Romans Lesson 2

Introduction

A very pleasant good day to you, and welcome to Let the Bible Speak. Today we’re going to continue our study in the book of Romans, and I encourage you to get your New Testaments and the opening to the first chapter. In our last study, we emphasize in Romans chapter 1, verses 16 and 17, the Apostle Paul set forth that the gospel is God’s power to salvation. To everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith. Now today we want to continue from that point, and particularly looking at Romans chapter 1 and verse 18. For the scripture here says, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

We’re going to be talking about the wrath of God. And I share with you the feelings that this is really not a favorite topic. In fact, I find very few people who would rather talk about the wrath of God than to talk about the love of God. You know, we often talk about God’s love. In fact, the Bible so emphasizes clearly that God is love. And yet, perhaps some modern preachers today fail to emphasize that God also has wrath. And there are some people who do not understand the real nature and character of God’s love. For God loves what is right, and he hates that which is evil. And if we think of God only as though he were some grandfather that even overlooks evil and all things are going to be all right with us, there are those who feel an indifference to obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I believe the apostle is setting forth in the remaining part of this chapter, and really right on up to Romans chapter three and verse twenty-three, where he draws the conclusion, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. He does this to emphasize that men are sinners, and as a result of sin have stirred the wrath of God. And so the Bible speaks about God’s wrath. Now, people may ask the question, why would a God of love have wrath? And that’s a legitimate question. In our understanding of God’s nature as a God of love, indeed, he so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And yet, this same God who gave his own begotten son has wrath. Why is he filled with wrath?

1. God’s Wrath Is a Judicial Response to Evil

Well, maybe first of all we should understand that when the Bible uses the word wrath in talking about God, it’s not talking about uncontrolled anger. Maybe from a human passion point of view, there are those we say have wrath, and they have anger that’s really out of control. That isn’t the nature of God’s wrath. Neither is God’s wrath some kind of emotional feeling and reaction. But rather, God’s wrath is a legal, judicial response to that which is evil. God has righteousness, and in his righteousness, he has provided for man deliverance from sin. But man who rejects that means of God’s salvation is worthy of wrath, according to the law of God. You see, to understand God is to say, first of all, that he is holy.

Both Old and New Testament describes the holiness, the purity of God. And even as the prophet Habakkuk in Habakkuk 1 in verse 13 describes how that God has ho in his holiness hates that which is evil. Habakkuk 1 speaks how that his eyes cannot even look upon that which is evil. He is of such pure eyes that he does not behold iniquity. Oh, indeed, those who are the children of God ought to be of the same attitude in mind. If we are holy, as God is holy, as the apostle Peter urges in 1 Peter chapter 1 and 15, ought we not to have the same attitude toward that which is evil? The psalmist in Psalm 119, verse 104, said thou through thy commandments gain understanding. Therefore I hate every false way.

There are some things that we all hate, even as God hates that which is evil, so ought those who love the Lord and who are holy as the Lord should hate that which is evil, should hate that which is sin. Indeed, when the Bible speaks of God’s wrath, it’s speaking about God’s righteous reaction to sin. God hates that which is evil. You know the Old Testament is filled with stories that illustrate even those whom God loves. He also will punish when they do that which is evil. In the Bible, the scriptures speak how that he loved the nation of Israel. The Jews really became God’s chosen people. Chosen as a nation, provided the law of Moses given his blessings, but also he promised cursings. Deuteronomy chapter 28 is one of those fascinating chapters, where you begin in verses 1 and 2, where he says, It shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken diligently and the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth, and all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee.

But notice the if clause. If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. God loved them. God promised to bless them even above all nations of the earth. If. Also in verse 15 of Deuteronomy 28, do cannot promise them cursings. But it shall come to pass if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee. And then through the remaining part of Deuteronomy 28, you see many curses. And indeed, to read the history of the nation of Israel is to see a people whom God loved that also as wrath was stirred against. One of the outstanding stories, just as an illustration, is found in the book of Numbers in Numbers chapter 16, where at a time when Moses and Aaron were, of course, leading the people of Israel from the Egyptian bondage and going to the promised land, there were three men who were of the tribe of Levi, who were of the priestly tribe, named Korah, Batham and Abiram.

