When God Gives Up Romans 1:18-3:20 Chapter 2

Romans 1:18: a door to courtroom Theme of Romans: righteousness of God; Paul starts with unrighteousness of humankind Pattern: first the law & condemnation; then grace & salvation The Gentile World Is Guilty (1:18-32) –Devolution: human started high & because of sin, he sank lower than the beasts; opposite of evolution (18-20) People knew God, but turned from truth & rejected God

God revealed Himself through creation –God is eternal (1:20) –“Clearly seen” –Psalm 19:1 –The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament showeth his handiwork. –“Hold”: suppress or hold down »Men knew the truth, but didn’t allow the truth in their lives »Result: refusing the truth (1:21-22) & then turning the truth into a lie (1:25) »He abandoned the truth that they became like the beasts in thinking & living –Ignorance (1:21-23) Humans knew god, but they did not want to know or honor God Humans refused to give thanks or glory to God

Willing to use God’s gifts, but not willing to worship & praise God for His gifts Result: empty mind & darkened heart –If not God, a false god –Top of false gods: ourselves »“ye will be like God” (Gen 3:5 NASB) –Man made gods in his own image, instead of man made in God’s image –Indulgence (24-27) From idolatry to immorality –He does whatever he pleases & fulfill his desires without fear of judgment The lie that man is his own god –Eve Satan wanted the worship (Isa 14:12-15, Matt 4:6-10)

In idolatry Satan received the worship (! Cor 10: 9-21) Result: self –deification leads to self-indulgence –Homosexuality (Gen 18:20ff, I Cor 6:9-10, Jude 7) »“Vile”, “unnatural”, & “against nature” –God gave them up (1: 24,25) »He permitted them & they earned consequences »“in their own person the due penalty of their error” (1:27 NASB) »“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven (Rom 1:18) »How? By abandoning sinful man to their lustful ways –Impenitence (128-32) Because he was abandoned by God he became worse

Man did not want to retain God in their knowledge –“depraved mind” (1:28): a mind that cannot form right judgment »24 sins –He encouraged others and applauded them when they sinned “Men are without excuse” (1:20) The Jewish World is Guilty (2:1-3:8) –Addressing Jewish readers (2:17) –Four witnesses to prove the guilt of Jewish nation Gentiles (2:1-3) –Jewish national & religious pride led them to despise “Gentle dogs”

–Jews condemned the things Gentiles committed that they themselves practiced –God judges according to truth »Standard for all: not one for Jews and another for Gentiles »Sins of the flesh & spirit (2 Cor 7:1, Rom 1:29-32) »Prodigal sons & elderly brother (Luke 15: 11-32) »When you point a finger at someone else, the other three fingers are pointing at you God’s blessings (2:4-11) –Blessings gave the Jews greater responsibilty to obey and glorify Him –God judges according to deeds »Obedience & godly living »David & Judas »Measure of deeds the same for both Jews & Gentiles

God’s law (1:12-24) –“There is no respect of person with God” (2;11) –Jews were judged by the law –Gentiles were judged by the law written in their heart: conscience (2:15) –Possession of the law vs practice of the law –God judges “the secrets of men” (2:16) »God sees what is in the heart of men »“the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:11) »Sins committed in the heart (2:21-22) Circumcision (2:25-29) –The mark of the covenant beginning with Abraham »Physical mark vs spiritual mark –A true Jew is the one who has the inward spiritual experience and not only an outward physical operation –God judges according to the secrets of men (Rom 2:16)

»He is not impressed with outward formalities »God looks at the heart of men –Praise of men vs praise of God (2:29) »Jew from Judah means praise –Paul’s summation (3:1-8) Jews were guilty before God –“What advantageth is it to be Jews?” »Possessing God’s Word –“Will Jewish unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness?” »Unbelief established His faithfulness –If our sin commends His righteousness, how can he judge us?” »God judges the world righteously The Whole World Is Guilty (3:9-20)

–“none” & “all” reveal the universality of human guilt Psalm 14:1-3 “The fool haith said in his heart, there is no God. –“No, God” –The whole of man’s inner being in controlled by: His mind (“none that understandeth”) His heart (“none that seeketh after God”) His will (“none that doeth good”) –God must seek out sinners (Gen3:8-10, Luke 19:10) –X-ray from heart to toe (Rom 3:13-18) 13a – throat & tongue (Ps 5:9) 13b – lips (Ps 10:7)

14 – mouth (Ps 10:7) –“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt 12:34) –“For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matt 12:37) –The condemned mouth can be converted mouth, “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9-10) – feet ( Isa 59: 7-8) –Like his words are deceitful his feet are destructive –Christians’ feet are shod with the gospel of peace (Eph 6:15) –Broad way vs narrow way (Matt 7:13-14) 17 – mind (Isa 59: 7-8) –The peace of God is through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1) 18 – sinner’s arrogant pride (Ps 36:1) –“There is no fear of God”

–Conclusion (3:19) The mouth must be stopped The world is guilty –“therefore” (Rom 3:20) Because – reason that the world is guilty No one can be justified by obeying the law for no one can obey the law –Closing Has your mouth been stopped? Are you still defending yourself before God? You cannot be saved by grace if you haven't stopped your mouth and stopped defending yourself before God