WEEK 3: The Folly of the Unrighteous Romans 1:18-32 January 21, 2016 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20 ESV What happens when men abandon the truth of God for the lie? The lie is, in essence, that God does not exist at all or that He exists according to man s invention. And if the one true God does not exist at all or exist as He truly is, then man is left to create his own order of things and his own laws for life. Three times in this section of Romans 1, Paul uses the phrase, God gave them up. Paul is attempting to demonstrate what life looks like when God releases men to pursue and believe the lie. Thinking themselves to be wise, their foolish hearts become darkened, and they lose any ability to make decisions based on the wisdom and righteousness of God. In this condition, they find themselves believing and practicing practically anything. Take Notes (Teaching): As you listen to today s lesson, write down anything significant that you hear. Be ready to share them with the men at your table during the discussion time. 2016 Ken Miller 15 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Take Part (Discussion): Sometimes God has a way of speaking through others as they provide insights or different applications from the lessons. As you discuss around your table, write down anything you hear that makes an impact on you. Or if you hear another man share a struggle or concern, write it down so that you can pray for him during the week. Take Time (Prayer): Be sure and leave a few minutes for the sharing of prayer requests. Remember, keep your requests short and sweet. Don t let the details bog you down. We don t have to understand all that is going on to pray effectively. 2016 Ken Miller 16 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
HOMEWORK Homework for week 4 The Justice of God s Judgment Romans 2 Read chapter 2 all the way through, being sure to mark any repetitive words or phrases. Look for anything that catches your attention or raises a question. Write them down here: Look at verses 1-9 again. Paul seems to be addressing a particular group of people who judge others. We might refer to this group as religious man. They tend to look down their noses at those who commit certain sins and can view themselves as somehow more spiritual. But Paul won t allow them to draw that conclusion. What does he say to shoot down their arrogant attitude? It is likely that Paul was referring to Jews within the Roman church who had converted to Christianity, but who still considered themselves better than those who were described as without excuse back in verse 20 of chapter 1. Why does Paul say they are without excuse as well? Paul quotes from the following Old Testament passages. Write beside each one what they teach. Psalm 62:11-12 Proverbs 24:12 Now read Leviticus 11:44. What is God s expectation of the Jewish nation? Read Matthew 5:20. What does Jesus say is His expectation of the Jews of His day? Read Romans 3:9-10, 23. According to these verses, what is the problem with all men? 2016 Ken Miller 17 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Read Romans 3:24 and Ephesians 2:8-9. What do these two passages teach us? For Paul, sin is ultimately unrighteousness. It is man s inability to live up to God s righteous standard. Look at Romans 1:18 again. What does it teach us about unrighteousness? Now look at Romans 2:13. Paul is talking directly to the Jews, who had been given the law, but who had failed to obey it. What does he say is the requirement for being justified or made right with God by the law? In verse 14, what do you think Paul means when he says the Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires? Look at verse 15 in the New Living Translation: They demonstrate that God s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. According to Paul, how do they demonstrate that God s law is written on their hearts? Read verses 17-25. Paul is addressing Jews who knew the law, boasted in their relationship with God, and claimed to be guides to the blind, a light to those in darkness, instructors of the foolish and teachers of children. But what does he accuse them of? How were they guilty of blaspheming the name of God among the Gentiles? Read verses 26-29. According to verse 29, what are the characteristics of a real Jew? 2016 Ken Miller 18 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
WEEK 3: The Folly of Unrighteousness: Romans 1:18-32 There is plenty of condemnation to go around for Jews as well as Gentiles. In this passage the story of Israel is reflected in the story of Gentiles sin and judgment for both. But this bad news is designed to drive both to the gospel, the ultimate restoration of the Jews and the conversion of the Gentiles. C, Marvin Pate, Teach the Text Commentary Series: Romans Man s unrighteousness For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 ESV - Paul is making a general statement about the condition of mankind o Mankind is ungodly o Mankind is unrighteousness o This is the assessment of Scripture The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! Psalm 14:2-3 NLT The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 ESV Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Genesis 6:11-13 ESV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 ESV For the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23 ESV No excuse - All men are equally guilty before God - Nobody has a valid excuse for their behavior - Everyone has been given a glimpse of God in His creation 2016 Ken Miller Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Romans 1:19 ESV - Creation reveals God s eternal power and divine nature - It proclaims the truth about God: that He exists - But ever since the fall, men have ignored God s natural revelation they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator Romans 3:25 ESV ungodliness = godlessness disregard for God s rights (honor, worship, obedience) Acting as if God does not exist unrighteousness = wickedness disregard for human rights (love, truth, justice) Acting as if God s creation has no value LOVE OF GOD LOVE OF MAN The wrath of God revealed Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves Romans 1:24 ESV Paul paints a picture of Godlessness run amuck Wickedness unrestrained (2 Timothy 3:1-5) - Man, left to his own devices, will always become godless or make less of God - God s wrath against mankind is revealed in o Their futile thinking It is the wisdom of man, apart from God, o Their darkened hearts that leads to things like genocide, o Their foolish behavior infanticide, abortion, and virtually all - God gave them up paradidōmi forms of sexual sin and perversion. Highly o to give into the hands of another intelligent people can commit and justify o to give over into (one s) power or use highly immoral acts. vesselsofclay.org o He allows men to rely on their own foolish wisdom and darkened hearts o Godlessness leads to hopelessness o And we are hopeless because we are helpless (Ephesians 2:12) o We are helpless because we are unrighteous God s judgment on godlessness and wickedness is to give us what we want. He gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts. The things we serve will not free us; rather, they control us. We have to have them. And, since our hearts were made to be centered on God, since he is the only true provider of satisfaction and significance, they do not satisfy we always feel we need more, or something else. The tragedy of humanity is that we strive for and fail to find what we could simply receive and enjoy. We suppress the truth which could free and satisfy us. Timothy Keller, Romans 1-7 For You 2016 Ken Miller Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church