And they along with 250 princes of Israel, men who were religious now, men who uh esteemed themselves as righteous and were princes and lifted up, and they challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron. Indeed, Numbers chapter 16 talks about how that Moses indeed prayed unto the Lord. And in fact, and said that if indeed he was not as the one selected by God in God’s way to lead the people of Israel. Then indeed, these men, Korah, Batham and Abiram would be safe and well. But if in fact Moses were the anointed one, the earth would swallow Korah and Dathan and Abaram. Scripture speaks how that there was a great earthquake. And here were these men who were righteous religious men at a lost because they did not observe to do the will of God.

An earthquake swallowed them up, and two hundred and 250 princes, fire, consumed them. Why would God do such? A people who loved, but a people who would not hearken to do God’s will in God’s way. Should we not learn that lesson even today? That God’s wrath is stirred against people who do not follow his will. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. That’s what Romans 1 and verse 18 says. In fact, when men turn their hearts away from God, you can expect there to be the wrath stirred against men. In fact, Ephesians chapter 5 and in verse 6, the scripture there says, How that let no man deceive you with vain words.

2. Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men

In fact, that’s what he’s saying here in Romans 1 and verse 18, when he says the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness. What is ungodliness? If on the positive side we understand godliness to be piety, to be a sense of reverence, to have respect for God, then ungodliness is just the opposite of that. Those who are ungodly are the kind of people who hold God’s commandments lightly. You know there are those who really would not want you to carefully study the Bible. They know a lot of things about the Bible, but they don’t really know the Bible. Who really take God’s word without addition, without subtraction. Jesus said in Matthew chapter seven and verse twenty one Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Now those who hold the commandments of the Lord lightly may say, Lord, Lord. But unless they’re saying, here’s what the scripture says. We’re doing this because the Bible teaches this. Look at this book, chapter and verse. How many preachers do you hear today preach what Peter said on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and verse 38? Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. That isn’t a popular message today. But those who hold that commandment lightly are ungodly. They do not show the right respect and reverence for the Word of God. Not only that, those who really fail to lift God up in prayer, who hold Him as righteous, people who are not willing to say God’s will must be done and His name must not be held in light esteem, but rather with reverence and with respect.

Ungodly people are the kind of people even who may from the pulpit fail to take the word of God and reverence it wholly. There are some who take a passage, they may read a passage, but they lift it out of its context. They take it and pervert it. They misuse or mishandle the word of God. That’s really ungodly. There’s some preachers who would even cause division among believers, out of selfish reasons, maybe because they want their own pockets lined with money, or maybe just simply they want to have their way, and selfishly, division has been caused. All of that is ungodliness because it fails to reverence and respect God, who is not the author of confusion, but really of peace. But not only does verse 18 say that God’s wrath is against ungodliness, he also describes it as being against unrighteousness of men.

Literally. What is unrighteous is against God as well. But I think when these two words are put here in the same text, ungodliness and unrighteousness, that the second word, unrighteousness, perhaps is directly relating to what men do to other men. Morality to others. When you find men who would defraud their fellow man, who would lie, who would cheat, or who would even slander and blaspheme their fellow men? That’s unrighteousness. If we love God, we should love our neighbor as ourself. If we love God, we will deal righteously with our neighbor. But God’s wrath is against sin. And sin is the result of failing to reverence God in his word or failing to deal with other men in the righteous way. Ungodliness and unrighteousness. And notice the last phrase in verse 18 of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

One translation says, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness? You realize that people who do not love the Lord actually hinder others. There are some people who think, well, I’m not a Christian, but I’m really not for the devil either. They sort of think themselves floral in the middle there. There is no middle ground. You’re either for the Lord or against the Lord. If you’re not standing up for the Lord, then you’re hindering the truth. God’s wrath is stirred against all who have rejected the gospel. God’s wrath is against them. Not just because of the rejection, but because of sin. We’re going to pursue that thought a little bit more in our next part when we talk about why are men really lost. Is it because just they don’t want the gospel?

