18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

 

Brief Commentary

1:18: Paul’s discussion of sin covers Romans 1:18-3:20. In 1:18-3:8, he addresses four kinds of people (who represent a vast majority of humanity) to demonstrate that everyone is a sinner. He identifies the “tribal person” (hasn’t heard the gospel due to place of residence), “wrestler” (struggling with behavior patterns), “moralist” (good, kind, generous), and “religious and spiritual person” (faith in their religious credentials and spiritual experiences).

 

So, let’s begin with the person who lives far away and cut off from our modern world and culture. “I shouldn’t be judged because I live in a tribal society and have never encountered Jesus.” What’s Paul’s answer to this kind of question? Creation points to a Creator. worshiped false gods and idols. You’re without excuse.

 

Another way of examining this issue to answer the traditional question, “What about those who have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel?” How can this person be saved? Will God still judge this person? In reply, let me share four observations:

 

First, if you believe that they are already saved because they don’t have the opportunity to receive or reject Christ, then we shouldn’t proclaim the gospel to the nations—because this places them in jeopardy. But this is clearly false because we are commanded to make disciples of all nations.

 

Second, if this person genuinely seeks God, then God can send missionaries and other means so that he/she will hear the gospel. The “normative” way today is through the proclamation of the gospel.

 

Third, God can also reveal the gospel via dreams and visions (the supernatural way). This would be similar to how God (sometimes) revealed Himself in the Old Testament (and to a lesser extent in the New Testament). I believe that God reveals Himself supernaturally especially when the Scriptures have not been given/translated for a particular people’s group.

 

Fourth, while this is a challenging topic we can find comfort in the fact that God’s judgment will be perfectly good, honorable, and fair because of His character.

 

Romans 1:18 declares that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven.” According to Osborne, this verse is “referring to a sovereign act of judgment from the very throne of God.” (46) Because the topic of “God’s wrath” is prone to misunderstanding, it’s important to provide some background. Let’s share five observations.

 

First, the idea of God’s wrath is a biblical one (ESV: “wrath” used 209 times). God’s wrath is an important topic—it’s not some obscure or irrelevant idea.  

 

Second, God’s wrath “is the holy revulsion of God’s being against that which is the contradiction of his holiness.” (John Murray, 35) We may say that wrath is connected to God’s attribute of holiness (absolute moral purity and perfect goodness). God’s wrath is His holy judgment against sin.

 

Third, wrath is not based on God’s spontaneous, reckless, or knee-jerk response to sin. In Romans 1:18, wrath (orge) “means ‘to grow ripe for something.’ It portrays wrath as something that builds up over a long period of time, like water collecting behind a great dam.” (Boice, 132)

 

Fourth, when we tie 1:17 and 1:18 together, we learn that God reveals His righteousness in Christ and the gospel (1:17) and His wrath (1:18). In short, God’s righteousness can be a source of peace and security (salvation) or dread and fear (wrath).

 

Fifth, wrath is not some impersonal universal law (like karma). Rather, it’s God’s wrath. Wrath comes from a Divine Person (God), who has a sovereign plan to pour out His present and future judgment in different ways and degrees.  

 

How does our “unrighteousness suppress the truth?” According to Hughes, “The idea of suppression here is, continual and aggressive striving against the truth….all who are without Christ are in the constant process of holding down the truth and therefore are subject to God’s abiding anger.” (33)

 

We suppress God’s truth in three ways. First, we suppress His truth when we live unrighteous and immoral lives (we prefer to live apart from God). Second, we suppress God’s truth when we fail to glorify Him for His grace and goodness (creation, salvation, provision). Third, we suppress God’s truth when we don’t proclaim or stand up for God’s truth in the public arena (school, work, relationships, media).

 

1:19-20: We can know God (in a limited manner) because He has made creation “plain to [us]” and “shown it to” us (1:19). God’s “invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world.” (1:20; cf. Psalm 19:1-6; Acts 14:14-18; 17:22-34) Stott observes: “The creation is a visible disclosure of the invisible God, an intelligible disclosure of the otherwise unknown God.” (73)

 

These verses highlight general or natural revelation (Scripture is special revelation). General/natural revelation refers to discovering knowledge about God through creation, nature, or conscience. A good way to understand general revelation is to compare it with special revelation.

 

First, general revelation is universally available to everyone, but special revelation is limited and specific. Second, general revelation includes creation and our conscience, but special revelation refers to God’s Word and Jesus. Third, general revelation cannot save us from our sins, but special revelation can save us.

