Tragic Unbelief - Rom. 1:18-32

Gandhi was once approached by an atheist with the request to organize and promote an anti-God society. Gandhi replied,

“It amazes me to find an intelligent person who fights against something which he does not at all believe exists.” - Gandhi

And of this paradox we will be talking of today.

Well, we are in Romans this year, and we have found ourselves in one of Paul’s greatest writings, giving us his clearest explanation of theology and practical living.

Now, In the first 7 verses of Romans 1, we learned that God’s grace brought us to faith - and real faith always leads to obedience, therefore, each day, we are to walk in obedient faith for His name.

Last week, (vv. 8-17) we saw how the unrighteous are declared righteous (or just) by His grace through faith to all who will believe.

And today we come to vv. 18-32.

Verses that when taken out of context, can become disturbing to some, and to others a license for hate.

But we come to this passage in the context of Romans.

Paul is teaching us throughout the book about the righteousness of God. Just like the rest of the bible, it is a book primarily about God - not us.

In the first 11 chapters we find Paul’s encouragement on what to believe and in the from 12-16 how to behave.

So we come to vv. 18-32 understanding that real faith always leads to obedience, that the unrighteous are declared righteous by God’s grace through faith, and that there are some things we need to understand about God and what He has revealed to us, to better understand Him, ourselves and fully appreciate the grace He has given.

R.C. Sproul said, “ until we understand the prior revelation of the wrath of God, we will never get excited about the revelation of the grace of God.”

Begin reading in vv. 16-18

Romans 1:16–18 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Notice with me in v. 18a

the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness -

Two things are mentioned that provoke God to this intense anger: godlessness and wickedness. Godlessness has to do with our attitudes toward God. Wickedness (unrighteousness) has to do with how we behave towards our fellow men

The baseline for the rest of this chapter is here.

God has revealed himself, both through his grace and his judgement.

His grace is exhibited through the Gospel, and his judgement through his wrath toward sin.

But from where do these two provoking attributes - of man’s ungodliness and wickedness stem?

He answers that question in the rest of v. 18 - “who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”

God holds all men accountable for certain basic truths and the deliberate rejection of these truths in unbelief will be judged.

Paul will expound on what this suppression of truth looks like in the next several verses. Look with me at 19-20.

Romans 1:19–20 NKJV

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

Here we see the Willful Blindness of man.