.

Who among us can deny that this is not relevant in our day?

It was meant too,

The truth is, its been this way since the fall of man.

And this has been the diagnosis since the time of Adam and Eve’s disobedience

We are truly without hope, without God, without Jesus in our lives, in our schools, work, city, county, state, or country,

And in our world.

We those who reject creation as proof of God, are without doubt, without excuse.

In the beginning of today’s message, I gave three fictitious stories of how God moves

In the lives of those who have the Lord goodness in their hearts.

The answer to the question of what happens to those who have never heard is

If they are truly sensitive to the calling of the Lord on their hearts,

God will send someone, somehow, and in someway.

It may not be the way you would prefer,

But we are not to be concerned with the EGO, the self,

We are to be about God’s business,

And if He sends us somewhere, we go without hesitation,

Amen.

Otherwise, we who do already believe, would be without excuse.