“DOING THE RIGHT THING” “WORTHY OF GOD’S WRATH”

Services

Sunday
10:30 AM Worship Service

Wednesday
6:30 PM Bible Study

Jan. 15, 2023

“DOING THE RIGHT THING”

“WORTHY OF GOD’S WRATH”

ROMANS 1:18-32


Introduction:


Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”


Humankind is subject to the wrath of God because, collectively and individually, we have rebelled against God with our mind and our deeds.


vs.18 “ungodliness” the Greek word “asebeia”- to fall back before, to shrink from.


vs.18 “unrighteousness” the Greek word “adikia”- violation of the law, injustice.


Ungodliness and unrighteousness represent not only a violation of certain rules of conduct but they are an utter rejection of God Himself- His deity, His authority, His very nature.


God now addresses the Gentiles in Romans 1:18-32.


*The Gentiles Are Guilty


Four stages mark man’s tragic devolution:


1.   The Revelation of God


Romans 1:19-20 “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20For 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.”


God’s eternal power, deity, power and Person. Creation reveals the unchangeable power and existence of God


Psalm 8:3 “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained.”


Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”


2.   The Ignorance Of Man


Romans 1:21-23


Acts 17:30 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.”


1 Corinthians 1:18-31


3.   Man’s Indulgence


Romans 1:24-27


From idolatry to immorality is just one short step. If man is his own god, then he can do whatever he pleases and fulfill his desires without fear of judgment.


Matthew 4:8-10


1 Corinthians 10:19-21


This sin is repeatedly condemned in Scripture:


1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”


Jude 1:7 “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”


Because of their sin “God gave them up” which means that He permitted them to go on in their sins and reap the sad consequences.


4.   Man Has No Shame


Romans 1:28-32


Man did not even want to retain God in his knowledge! So “God gave them over to a debased mind” which means a mind that cannot form right judgments. They now abandoned themselves to sin. Paul names 24 specific sins, all of which are with us today. (Mark 7:20-23, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, 2 Timothy 3:2-5).


How far man fell! He began glorifying God but ended exchanging that glory for idols. He began knowing God but ended refusing to keep the knowledge of God in his mind and heart. He began as the highest of God’s creatures, made in the image of God but ended lower than the beasts and insects, because he worshiped them as his gods. The verdict? “… they are without excuse.” (1:20)