For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  Romans 1:19 

Romans 1:18–23 – Romans: The Righteousness of God
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany  – January 29, 2023 (am)

The last thing we heard Paul say was that, 17 … in [the gospel], the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, just as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” So, our natural follow-up question should be: Why should we pursue this righteousness by faith? I mean, just because Paul is obligated to preach the gospel to the [Gentiles] (14), and isn’t ashamed of [it], doesn’t mean they’re obligated to receive it! There’s got to be a better reason than he’s mentioned so far for them to pursue the righteousness of God by faith. 

And as it turns out, there is. Paul’s hearers should embrace God’s righteousness by faith because [His] wrath is being revealed against all the unrighteousness out there! (18) In this section (1:18-32) we believe he’s talking about the unrighteousness of Gentiles in contrast to his discussion of the unrighteousness of Jews in the next section (2:1-3:8). And most believe that 1:18-19 here act as the ‘heading’ [over] this whole section (1:18-3:20) (Moo 1994 1122). 

But also, this immediate section (1:18-32) is one of most often referenced passages in all the Bible right now, in our day! It’s deeply disturbing to many people because it expresses God’s view with clarity regarding subjects on which people would much rather hold their own views. And it does so in such a way that those people truly are left without excuse. 

We don’t revel in this statement or chest-bump or strut. It’s tragic that such words even need to be spoken. But since they do, we affirm them without apology and seek to help people grasp them—why they’re [true], and how. So, we’ll take three Sundays with the rest of c.1. I have vv.18-23 today. Nick will take vv.24-27 next Sunday, then Kipp will finish with vv.28-32 the following week. So, let’s dig in—as I said, the why and how. 

Why God’s Wrath Falls on People – 18-20 

Last Sunday we looked at the four explanatory statements in vv.16-17, Paul’s theme verses in this letter. Now today we see that we continue on with a succession of explanations, each thought explaining the one prior (vv.18, 19, 20, 21 each begin with for). 

So, why do we pursue the righteousness of God by faith? (17) 18 [Because] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Some suggest that this for statement is parallel to the previous one (17), which would mean that in the gospel (16) both the righteousness of God (17) and the wrath of God (18) are being revealed (18) as sort of opposite sides of the same coin (Barth in Moo 2018 110). But it seems best to see this as a typical use of for (an explanation of what comes before it) and therefore as a response to our question of why God’s righteousness is being revealed in the way it is, namely, as received by faith (Moo 2018 111). 

Answer: the righteous shall live by faith [because] the wrath of God is [being made know] from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. And this ungodliness shows itself as they actively, intentionally suppress [God’s] truth in favor of their own truth, thus exposing their undeniable unrighteousness (18). 

Do they really know God’s truth? Yes. Paul explains: 19 … what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Here’s how. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, God’s wrath is being revealed because He’s made Himself clearly and undeniably known, but His creatures are suppressing that truth, resisting it, rejecting it, as we’ll see, for their own form of truth. So, Paul is saying, they are without excuse. It’s an open and shut case! Just think of it! It’s the truth about God’s deity and His power that’s being suppressed—two of His most evident and undeniable attributes, qualities He puts on open and accessible display throughout all His creation! (20) 

So, this sets the scale for determining just how evil the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men [and women] actually are. To realize their own aims, they will intentionally deny the most undeniable Self-expressions of God Himself in this world! 

How People Earn God’s Wrath – 21-23 

So, that’s why the wrath of God is [being] revealed from heaven against [them] (18). But what are they actually doing? How are they going about suppressing these truths? How are people earning God’s wrath? Here it is: 21 … although they knew God. Do you hear that? This is one of the reasons some think Paul is going all the way back to the beginning and talking about Adam & Eve here. But I don’t think Paul’s meaning here about knowing God in the sense that these people were reconciled to Him, then turned away from that. I believe he’s talking about the fact that God has made His nature and power sufficiently clear in what they see around them that they should surely be able to recognize at least His deity and that great power (see Moo 2018 117-118). There’s just no excuse for not recognizing and granting this very basic knowledge of Him. 

So, 21 … although they knew God in this sense, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him…. Isn’t that interesting? The expression of thankfulness that’s identified as having such wide-ranging power in so many different areas in the Christian life is identified here as one of the first expressions that, when absent, leaves the human heart vulnerable to rejecting two of the most basic manifestations of God’s presence in this world! So, 21 … although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him and, as a result, they became futile in their thinking, worthless. One lexicon (WSDNT, Zodhiates) suggests to cancel out as one way to understand the meaning of futile. Isn’t that interesting? We might say the cancel culture begins as we cancel out our own discernment of God in this world! As people went that way, Paul is saying, … their foolish hearts were darkened. Instead of acknowledging God “as God,” by glorifying him and thanking him, human beings [suppressed] their knowledge and sank into idolatry (Moo 2018 118), into a self-imposed entry into their own personal dark ages. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, which is where suppression of truth will always lead. 

Now, listen to this: 23 and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. They turned away the living and powerful God and redirected their worship toward things that grow old and die, just like they do. So, what do they gain from this? 

