DRAWING NEAR
How would you respond to a sincere, concerned friend who observed: “We don’t need to try to scare people into heaven with all this talk of hell, fire, and brimstone. Christians should be more positive and tolerant—emphasizing all the blessings of the Christian life, not threatening people with damnation. It just gives us—and God—a bad name!”
THE CONTEXT
After stating the thesis of his epistle—a righteous God is able to make sinners righteous through faith (1:16–17)—Paul expounds on the wretchedness of the human heart, and the divine wrath that this rebelliousness elicits.
For Paul, knowledge of eternal condemnation was one motivation he offered for coming to belief. He was determined that they understand that God is holy and just, and that we are all sinners under God’s wrath. This approach makes both logical and theological sense. We cannot appreciate the wonder of God’s grace and love until we truly understand God’s righteous anger against sin. We cannot appreciate God’s forgiveness until we appreciate the eternal consequences of sin.
Paul says that everyone—Gentiles and Jews, indeed all of humankind—stands guilty before a holy God. Human nature is corrupt. Human motives are impure. By the time Paul is finished with his divine indictment, every mouth has been shut (3:19–20). We are without excuse. We are incapable of saving ourselves. This “bad” news is a necessary part of the good news, called the gospel.
KEYS TO THE TEXT
Human Depravity: The basic meaning of the Greek word, adokimos, “depraved,” (“debased” in NKJV) is that of “not standing the test.” The term was commonly used of metals that were rejected by refiners because of impurities. The impure metals were discarded, and adokimos therefore came to include the ideas of worthlessness and uselessness. In relation to God, the rejecting mind becomes a rejected mind and thereby becomes spiritually depraved, worthless, and useless. Because fallen humanity did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over, in this case here in Romans, to a depraved mind. The God-less mind is a depraved mind, whose predetermined and inevitable disposition is to do those things that are not proper. The mind that finds God worthless becomes worthless itself. It is debauched, deceived, and deserving only of God’s divine wrath. Although God-less people think they are wise, they are supremely foolish (Rom. 1:22).
Divine Revelation: God testifies through Paul that all people have evidence of God, and what their physical senses can perceive of Him, their inner senses can understand to some extent. All men know something and understand something of the reality and the truth of God. They are responsible for a proper response to that revelation. Any wrong response is “inexcusable.” God has made Himself known to all people everywhere in the marvels of nature and in the human conscience, which is able to distinguish right from wrong. Because this knowledge is universal and continuous, by it God has displayed His glory to everyone.
UNLEASHING THE TEXT
Read 1:18–3:20, noting the key words and definitions next to the passage.
Romans 1:18–3:20 (NKJV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
wrath of God (v. 18)—not a capricious, impulsive, arbitrary outburst of anger, but the settled determined response of a holy God against sin
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
manifest in them (v. 19)—God’s sovereignly implanted evidence of His own existence in the heart of every person
20 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,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
although they knew God (v. 21)—Every person is conscious of God’s existence, power, and divine nature via general revelation.
glorify (v. 21)—honor; We were created for no other reason than to exalt God, the failure or refusal to do so is the ultimate affront to our Creator.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
changed the glory . . . into an image (v. 23)—the worship of idols
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
gave them up (vv. 24, 26) gave them over (v. 28)—a Greek judicial term meaning to lord over a prisoner to his sentence; it conveys the sense of abandonment
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
the lie (v. 25)—the denying of God’s existence
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
vile passions (v. 26)—disgrace-ful or degrading perversions (for example, in this context, homosexuality)
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
despise (2:4)—to think down on, to treat with contempt
repentance (v. 4)—the act of turning from sin to Christ for forgiveness
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
hardness (v. 5)—the Greek word from which we get “sclerosis,” that is, a hardening of one’s heart
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
eternal life (v. 7)—not just quantity but an endless quality of existence
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God.
partiality (v. 11)—literally, to “receive a face,” that is, to give consideration to someone simply because of position, wealth, appearance, and so forth
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
by nature (v. 14) . . . conscience (v. 15)—our God-given instinctive or innate sense of what is right and wrong
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,
18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.
21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
he is a Jew (v. 29)—The true child of God has a heart separated from sin unto God.
3:1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
oracles (3:2)—important supernatural sayings or messages
3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
I speak as a man (v. 5)—Paul is paraphrasing the weak, unbiblical logic of his opponents.
6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
we (v. 9)—the Christians in Rome
under sin (v. 9)—enslaved and dominated by sin
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
unprofitable (v. 12)—useless, worthless; the Hebrew equivalent was used to describe milk that had become rancid
13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
cursing (v. 14)—caustically, derisively wishing the worst for someone
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
every mouth may be stopped (v. 19)—People are silent and speechless before God’s righteous judgment.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
1) What reasons does Paul give for the wrath of God against humanity?
2) Circle all the words and descriptive phrases in this passage for man’s rebellion against God.
3) Other than long-term judgment, what short-term consequences of rebelliousness does Paul cite in this extended passage?
4) According to this passage, why are not even “moral” and religious people exempted from God’s widespread judgment?
GOING DEEPER
Read Psalm 14 and note how it relates to the above passage in Romans.
Psalm 14 (NKJV)
1 The fool has said in his heart,“There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call on the LORD?
5 There they are in great fear, For God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You shame the counsel of the poor, But the LORD is his refuge.
7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
EXPLORING THE MEANING
5) How do these passages from both Old and New Testaments answer the popular, modern-day belief that “human beings are basically good”?
6) What specific evidence do you see in this passage to suggest that God is not impressed by mere “religious activity”?
7) Read Galatians 3:19–25. Why did God give sinful human beings a perfect law code to follow?
TRUTH FOR TODAY
The final verdict, then, is that unredeemed humankind has no defense whatever and is guilty of all charges. The defense must rest, as it were, before it has opportunity to say anything, because the omniscient and all-wise God has infallibly demonstrated the impossibility of any grounds for acquittal. Absolute silence is the only possible response just as there will be utter silence in heaven when the Lord Jesus Christ will one day break the seventh seal and release the seven trumpet judgments upon the condemned earth (see Rev. 8:1–6).
REFLECTING ON THE TEXT
8) R. A. Torrey observed: “When we see sin in all its hideousness and enormity, the holiness of God in all its perfection, and the glory of Jesus Christ in all its infinity, nothing but a doctrine that those who persist in . . . the rejection of the Son of God shall endure everlasting anguish will satisfy the demands of our own moral intuitions.” How can you come to a deeper understanding of the depravity of the human heart and the holiness of our God?
9) What in this study convicts you most? challenges you most? compels you to action the most? Why?
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Write out additional reflections, questions you may have, or a prayer.
ADDITIONAL NOTES