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Romans 1:18-25 (NET) 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, 19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
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Phrases:
For –
• The word, for, connects this phrase with the last phrase and contrasts two groups of people: those made righteous by faith mentioned in the previous passage and those who practice unrighteousness mentioned in this passage.
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people-
• In the previous passage, righteousness was revealed in the gospel. In this passage, God‘s wrath is revealed, from heaven, where God abides, against those who do wrong against God and against man.
• The method of God’s wrath in shown below in verse 24.
who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness-
• The motive for suppressing the truth is humanity’s own unrighteousness or sins.
Discussion Question:
• Can you name topics in our culture today where people suppress the truth to do what they want?
because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made –
• The truth they suppress is the knowledge of God revealed clearly by what He made.
• His invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature are clearly seen in creation, such as, His creativity in creating various forms of life and the vastness of the stars in the heavens, His goodness by providing for people and animals, His righteousness in creating moral beings with a conscience, His justice in that people die for their sin.
So people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks-
• Humanity is without excuse because of the witness of creation.
• Through creation they knew God, but they did not give him the grave respect due to the Creator nor give Him thanks for their many provisions.
but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened-
• Their thinking about God was foolish and in error.
• Not taking care of their convictions toward the true God their hearts were darkened.
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools –
• In their own minds they thought they knew how to worship God best, but instead they ignored what they knew from creation and foolishly did what follows:
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles-
• Instead of carefully and gravely worshiping the invisible God, they made physical idols resembling people, birds, animals, and reptiles.
• Psalm 106:20 (NET) 20 They traded their majestic God for the image of an ox that eats grass.
• Jeremiah 2:11 (NET) 11 Has a nation ever changed its gods (even though they are not really gods at all)? But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God, for a god that cannot help them at all.
Discussion Question:
• They could have ignored worship altogether. Why do you think they created idols to worship?
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves-
• This is the wrath of God mentioned in verse 18. Instead of destroying them like Noah’s flood or Sodom and Gomorrah’s fire and brimstone, He allowed them to fulfill their impurity.
• This sexual sin may in part be referring to the practice of their idol worship.
• Psalm 81:11,12 (NET) 11 But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me. 12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.
• Hosea 4:17,18 (NET) 17 Ephraim has attached himself to idols; Do not go near him! 18 They consume their alcohol, then engage in cult prostitution; they dearly love their shameful behavior.
Discussion Questions:
• Explain how the consequences of this method of God’s wrath may ripple through a culture of a people, a nation, or even a family?
• Explain how God’s mercy provided through the Gospel can restrain His wrath?
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen-
• Paul repeats his earlier statement of exchanging God for idols, but he words it in a different way.
• Paul calls the idols a lie.
• The last phrase of praising God is sometimes called a doxology.