STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 4

TRETISE ON THE STATE OF THE UNGODLY

Romans 1:18-23 (KJV)

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; ¹⁹ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  ²⁰ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: ²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  ²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Romans 1:18-23 (AMP)

¹⁸ For God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.  ¹⁹ For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them.  ²⁰ For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], ²¹ Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and ^[a]godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.  ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves]. ²³ And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles.

1.    THE WRATH OF GOD REVEALED v.18

Ø  It is against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (mankind)

Ø   ‘in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.’

2.    BECAUSE… v.19-21

Ø  They know and have known God for He revealed Himself to them

Ø  They can see Him in Creation and understand

Ø  But choose to call it otherwise and so are without excuse

Ø  When they knew God they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful

Ø  Their foolish hearts were darkened

3.    FOOLISH (AND DESTRUCTIVE) ACTIONS v.22-23

Ø  Claiming to be wise, they became fools (AMP)

Ø  Changed from honoring & glorifying God to idols and worshiping creation

DON’T FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE – GLORIFY GOD!