Having expressed his greetings to the church in Rome, Paul affirms that the Gospel is the power of God to salvation. This power is for people from all backgrounds because all people are under God’s condemnation. He now goes on to explain how that judgment is true.
Some questions:
• Even though the gentiles didn’t have the scriptures to guide them, what guidance did they have? (1:19-20)
• What did they know about God from that guidance? (1:19; )
• What have they done with that knowledge of God? (1:18)
• The Bible is making a point about people who assert they do not believe in God. What is it? (1:19; 20)
• What happens to these people? Who is at work? (1:21; 24; 26; 28)
• If the knowledge of a Creator is suppressed, where will people’s devotion turn? (1:22-23; 25; 27; 29-31)
• What role do people’s minds, hearts, passions and lifestyles play in this judgment? Is there any order being represented here?
• How do you understand the list of sinful behaviour listed in verses 29-31. Clearly they are not all equally wicked. What quality do they all share that causes them to be listed here together.
• Note in verse 32 the additional observation about approving the practices? What does this mean?
• In what ways does this passage remind you of Australia today?
• We probably tend to think of God’s wrath as being something for the end times. What can we learn about God’s judgment right now? (1:18)
• Paul is not just condemning certain behaviours. He is making a larger point about every person who lives in this world. What is it?
• How does that observation relate to verses 16 and 17?
Some comments/notes:
It is vital to remember that what is being explained here is that the Gospel, the power of God for salvation of both Jew and Gentile is needed by all. The text explains that God’s judgment in universal.
The Gentiles have the testimony of creation. This ‘natural’ theology cannot really be expressed in the detail of biblical revelation.
But, from this testimony God’s eternal power and divine nature are obvious. I think this can be taken to mean that everything did not come into existence (and is sustained) by its own power. I also think it means that God is not part of creation. He is distinct from it. He is not an animistic deity, nor is he a localised deity. Eternal power and divine nature.
Clearly the Bible asserts that people supressed this knowledge. Suppression is an active putting away of truth. There is also an assertion that no matter what people say, they know the truth. There is a creator.
It must be recognised that God is active here. He hands humanity over. He doesn’t let them go their own way, rather He sends them right down the path they want to go.
This judgement is another aspect of His revelation. The world, and humans do not behave as they should. They should recognise their creator and live in response to Him. The fact they do not points to disfunction.
Humanity is devoted to themselves; to creation; to different created things. They’ll take meaning from anything.
The comment about the list of behaviours not being equally wicked needs explanation. There is no question that being foolish is the same as murder. But what is being asserted is that they are both signs that creation is out of order. They are also both sin. They both deserve God’s judgement. They both need the same salvation.
It is entirely unhelpful to break the list down and try and grade the degree of sin though. After all the intent of the passage is to show that all are under the same judgment and need the same salvation.
It is useful to remember that the Gospel is not therapeutic. This is not God’s solution for your problem, it is a means by which the judgment you deserve falls upon the Lord Jesus.
Approving Godless behaviour is also a sign of this judgement.
So, not only can we perceive that there is a divine and invisible God, but that God judges humanity who refuse to recognise Him.
Doubtless there are those who feel that God should overlook humanity’s rejection. That matter will be dealt with later. But really, what should be the proper relationship between the Creator and the created? And, as we’ve already heard, God has provided the salvation for humanity’s rebellion.
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