Key Verses 5

Key Verses of the Bible

Romans 1:18-32

    The biblical order in any gospel presentation is always first the warning of danger then the way of escape, first the judgment on sin and then the means of pardon.
    The main body of Romans begins with 1:18, a clear affirmation of God’s wrath. Paul is determined for us to know that before we can understand the grace of God we must first understand His wrath. That before we can understand the meaning of the death of Christ we must first under-stand why man’s sin made that death necessary; That before we can begin to comprehend how loving, merciful, and gracious God is we must first see how rebellious, sinful, and guilty unbelieving mankind is. Even before telling us about the “righteousness revealed in the gospel” Paul tells us about the “wrath of God” revealed against godless-ness.

    As a kid, I can remember having a pretty disciplined home. Although my father was gone a lot in my younger years, He was home most of my pre-teen and teenage years. There were many times when I would be doing something  - or not doing what my mother would tell me to do – and she would warn me two or three times “You are going to get it!”
    But, it was the times that I stepped over the line, when I pushed the anger button one to many times, that she would play her “ace-in-the-hole”…She would say to me “Just wait until your father gets home!”  It was then that I knew I had gone too far, and I faced the wrath of my father. There was no turning back; no repenting; no “I’m sorry’s”, no “O.K. I’ll do it”…now it was too late. 
    In this scripture, we see mankind at it’s worse, and if they don’t change – there are some results that follow, and in the end, the wrath of God. Let’s first look at the progressive manner of man’s depravity;
    In verses 18-20 Paul points out the fact that “what may be known about God is plain”…and he lists three things; “His invisible qualities, his eternal power, and his divine nature”…“clearly seen and understood from what has been made”…from all of creation itself… “So that men are without excuse.”
    Look at the progression here: Vs. 21 – “For although they knew God, Step #1 “they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him”. For those who know there is a God and even say they “believe there is a God” but neither glorify him nor give thanks to him; here is the result: (a) “their thinking became futile” and (b) their hearts were darkened…
    This leads to Step #2 – Verse 22 - They claimed to be wise; and soon exchange the glory of One God for the worship of many gods…or idols. “Therefore” it says “God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts”…And what was the result? Verse 25 - “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator.” I am sure you can think of many created things that man worships other than God…
    This leads to Step #3 – Verses 26 and 27 – “God gave them over to shameful lusts” - Sexual impurity; homosexuality; and what Paul calls “perversion”. How rampant is this in our world today?  It’s not only in the world, it has crept into the church!  It is as though it is “politically incorrect” if what we watch on T.V. doesn’t include a minority and a homosexual.
We can’t seem to understand the difference between a “birthright” or a “civil right” and a chosen lifestyle! Call me old fashioned, or intolerant, but it is not a sin to be black or white or man or woman, but God says this lifestyle is SIN. However, it is not an unforgivable sin…
    And, finally, if there is no repentance or turning back to God, He “gives them over to a depraved mind”… and all the things listed in verses 29-31 soon become every day experiences; no longer shocking; no conscience; they just don’t care! So, they “not only continue to do these things, but approve of those who practice them. If this isn’t a picture of our world today, I don’t know what is.
    Then, before we can barely blink an eye and say a word, Paul says “You, therefore have no excuse”… What is worse, Idol worship or greed? Homosexuality or gossip? Murder or arrogance and boastfulness?
( Sin is Sin.)
    Paul is of course, showing that in the end, there is “no one righteous, not even one”…He shows the depravity of mankind in order for us to see how marvelous and wonderful and undeserving is the grace and mercy and love of God that is ours in the “righteousness that is revealed in the gospel.” It is the depth of mans depravity that stands in stark contrast to the depth of God’s love. That’s why these are key verses in the Bible… It is only when we fully understand the love of God that we can no longer fear the wrath of God.