Studies From Romans
Lesson #2 : Everyone Worships Something (Romans 1:18-32)
This is a great passage dealing with the wrath of God and who it is revealed against. In the passage we not only see that the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, but we learn that in reality everyone worships something even if it is only themselves. In this lesson we will look at those who hold the truth in unrighteousness, steps that lead to destruction, and the results of worshipping anything but God.
Those who hold the truth in unrighteousness:
In verse 18 we see that are men hold the truth in unrighteousness, and these are those for whom the wrath of God is revealed. In verses 19-20 we see that God uses two things to manifest himself to man and both are seen through nature.
1) His eternal power (verse 20)
- The fact that God created everything that exist shows his eternal power. But yet there are many who do not believe that God created everything.
- Nature teaches us these things but yet man says that nature evolved. This is interesting because one of the 1st steps in the scientific process is observation. Then after experimentation you must reproduce the results to prove the theory. No one has ever observed evolution taking place or have they reproduced it.
- The word of God is way ahead of science anyways just look at Luke 17:30-34 there is said to be night and day at the same time. In Isaiah 40:21-22 we see the circle of the earth. Isaiah knew the earth was round 1000’s of years before Columbus. But yet even today people are going back to a flat earth theory. In Ecclesiastes 1:6-7 Solomon knew where rain came from. Job knew that the moon did not shine (Job 25:5). There are many other of these things found in the word of God as well.
2) The Godhead (verse 20)
- This is speaking of the trinity. One of the greatest verses on the trinity in 1 John 5:7 and many so called Bible Scholars say it should not be in the Bible.
- Everything God created is connected to a trinity. Matter has three phases (solid, liquid, gas). This is interesting because in Hebrews 11:1-3 we see the world was made by things that we cannot see. The Bible was way ahead of the discovery of the atom, which by the way has three basic parts (protons, neutrons, and electrons).
- Even man is a trinity (body, soul, and spirit)
Steps that lead to destruction:
When man refuses to believe the revelation of God that he gives him it will usually lead him down a path of destruction we see these steps in the following verses.
1) When they knew God they glorified him not as God (verse 21)
- Giving God glory is essential and once God reveals himself as we saw in verses 19-20 the first step toward destruction will be to not give him the glory he deserves.
2) They were unthankful (verse 21)
- We are told to give God thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- Not giving God the glory and being unthankful led to being vain in their imagination and having their foolish heart darkened.
3) The next step is professing themselves to be wise they became fools (verse 22)
- Remember it says let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12)
4) They changed the glory of God into an image made by made like unto corruptible man (verse 23)
- This is idolatry and it goes against the 2nd commandment and the last the apostle says in the book of 1 John.
The results of these steps:
Once man goes down the steps we discussed above there will always be consequences for these types of sin. If we look at America today, we can see the consequences being played out everyday in all walks of life.
1) God gave them up to uncleaness through the lust of their bodies (verse 24)
- This led them to change the truth of God into a lie, modern day evolution, and to worship the creation more than the creator, modern day environmentalism.
- I am not saying we should purposefully pollute, but you have to remember that God is in control of this environment.
2) God gave them up to vile affections (verse 26)
- This leads to homosexuality which is a sin according to God’s word. Some will try to say that God only spoke of homosexuality in the Old Testament but here it is in the New Testament and it is still not good.
- The sad thing is that even saved people today are embracing it and saying that God created them that way. The only way you can say that is to change the truth of God into a lie.
The reality of this is that you will either acknowledge God and worship him as God or you will worship and serve creation which in itself is really just worshipping yourself.
Studies From Romans
Lesson #2 : Everyone Worships Something (Romans 1:18-32)
Handout
1) What are the two ways in which God reveals himself to man? Give examples.
2) What are the steps that lead to destruction?
3) What are the results of the steps that lead to destruction?
4) What is the main thought that we can see from this lesson?