"The Never Ending Sermon"

#6 in Series

Romans 1:18-20

Spoken at SGBC

January 5,1997

(Romans 1:18-20 NASB) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, {19} because that which is known about God is evident WITHIN THEM; for God made it evident TO THEM. {20} For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been CLEARLY SEEN, being understood through what has been made, so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE.

In these verses we learn why Paul is so eager to preach the Gospel in Rome. It is because God’s wrath presently rests upon all the unbelievers in that city. They are ungodly, unrighteous and what truth they are in possession of is being held prisoner as they pursue their ungodly and unrighteous activities. Paul knows as we must know that the unbeliever’s only hope is to hear the Gospel and have it applied to his heart by God the Holy Spirit.

In verses eighteen through the end of chapter three Paul makes it clear that there is not a person on earth who possesses a righteousness of his own sufficient to make him acceptable to God. This is Paul’s diagnosis of man’s fatal problem. It is the exposing of the sickness before setting forth or prescribing the cure. In these verses Paul describes the world of unbelievers, the whole of fallen humanity. He speaks first of the Gentiles but in chapter two he throws the Jews in with them. He does so to show that with all their spiritual privilege as the chosen nation they have no more personal righteousness than the Gentile. "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God."

This is our second visit to verse eighteen. Last month working from this same text we spoke of God’s wrath resting upon sinners right now and the certainty of it being poured out upon them in the future. In that lesson I used the Bible’s word for fallen men and women, sinners. Today as we return to verse eighteen we see two new terms used to describe the wicked with whom God is angry every day. (Psalm 7:11)

(Romans 1:18 NASB) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

What is ungodliness? Ungodliness is the opposite of godliness. One is ungodly when he fails to worship honor and obey God. Ungodliness includes all wrongdoing, as well as the neglect of doing what is right. In other words one may not actively worship idols, which Joshua twenty four two says is an ungodly act, but if he neglects the worship of the true and living God he is still an idolater for all men have some kind of god even if it is themselves. If one fails to devote himself to the Lord whole heartedly by faith in Jesus Christ he is an ungodly person. The ungodly are those who deny the Savior outright or are merely indifferent toward Him. In one way or another these things are true of all unbelievers. Jude speaks of ungodly persons in the church.

(Jude 1:4 NASB) For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, UNGODLY persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness (The word means wantonness or sensuality. It describes those whose god is their own flesh. In our day these people might be called "Carnal Christians", which title describes people who believe they can live like sinners and still be saved from the wrath to come.) and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude continues in verses fifteen and following to speak of the Lord’s second coming, "to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the UNGODLY of all their UNGODLY deeds which they have done in an UNGODLY way, and of all the harsh things which UNGODLY sinners have SPOKEN AGAINST HIM." {16} These are grumblers, finding fault, FOLLOWING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. {17} But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, {18} that they were saying to you, "In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own UNGODLY lusts." (Jude 1:15-18 NASB) God’s wrath presently rests upon and will be poured out upon all the ungodly.

Now what about unrighteousness? What does this word have reference to? We could say ungodliness has to do with breaking the first portion of the Ten Commandments which teach us how to relate properly to God while unrighteousness has to do with the second half of the Commandments. The second portion of God’s law teaches us how to relate, in a Godly way, to our fellow man. By this definition an unrighteous person is one who would not obey and honor his father and mother. He is one who might murder in his heart by hatred or literally. The unrighteous commit adultery in thought and deed. They steal money, time, things. They bear false witness against their neighbor. The unrighteous covet people and things that aren’t theirs. Therefore the unrighteous are also ungodly for one cannot properly worship and relate to God if he does not relate to man as God commands.

Thus we see that the two are really inseparable. The ungodly are unrighteous and the unrighteous are ungodly.

Our text this morning declares that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. God’s wrath rests, right now, on all humans who are ungodly and unrighteous. Hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah.