3. Why Are Sinners Lost?

Are they’re lost because of sin? You stay with us, we’ll be back in just one moment, and we’ll continue that thought. We’ve been talking about Romans chapter 1 and verse 18, in which it speaks about the wrath of God. There are many people who probably think that God is unfair, he is unjust if he punished simply because they don’t obey the gospel. Is that the reason why he has wrath against men just because they do not obey the gospel? Really, that’s not the reason that God has wrath. We pointed out how that God’s wrath is not uncontrolled anger, but rather it is a judicial response to that which is evil. Why are sinners lost? You ever reason raise that question or try to answer it? Why are they really lost?

Is it just because they do not obey the gospel? That’s not really the reason. From the very beginning story in the Bible, we learn something about God’s majestic law, even to Adam and Eve. In the day you eat thereof you shall surely die. God’s law is that sin is worthy of death. Spiritual, eternal death, particularly. In fact, in Ezekiel chapter 18 and verse 20, it said, The soul that sinneth it shall die. The Son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father, neither shall the Father bear the iniquity of the Son, but the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked. God be upon him. Both the old and new testament describe how that sin is worthy of death. In Romans chapter 6 and verse 23, the wages of sin is death.

Perhaps someone illustrated, I think, very uh uh appropriately. Uh compared to a person who may drown. When a person maybe falls out of a boat and he’s going under for the third time and and his friend throws him to lifeline. But the person refuses to grab hold of the rope. Why does he drown? Is it because he refuses to hold to the rope? And you say, oh no, not really. But it’s because of the water. Had he never fallen into the water, he would never have drowned. And so it is that God has thrown to us the lifeline, so to speak. Jesus Christ is the means by which there can be salvation. Man is lost because of sin. According to God’s law, sin is worthy of death.

And sinners are lost because they’ve violated or transgressed God’s law. Look at the people who who do not know the Lord. In John chapter 3, verses 18 and 19, the scripture says, He that believeth on him, that is on Christ, is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already. Because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation that light has come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. You see, men are lost because of sin. But the gospel, God’s power to save, has been delivered that men might be delivered from sin. But let’s look at Romans chapter one now, verses 19 and 20, if you would take your Bibles and read with me.

4. So That They Are Without Excuse

The scripture says, Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them. For God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. That’s an important phrase, that last phrase.

You see, God’s wrath is against those who do evil, and sin will result in death. Judicially, God’s wrath will be against those who sin, because that’s the law. But is God unfair? No. Because God could be known. In fact, the scripture here describing men’s condition, lost in sin, and the need of the gospel. What the apostles laying out is the very fact that that the fact that they’re lost is their own fault. Because that which may be known of God has been made known. God has shown it to man. There’s never been a generation of people but who would have known God’s will. In fact, he says the invisible things of Him, from the creation of the world are clearly seen. Sinners have no excuse. Even in our world today, there may be many, certainly in other parts of the world, who do not know about the Lord.

And yet there are things that indicate a supreme being. In Psalm 19, verses 1 through 4, the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day under day utter speech, and night under night it showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun. Indeed, there are ways to know that this world did not just happen. Oh look up in the sky at night in the stars and and understand how man really depends upon a higher being, upon God. In Acts chapter 14, verses 16 and 17, in fact, the apostle said how if God in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, nevertheless he left not himself without witness, and that he did good, gave us rain from heaven, fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

People who do not know the Lord do so by their own choosing. Now it is true that the only way to really know the character of God and to know the will of God is through that which has been revealed. But the fact is, men who seek truth can find truth. God’s word has always been available for those who seek and search out for truth. Jesus said, seeking you shall find Matthew 7 in verse 7. And in Acts 17 and verse 27, the Apostle Paul indeed said that God is not far from any one of us. He is nigh unto us all. You stop and think about God has made himself available. His word has been available. Even from the beginning of time. It’s interesting to point out that Lamech, who was Noah’s father, was born before Adam died.

So from the very creation of time, Adam, through all those years, could have passed on to every generation about the creation of God and where all things came from. Even after the flood and in the time of Noah and his three sons and their wives who were saved in the flood. He lived 350 years after the flood. In fact, Abraham was born only two years after Noah died. Again, from the time of the flood, God’s will could be known.

