Lesson Text: Romans 1:18-23, 28-32 King James Version (KJV) I. REVELATION OF GOD S WRATH (Romans 1:18) 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; II. REASONS FOR GOD S WRATH (Romans 1:19-23) 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. III. EXECUTION OF GOD S WRATH (Romans 1:28-32) 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31. Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
New International Version (NIV) I. REVELATION OF GOD S WRATH (Romans 1:18) 18. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, II. REASONS FOR GOD S WRATH (Romans 1:19-23) 19. since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20. For since the creation of the world God s invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became
futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23. and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. III. EXECUTION OF GOD S WRATH (Romans 1:28-32) 28. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30. slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31. they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32. Although they know God s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to
do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. PRACTICAL POINTS: 1. When we sin, it is a clear choice to reject what God has revealed to everyone about Himself (Romans 1:18-19). 2. Non-Christians have no excuse for their willful disobedience because God is known through creation (Romans 1:20). 3. People are deceived and begin to create their own idols when they reject what they know about the true God (Romans 1:21-23). 4. If we continue to reject God, he will act according to our choice and abandon us to our own evil minds (Romans 1:28). 5. God s list of sins includes quite a number of things that we tend to overlook or not take seriously (Romans 1:29-31). 6. We must be careful not to sin by condoning the evil of others (Romans 1:32).
***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***