(Isaiah 3:10-11 NASB) Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, For they will eat the fruit of their actions. {11} Woe to the wicked! (This refers to all the unsaved who are ungodly, and unrighteous.) It will go badly with him, For what he DESERVES will be done to him."

On the television we hear a jingle, "You deserve a break today, at a certain restaurant." I have heard people say to each other you deserve better than what is presently taking place in your life. Your deserve to be happy says our world so do what ever it takes to be happy. Perhaps you have said or thought to yourself, "I deserve better than this or that". It this true, do I deserve something better than what I have or better than the difficult thing that is happening to me right now? As a sinful son or daughter of Adam what do I deserve?

The Bible’s answer to this question is that the sinner deserves death and the application of God’s wrath to him forever in hell right now! That is what all men deserve for having sinned against God. God declares, "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. (Ezekiel 18:4 NASB) (Romans 6:23 NASB) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death is the sentence handed down by God to all sinners. And it is God who will carry out that sentence. He will do what He has promised to do. He will pour out His wrath upon all who die in their sins, upon all the ungodly and unrighteous humans on this earth.

(Revelation 21:5-8 NASB) And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said^, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." {6} And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. {7} "He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. {8} "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in THE LAKE THAT BURNS WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH." This is what ungodly and unrighteous men deserve and it is what they shall receive.

What does Paul mean when he says that the ungodly and unrighteous "suppress the truth in unrighteousness"? The word suppress used only here in the New Testament means to hold fast, hold back, hold firmly, keep from, or to restrain. The object of this restraint is said to be the "TRUTH". The context in which this statement is found reveals that the truth being restrained is truth about God. So, the reference is to people who have in their hearts and minds certain information about God and His will for them yet they refuse to repent of their ungodliness and unrighteousness. They imprison the truth in the back of their minds. They hold it back, they press it down, they suppress when it comes to mind. They go forward in the face of this truth to practice wickedness in all its forms. This is what it means to suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Anyone, no matter who it is who has heard the Gospel preached and has refused to believe in Christ for salvation is guilty of suppressing the truth while continuing in the way of unrighteousness. God’s wrath will be your reward. Our text however speaks of people who have never heard the Gospel but are guilty nonetheless.

In verses nineteen through twenty Paul goes on to explain what truth is being suppressed by people who have never heard the Gospel.

Romans 1:18-20 NASB) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who SUPPRESS the truth in unrighteousness, (Or, while continuing to practice sin.) {19} because that which is known about God is evident WITHIN THEM; for GOD MADE IT EVIDENT TO THEM. {20} For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, HAVE BEEN CLEARLY SEEN, being understood THROUGH what has been made, so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. (The word "They" refers to all humans ever born including people who have never or will never hear the Gospel. They will have no excuse to offer when they stand before God in the Judgement.)

By these words Paul answers the objection or question that has been asked a million times and sounds something like this. "The Jews received the written law of God, disobeyed it and are therefore sinners deserving God’s wrath. That is easy to understand. But the Gentiles, the rest of us, had no such privilege. God did not appeared to all the nations like He did to Israel. He did not speak to them audibly or through inspired prophets. How then can you call those who make up the Gentile nations sinners? Surely they are not ungodly and unrighteous since they have had no truth given to them to suppress or disobey."

Verses nineteen and twenty answer this and the other thousand objections like it. Questions like, "What about the INNOCENT Native in darkest Africa? What about the people who lived and died in the Soviet Union and have never heard the Gospel? Does God’s wrath abide upon these people? And if so why?

The answer is yes God’s wrath does abide upon every person outside of faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. The answer to why is, because they suppress change or otherwise abuse what truth has been revealed to them. This is their sin, guilt and ultimately, their eternal destruction.

God has revealed Himself and something of His will to and for all men in two ways. One, by an internal revelation to man’s mind and conscience. Two, by external revelation through what has been created. Romans chapter two verses fourteen through fifteen speak of the internal revelation of God to ALL men regardless of nationality or geographical location.