5. Professing Themselves to Be Wise, They Became Fools

God’s will could be known. While the Old Testament really does not tell us much about Gentile nations, it does show there were many instances where God made known his way. Jonah went to preach to Nineveh, a capital of a Syrian country. Daniel prophesied in Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar, one of the greatest emperors ever to rule. Indeed, God’s word could be known for men who searched after him. But look at Romans chapter 1, verses 21 through 24. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God. Neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like the corruptible man, and to birds and four footed beasts and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lust of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. Indeed, what these passages describe is the condition of man who has rejected God. You know, we may raise the question, well, if God’s will can be known to all men, and if God is just and holy, and why then don’t all people believe? If the things of God could be known, even his eternal power in Godhead, then why haven’t all men believed in every generation of time, and even in our own time? One of the fascinating things about the study of the Bible is how relevant it is to our own situation. As we go through the book of Romans, we realize that at first of all it was written to people who lived nearly two thousand years ago, and and as we explain the text, we’re trying to say what did it mean to those who first received it.

But we can also see an application to our own time. And so many statements that are found right in this text fit our own nation in our own time. We’re in a time where many do not know the Lord, but why? Is it because they could not know him? Is it because they have re rejected the knowledge of God or because it was impossible for them to find him? I believe verse 21 really states that when they knew God they didn’t glorify him as God. Neither were they thankful.

And therefore, what has happened? They become vain in their reasoning. That word vain literally means empty minded. Now they may be very wise. There are some who hold doctorate degrees who say there is no God. But you know, if we do not know God, if we do not know the word of God, man really doesn’t know where he came from, or where he’s going, or why he’s here. And men who have become vain in their reasoning, the scripture here says their hearts become hardened. Being vain in their reasoning, their foolish heart was darkened. Literally becomes hardened. Ephesians chapter 4 talks about the heathen in this way, and significantly, I think it well describes many in our own time. It says how that he urges Christians to walk not as other Gentiles or heathen walk in the vanity of their mind.

Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness. There is any one underlying problem in our nation today, it is greediness or selfishness. We are a people, we sometimes call it the me generation. And we’re not concerned about God’s will or even of doing right to other people. You see, if you do not have an attitude toward God that one day will stand before him in judgment, why not do your own thing? Why not steal if you can get away with it? Why regard life as a precious thing? If you want to murder someone, he gets in your way, then do so if you can get away with it.

Why is that attitude so prevalent today? It is because there are men who do not fear the Lord. Their hearts have become hardened, they’re vain in their reasoning. They’re empty headed really, though they may think themselves brilliant. But that isn’t the only thing that’s said here in Romans chapter 1. It says professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. You know, the theory of evolution today says this is the answer where God is, or how we got here. If you don’t want to believe in God, then believe that somehow, somehow, that we just evolved to this position. You keep asking the evolutionist, where did that come from? Where’d the one cell come from? And he finally backs up to eternal matter, he would say. And really the eternal matter, backing all the way up, the best he can say is that it was hydrogen gas.

Now, hydrogen gas you cannot see, you cannot smell, you cannot feel. Something that is visible and without smell, without feeling, yet here we are, the creatures are moral right and wrong that we know the high intelligence that man has. That’s that’s unthinkable. But there are very wise men who would say that. He says, Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, rejecting God.

The food was said in his heart, there is no God. And that was said a thousand years before Christ was ever born. Three thousand years ago it was true. It’s still true today. Why do men not believe? Oh, they think themselves wise. Their hearts have become hardened because of their vain reasoning. But look at one other statement here. It says that relying on men, they’ve changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an imageable man. Relying on their own wisdom, and we’re in an age of humanism. We think man is the important subject of the day. And we, whatever we think, you know what happens then? Man becomes idolatrous in his nature. Idolatry is an establishment of religion like man wants it. Man builds an idol like he wants.

Conclusion

And he says things worship like what pleases him, rather than saying, God, thy will be done. Oh, we’re in a day where we have substituted idols for God’s righteousness. God’s wrath is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. We need to turn to 2 Thessalonians 1, verses 7 through 9, that describes even the coming of Christ, how that he will come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them who know not God and who obey not the gospel of our Lord, punish with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. My friends, fear the Lord, respect and reverence him, honor him, for God’s wrath is against those who reject and who live in sin. May the grace and peaceful Lord be with you.