God’s Methods of Revelation (Romans 1:19-20)
The Day of God’s Wrath and Judgment on wicked humanity is certain and unavoidable
By Donald Whitchard
Romans 1:19-20,Psalm 19:1-3,Hebrews 1:1,Romans 2:14-15,Romans 1:32,Proverbs 22:19-21,Genesis 1
Summary: Creation and the Scriptures have been the primary means by which the Sovereign Lord God Almighty has revealed Himself to us. Still, humanity is willfully and deliberately blind to what is undeniably obvious due to our love of sin. Romans 1 describes this malady perfectly.
The Apostle Paul uses the first three chapters of Romans to show us that apart from the grace and mercy of Almighty God, our behaviors, thoughts, and deeds are in a descending state of depravity that will not improve. Our wickedness only draws us further into the maelstrom of deviancy and malevolence and with it, the wrath of God and eternal punishment we so richly deserve. In Romans 1:18, Paul addresses the issue of God’s wrath as part of His Holy nature. He does not tolerate sin and will not allow it to go on. His wrath is being stored for the Great Day of Judgment upon the earth as depicted in the book of Revelation. It will spare no one who has taken up a life of rebellion and hatred towards Him. The sinner must be held accountable and give an answer for his choices and life overall, and no one will be overlooked. The Day of God’s Wrath and Judgment on wicked humanity is certain and unavoidable. Scripture describes not only this promised event, but the authentic nature of who we are apart from His saving grace He freely provides, but few take.
Nobody can say to God, “Well, I didn’t know You were there. I didn’t see any proof that You existed.” Certainly, no smug atheist will stand before His Holy Presence and arrogantly ask which of the “gods” He claims to be, as if Almighty God will bow to the yapping heathen’s defiant whims. Sinful humanity’s desire to overlook the obvious is a pathetic method of trying to deny the existence of the Sovereign LORD of All. Let us look at what Paul has to say about this situation:
“For the WRATH of God is revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, WHO SUPPRESS the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM. For 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.” (Romans 1:18-20, NKJV).
Now, what part of these last two words does the world not understand? That’s just it – they DO understand and inwardly know that there is a God, but don’t want to admit it or deal with it, as if this futile thought will somehow make Him go away. King David wrote of the undeniable presence and power of God as follows:
“OH, LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thoughts from afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word upon my tongue but LORD, you know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in all Your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” – Psalm 139:1-8, 13-16 (NKJV)
The Scriptures abound with these facts, yet unregenerate humanity continues to revile, ignore, denounce, and has over the centuries attempted to extinguish them from history. Yet, the Holy Word of God has stood tall and withstood all the venom which has been thrown at it. Proud skeptical men over the course of civilization who stood on the crumbling foundation of disbelief and hatred of God arrogantly declared that their works would prove once and for all that God was a figment of people’s imagination or some “wretch” whose name needed to be eradicated from an “intelligent,” more “modern” society. Libertines such as the philosophers Voltaire, Thomas Paine and David Hume who throughout their lives mocked God perished with fear because of their rank unbelief and poison pens that corrupted minds and souls into following the trail of unbelief. The last words of these men are terrifying to read and are a sobering lesson to not ignore the obvious signs of creation, design, and formation of this world and universe by the work of a Benevolent and Personal Creator.
The Scriptures are their own best defense of God’s role as Creator and Redeemer (Genesis 1:1, 26, 2:3; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Job 12:9, 26:7, 13, 33:4,40:15; Psalm 33:6, 95:5, 102:25, 104:5, 30; Isaiah 40:12, 28, 45:12, 48:13; John 1:3; Acts 4:24, 7:50, 14:15, 17:24; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1,2,10, 11:3). No writer of Scripture ever once contradicted, challenged, updated, removed, or dismissed the teachings that Almighty God brought all things into being and with a purpose, fully functioning, with accuracy and nothing going to waste or irrelevance as part of His Holy will and plan. Yet with all of this placed before us by a loving God who wishes to have a relationship with us, humanity offers foolish and nonsensical excuses for their behavior and would rather try to put a diaper on a crocodile than bow before Him and surrender their lives to Him. That’s just the plain truth and I will not back off from what Scripture teaches in order to make the readers of this message feel better about where they either stand or don’t stand before God. Paul presents his case in the same manner. He is unapologetic and blunt as he presents the step-by-step effects of sin on humanity and will not allow anyone to claim any exceptions.
I pray that these words have caused you to stop and think about where you stand before a Holy God whom you WILL see one day, like it or not, believe it or not (John 5:28, 29; Hebrews 9:27). God has offered the ONLY way by which you can have an authentic relationship with Him and be freed from the curse of sin, death, hell, and the coming wrath that God will bring to this wicked world. That ONE WAY is by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who took your sins and the wrath you and I deserve upon Himself on the cross as the perfect and final sacrifice for us (Isaiah 53:1-12; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 1:6-10, 2:1-2). You do not have to face what is fixing to hit this world. Jesus Christ offers you eternal life, forgiveness, peace, salvation, mercy, grace, and rest for your soul (Matthew 11:28-30). Now, you can choose right now to walk away and mock what has been presented here, but ask yourself as you do – what does this world have to offer that in the end will pass away?
My book, “The Scope of Biblical Prophecy” is now available at: www.parsonsporch.com. It is a general look at the role and importance of Bible prophecy, the importance of correct interpretation of the Scriptures, the varied ways of how the last days events are to occur, and that in the end, Jesus wins.
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