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The Series: To All Who are in Rome; The Article: I Am not Ashamed (Part 6); The Text: Romans 1.16-20

Guilt has a way of robbing my bank of words! After all, what is there to say when you are caught red-handed? Anything that even sounds like an excuse just makes matters worse. When we are without excuse, we are at our lowest.

In eternity, men will face God without excuse. Every accountable man has all the evidence he needs to conclude concretely that God exists. Paul was not ashamed to declare the gospel even though the message that saved some condemned others. Those men “who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1.18) do not know God because they choose not to know Him; they are without excuse. To some Paul was “…the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other[s] the aroma of life leading to life. (2 Corinthians 2.16). Those who wish to be righteous can achieve that goal through the gospel. On the other hand, those who wish to reject and ridicule the gospel have that option, but it is to their eternal peril.

“[W]hat may be known of God is manifest in them [those men who hold the truth in unrighteousness], for God has shown it to them.” (Romans 1.19). Revelation is a marvelous thing, but only those who have ears to hear can hear. Some eyes are willingly closed and how can they see that which God has provided? God honors our free will, but He certainly does not leave us with excuse if we refuse to believe! God has revealed Himself to humanity; the evidence is there for any and all to examine. The sweet singer of Israel stated it this way: “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.” (Psalm 19.1-4a).

The fifth for in the context of the thesis of Romans provides proof that God’s wrath does not compromise His holiness; quite the contrary, His holiness demands His wrath! Paul put it this way to those in Thessalonica: “Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you.” (2 Thessalonians 1.6). Note carefully the words; God will repay some with tribulation. Furthermore, it is a “righteous thing” for Him to do so. The Creator of this universe intended for all things to work together for good, and so they shall! He will not, yea cannot, allow sin to go unpunished lest His own goodness be impeached thereby. Actually man has a choice in the matter; God does not. Man can be unrighteous; God cannot! If man refuses God’s offer of pardon through the provisions of the gospel, he leaves God no choice in the matter. God will not be mocked (Galatians 6.7); the law of sowing and reaping will not be suspended for anyone. When we choose evil, we truly place ourselves in a position where we have no excuse!

Dare someone cry, “Unfair! Unfair!” Had God not warned of such a fate, and had He not provided remedy, such a cry might have some standing. However, God has made Himself known, both by the book of nature, and by the book of revelation (the Bible). “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 1.20).

Questions

1. What will it mean to be without excuse before God? What are the eternal consequences?

2. How has God made Himself manifest in nature? What does this have to do with Psalm 19.1-4?

3. In the absolute sense, who determines right and wrong; good and evil? If God declares a thing good (righteous), what man has the standing to challenge that declaration?

4. Will God’s punishment of the unsaved be a righteous thing? Why or why not? If someone wishes to argue that it would be unrighteous, upon what basis or authority could such an argument be made?

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Longing For God