 

Closely related to idea of general revelation is natural theology. Natural theology is a system of thought that seeks to know God’s via reason, nature, and conscience without the use of Scripture. Traditionally, Protestants have affirmed general/natural revelation and Catholics have affirmed natural theology.

 

General or natural revelation sheds additional light to what Scripture (special revelation) reveals and teaches. Genesis 1 and Psalm 19:1-6 teach that God created the universe and world (special revelation). By studying general revelation, we can learn about God’s power, knowledge, design, beauty, and order.  

 

Romans 1:19 is not teaching that we can know God in a redemptive and intimate manner through creation. We can only know the Father through the Son (John 14:6; 17:3; Ephesians 2:18). In fact, Romans 1:19-20 teaches that God’s creation renders everyone “without [an] excuse” (1:20) because it points to a Creator.

 

Here’s Paul’s key point: Creation should have led us to some kind of spiritual quest, inquiry, or curiosity but we have suppressed the truth of its significance. And because we have suppressed this truth of a Creator, the Bible teaches that we have no excuse before God.

 

The Design of the Universe

When we see, feel, hear, taste, and smell creation we begin to wonder how this world came about. Was it by chance? Or did someone create it? In brief, the greater design (and the universe and world have a great design!), the more reasonable and greater the designer. In brief, three “arguments” have been given to advance the view for a Divine Creator:

• Irreducible biochemistry complexity

• Biological information

• Fine-tuning of our universe

 

All three of these design explanations ask us to consider the “odds” or likelihood that our universe and world could have come about by chance. According to proponents of these views, it’s more plausible that our universe and the world (consider our human body) was intentionally designed.

 

To these three, I will add a fourth since the other three are based primarily on science. Rather than focus on biochemistry, biology, and physics, I would simply ask you to close your eyes and consider the beauty of creation. Take a hike. Go camping. Visit a forest. Relax at a beach. Look at the different colors around you. Feel the breeze. Listen to the sounds of creation. Isn’t it beautiful? Creation is like one grand and majestic tapestry.

 

And it was designed by an amazing Artist.  

 

1:21-23: The knowledge of God in 1:21 is similar to 1:19: We can know God in the sense that creation shouts out for a Creator (general revelation). Or to put it another way: the design of the universe calls for a designer (teleological argument).

 

Paul explains our downward spiral when we suppress God’s truth of creation. First, we do “not honor…God or give thanks to him.” (1:21) Second, our thinking (futile) and hearts (darkened) were affected (1:21). Third, although we consider ourselves wise, Paul claims that we are just the opposite—we’re fools (Psalm 14:1). Fourth, this process ultimately leads to idolatry: people “exchange the glory of the immortal God for images.” (1:22)

 

Paul’s use of “mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things” is intentional. Drawing on the creation account (Genesis 1), Paul is making the case that we worship the creation rather than the Creator. Perhaps you may be thinking that Romans 1:21-23 doesn’t apply to you. Many of us don’t worship literal idols made of gold or silver.

 

But don’t we (also) worship the world around us? Don’t we create idols out of money and possessions, careers and jobs, love and relationships, and our social status and physical appearance?

 

This is where the gospel speaks to both Christ-followers and spiritual seekers. Both groups suppress the truth of God’s greatness. For Christians, the gospel reminds us that we were guilty and slaves to sin. Even though we don’t deserve it (grace: unmerited favor), Jesus has set free us from the slavery of sin (redemption). With gratitude, we are now free to worship and serve God.

 

Creation cannot save spiritual seekers. But it does point to a Creator. The gospel helps spiritual seekers “connect the dots.” Our Creator-God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. We can know the Creator through Jesus the Son. Let me conclude with a prayer for receiving the truth.

 

“Dear God, I believe that you created the world. I don’t want to suppress this truth any longer. I want to know You through Jesus, Your Son. Jesus, you are the way, truth, and life. Jesus, thanks for dying on the cross for my sins. I believe that I can only be saved by trusting you to forgive me. Jesus, I want to worship and follow you.”      

 

1. What’s the significance of God’s wrath being revealed from heaven? Did you learn anything new about God’s wrath? Share.

 

2. To what extent are you suppressing God’s truth in your life?

 

3. What’s the difference between general/natural revelation and special revelation?

 

4. “Creation renders everyone without an excuse before God.” Agree or disagree? Explain. Which Scriptures would you use to support your position?

 

5. God created us for worship. We either worship God or we worship idols. What are some of the idols that have been leading you away from awe-inspiring, passionate worship?

 

6. Everyone—to some extent suppresses the truth of God’s creation. How does the gospel speak to Christ-followers and spiritual seekers—both of whom suppress the truth of God’s creation?