(Romans 2:14-15 NASB) For when Gentiles (This word covers all humans that are not Jews.) who DO NOT HAVE THE LAW (The written revelation of God initially given only to the Nation Israel.) do instinctively the things of the Law, these, NOT HAVING THE LAW, ARE A LAW TO THEMSELVES, {15} in that they show the work of the Law WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS, their CONSCIENCE bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them," This internal revelation is common to EVERYONE ever born. This law of God written on the hearts of every person if ignored or suppressed will cause him to stand before God without excuse on judgement day.

Our text also speaks of a witness or revelation of God to our eyes and other senses. (Romans 1:19-20 NASB) because that which is known about God is evident WITHIN them; for God made it evident TO them. {20} For since the CREATION OF THE WORLD His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD THROUGH WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, so that they are without excuse.

Ladies and Gentlemen God has revealed some truth about Himself to every person ever born. No man will be able to say I did not know about God or right and wrong. All will be accountable even those who have never heard a preacher and have never seen a Bible. They will be pronounced guilty for having suppressed the truth revealed to them from within and without. Worse yet, is the case with those who not only have the conscience and creation preaching a never ending sermon, but also have at their disposal the Bible. Modern man is surrounded by the Gospel. In our land there is a protestant church on every corner. The Gospel is on the radio in the paper and on the television. Gospel Light shines forth from each of His children to all those they meet. Modern man lives in a day that is brighter than any in all of history as concerns the revelation of God and His will for man. Yet, most suppress His truth to go on living unrighteous lives. The sons of Adam in every age are masters at silencing the voice of conscience, of creation and or the Preacher while they go on their sinful way. These will have no excuse when God judges them and casts them into the fires of hell.

Dear unbeliever to listen to the never ending sermon from within and without. For, "The heavens are TELLING of the glory of God; And their expanse is DECLARING the work of His hands. {2} Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night REVEALS KNOWLEDGE. {3} There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. {4} Their line has gone out through ALL THE EARTH, And their utterances to the END OF THE WORLD. . . . " (Psalms 19:1-6 NASB)

Gaze if you will upon a new born babe and see again His handy work. (Psalms 139:13-17 NASB) For THOU DIDST FORM my inward parts; THOU DIDST WEAVE me in my mother's womb. {14} I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully MADE; Wonderful are THY WORKS, And MY SOUL KNOWS IT VERY WELL. {15} My frame was not hidden from Thee, When I was MADE in secret, And skillfully WROUGHT in the depths of the earth. (That is in the womb which is dark like being underground.) {16} Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were ALL written, THE DAYS THAT WERE ORDAINED FOR ME, WHEN AS YET THERE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. {17} How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

All creation preaches truth to men about God. It reveals to us His invisible attributes, His eternal power and Divine nature. It speaks to us of His goodness and mercy. He sends to all His rain and causes the corps of both saint and sinner to grow. He formed you in your mother’s womb. Long ago Creation told you of Him. It spoke softly perhaps but clearly. From your conscience you learned that you should serve this great, good and powerful God. You have known the difference between good and evil from your youth and yet you suppressed it to continue in the way of sin. You are therefore ungodly. You have not obeyed His Law you are therefore unrighteous. His wrath is what you deserve and it is what you will get. Wrath is all a non-Christian has to look forward to.

However there is Good News for those who have been enabled to hear and I am authorized to proclaim it.

(Romans 10:8-13 NASB) But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"-- that is, the WORD OF FAITH which we are preaching, {9} that if you CONFESS with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and BELIEVE in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; {10} for WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVES, resulting in righteousness, and WITH THE MOUTH HE CONFESSES, resulting in salvation. {11} For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." {12} For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, ABOUNDING IN RICHES FOR ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM; {13} for "WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." Saved from what? Saved from sin’s slavery, sin’s guilt and from a convicted conscience. Last but not least all who come to Christ for forgiveness of sins trusting Him for acceptance with God will be saved from the wrath of God that is even now on its way.

We will all be without excuse and without hope of heaven if we dare come to the judgement without Christ.