Well, that question will be addressed each of the next two weeks, God willing. We’ll see from the types of sins listed what sorts of things they wanted to do that led them to suppress the truth about God to make room for them. If you understand people, though, it won’t be a surprising list. Even so, it truly is breathtaking how foolish image-bearing creatures can become as they grow more comfortable seeking to please themselves rather than God. And it’s not at all a new problem. The prophet Jeremiah saw it all the way back in his day, in a very familiar text. Jer.2:11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. 12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this: be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, 13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. This is a good description of the utter foolishness we see here in Rom.1. 

Conclusion 

So, what is our takeaway today? It’s so tempting to read Rom.1 and begin railing against the ungodliness of our day; there are so many expressions of it which are just as stunning as the descriptions here—exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man! (23) Such foolishness! Giving up the fountain of living water in order to try to drink from broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jer.2:13)—choosing to lick the rusty, dust-caked bottom of a leaky barrel just in order to have your own way and do your own thing? Just so, so foolish! 

But there’s a far better way for us to hear this, with eyes focused on the vulnerabilities in our own hearts, well before we turn our attention toward others. Just as we read in Gal.6:1 … if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. But we’d better keep watch on [ourselves], lest [we] too be tempted. So, three things to remember as takeaways from this text: 

1. It’s possible to know God and yet turn away from Him (21). This doesn’t mean we can savingly believe then lose that status. But it does mean we can be warm toward the Lord and even involved in His work without saving belief in Him. Jesus Himself warns us of this. Mat.7:22 On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” 23 And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” So, we need to be aware of the fact that we can go the wrong direction when we read poignant descriptions like this of other people’s sins. We don’t need to enter into condemnation of them. We need to guard our own hearts then just help them to understand God’s Word as it comes to bear on their lives 

2. Ceasing to worship and give thanks are signs of turning away. It’s never healthy or wise for believers to stop worshiping and giving thanks to God, or even to grow soft in these disciplines, or surely to become critical of them, or of how others do them. Worship and thanksgiving are where we need to live. They’re the spiritual air we breathe. And these expressions are cultivated in community, right here as we’re together. Those who suppress God’s truth also seek community (32); they want to be in the company of those who agree with them. 

3. Give yourself continuously to worship and thanksgiving. This is not a direct charge from this text. But surely it should be a warning, and a takeaway, when we see what it is that allows these people to become futile in their thinking (21) and turn into fools even while thinking they’re so very wise (22). Keeping our eyes focused on the eternal power and divine nature of God that He’s made known to us, and responding to that with awe-filled worship and thanksgiving is the takeaway we should gain right from the start in this amazingly insightful and troublingly accurate description of where we could land if we don’t. 

And perhaps helping others to see the presence and power of God all around them is the best way for us to respond to Rom.1 on their behalf—just worshiping and thanking God routinely, in the company of any and all people. 

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Resources 

Arnold, Clinton E., gen. ed. 2002. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary. Vol. 3, Romans-Philemon. Romans, by Douglas J. Moo, 2-95. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 

Barnhouse, Donald Gray. 1952. Romans, four volumes. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans 

Beale, G. K., & D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Romans, by Mark A. Seifrid, 607-694. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. 

Carson, D. A., R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Romans, by Douglas J. Moo, 1115-1160. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity. 

Chadwick, Henry, gen. ed. 1957. Harper’s New Testament Commentaries. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, by C. K. Barrett. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson. 

Comfort, Philip W., gen. ed. 2007. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Romans, by Roger Mohrlang. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale. 

Cranfield, C. E. B. 1990. Romans: A Shorter Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 

Dever, Mark. 2005. The Message of the New Testament. Ch. 6, The Message of Romans: Justification, 146-166. Wheaton: Crossway. 

Dockery, David S, ed. 1995. New American Commentary. Vol. 27, Romans, by Robert H. Mounce. Nashville: Broadman & Holman. 

Green, Joel B., ed. 2018. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The Letter to the Romans, by Douglas J. Moo. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 

Hodge, Charles. 1989. The Geneva Series of Commentaries. Romans. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth. 

Hubbard, David A., and Glenn W. Barker. 1988. Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 38AB, Romans, by James D. G. Dunn. Dallas: Word. 

Longman III, Tremper, & David E. Garland, eds. 2008. Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 11, Romans-Galatians. Romans, by Everett F. Harrison and Donald A. Hagner, 19-237. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 

Luther, Martin. 1976. Commentary on Romans. Translated by J. Theodore Mueller. Grand Rapids: Kregel. 

Moo. Douglas J. 2000. The NIV Application Commentary. Romans. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 

Morris, Leon, ed. 1985. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Vol. 6, Romans, by F. F. Bruce. Downers Grove: InterVarsity. 

Moule, H. C. G. 1977. Studies in Romans. Grand Rapids: Kregel. 

Nygren, Anders. 1949. Commentary on Romans. Philadelphia: Fortress. 

Owen, John, ed. Commentary on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans, by John Calvin. Translated by John Owen. 

Sproul, R. C. 2005. The Gospel of God: An Exposition of Romans. Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus. 

Stott, John, NT ed. 1994. The Bible Speaks Today. The Message of Romans, by John Stott. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity. 

Yarbrough, Robert W., and Joshua W. Jipp, eds. 2018. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Romans, by Thomas R. Schreiner. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. 

Zodhiates, Spiros, gen. ed. 1993. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, revised edition. Chattanooga: AMG.

NEXT SUNDAY: Romans 1:24–27, Nick Conner