Romans 1:18-32 - The Limits of Natural Revelation

Romans 1:18-32
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 that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Message: The Limits of Natural Revelation

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Paul here in these verses records the beliefs very often of those who don't believe. God is made himself evident within themselves. Each person has a knowledge of God within him. However those that did not honor Him as God or give thanks basically are fools - they are futile in their speculations, their foolish heart is darkened, they profess to be wise. Is this not the state of affair of the atheist? Does not God's word reveal the nature of the fallen person? God's revelation of himself through creation or natural revelation is meant to help people see the truth of themselves.

The Gospel is about each person recognizing themselves as a sinner, in need of God. The atheists today don't make it about themselves but instead confront God. They ridicule God and ridicule people that worship God. They make it laughable that anyone would worship the God of the Bible.

Their creator is not God, their creator is man. They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.This is the problem with man. They replace the God of the Bible with man, teaching that man evolves from man, from birds, from beast. This is what they worship. God has provided natural revelation but people instead choose natural selection. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

Romans 1 has always been an interesting text to me because it so clearly testifies of the person walking around the earth today. It was written 1930 years ago and yet it seems to be have written today. As Ecclesiastes says - there is nothing new under the sun. History repeats itself. This was a problem in Paul's day and nothing has changed it is a problem in our day. It simply speaks of the position of mankind. Chapter 2 of Romans will talk about the individual. Romans 1-3 Paul explains that the point of the natural revelation is to show people truth about the Lord so that they can see the truth about themselves - that they are sinners (For all have sinned and fallen short) in need of salvation (justification is a gift by His grace). The crazy thing about justification is that it isn't earned, it is simply recognized. Can people see the truth about themselves?

These texts never bore me. The key here though is something I don't think I've put together before and that is while nature reveals to people the truth of God as creator, each person must still see the truth of themselves as sinners in need of this God that has been revealed. Nature does not teach this. Our conscience does. God's revelation to man obviously does and this happens clearly through scripture.

Promise: Most people will not be saved only by looking at natural revelation. The Gospel must be preached: Repent and believe.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the truth of your Word. Your word is truth. Thank you for the revelation You have given me. I'm truly amazed. Now help me to show others that revelation. I'm a sinner and too often I don't share it as life is caught up in other ideals, other gods, other forms of idolatry. Thank you for your creation and the testimony it gives of you. May it lead people to realize their condition, their way apart from you. Lord, I pray that the message of repentance and belief would shine in this world. Help me to be an ambassador, a spokes person for you. I can do it because of You in me.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.