Romans1:18-32
(New International Version)
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
1. In verses 18-20, Paul says that God has made it plain to people that He exists from what He has made. What can we learn about God from considering His creation?
There is a lot we can tell about God’s character and nature from looking at the creation. Some obvious points are:
There is a Creator –The world didn’t just happen.
The Creator is powerful.
He’s invisible.
He is creative, wise, orderly.
He loves variety and beauty.
He cares for His creation.
2. In verse 21, Paul says people neither glorified God nor gave thanks to Him. Why is it important to worship and thank God?
When we’re worshipping and thanking God, we can’t rebel against Him. Our hearts are softened toward Him rather than hardened in sin. We remain humble and teachable rather than prideful and judgmental. We can’t forget God if we make it a regular practice to worship Him.
3. What was the result of people not acknowledging God as Creator?
They became foolish enough to worship created things rather than God (verses 23-25).
They were attracted to the same sex (verses 26-27).
They became depraved in all other areas (verses 28-32).
4. Paul opens and closes this passage by saying that people know God and His commands but choose to ignore this knowledge. How do people suppress the knowledge of God today?
People invent other reasons for the origin of the Universe.
They ignore their own consciences that proclaim the commands of God.
They try to fill the yearning in their soul for higher things with money, relationships, pleasure, accomplishment.
They argue that the God’s Word doesn’t mean what it says, or that it’s outdated and not applicable to modern people.
5. What does verse 18 tell us about the final result of humanity’s sin?
The wrath of God is real. He will punish all sin because we are all without excuse.
What to DO after reading this passage
Verse 32 says that people not only continue to sin, but also approve of others who sin. Spend some time in prayer asking God if there is any way in which you have been approving of sin.
A couple of ideas might be laughing at inappropriate jokes or paying for and sponsoring entertainment that shows you sinful behavior.
Do you have another insight into this passage? Please share below!
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