"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 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; 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."
Romans 1:18-21
Part 4
Yesterday: Man’s Ignorance of God Is Inexcusable!
“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen.”
The creation has been testifying about God ever since He finished making it.
“Being understood by the things that are made.”
The creation, the things that are designed and made, point back to their Designer and Maker.
“Even His eternal power and Godhead.”
God exists!
And He is mighty!
“So that they are without excuse.”
No exceptions. No one is excused.
Today: Man’s Devolving Away from God
“For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21, ESV[1]).
“Because that, when they knew God.”
What an interesting statement. Mankind “knew God.” There was at least twice in the history of our world when every person on the planet knew God personally. Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and Noah and his family as they were coming out of the ark after the great flood. But in both cases, the devil did his work well, and as the populations grew and spread out, people began to ignore God, their Creator. Where there is no knowledge of the true God, there can be no true worship.
“Knowledge of God typically includes recognition of His sovereignty, which results in worship (Joshua 4:24; 1 Kings 8:43; 2 Kings 19:19; Psalm 100:3). Here, people fail to worship God or acknowledge Him as Creator despite their knowledge of Him”[2] (FSB).
Sadly today, even with the testimonies of conscience, creation, and God’s Word, humanity is still the same. Most of mankind has elected to ignore their Creator, and just as the ancients did –
“They glorified him not as God.”
Mankind’s belligerence against Almighty God begins at the point when they refuse to think of God as God, and they will not glorify Him. The One worthy of all glory is being snubbed by His sinful creatures.
“The problem is not that man did not know God, but that he did know Him – yet refused to glorify Him as God. Therefore, mankind is without excuse. Instead of glorifying God, we transformed our idea of Him into forms and images more comfortable to our corrupt and darkened hearts”[3] (Guzik, EWC).
“Paul makes clear in 1:21 that although the people knew God, they chose not to honor Him as God and thus rejected His intended order. It’s not as if they misunderstood who He was; in fact, it was quite the opposite. They understood exactly who He was but refused to honor Him as God (1:21)[4] (HDC).
Having the proper knowledge of God is so important! But that knowledge alone is not enough. Spurgeon says it well –
“Will you kindly notice that, according to my text, knowledge is of no use if it does not lead to holy practice? ‘They knew God.’ It was no good to them to know God, for ‘they glorified him not as God.’ So, my theological friend over there, who knows so much that he can split hairs over doctrines, it does not matter what you think, or what you know, unless it leads you to glorify God, and to be thankful”[5] (Spurgeon, EWC).
“Whether therefore ye eat,
or drink,
or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31).
The proper knowledge of God always leads us to gratefulness to God for who He is and what He has done for us. When God’s creatures refuse to glorify Him, the next step downward is inevitable.
“Neither were thankful.”
Being thankful is a simple idea, and the word means “to be grateful, feel thankful,… give thanks”[6] (Thayer). It is a shame that this idea is so foreign to today’s worldly society.
“Man knew God; this is clear. But man did not want to know God or honor Him as God. Instead of being thankful for all that God had given him, man refused to thank God or give Him the glory He deserves. Man was willing to use God’s gifts, but he was not willing to worship and praise God for His gifts. The result was an empty mind and a darkened heart” [7] (Wiersbe).
From this point on, anything can happen to a sinful person. They will fall for anything.
“When gratitude dies on the altar of a man’s heart,
that man is well-nigh hopeless”[8]
(Bob Jones, Sr).
“But became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
“People are supposed to glorify God as God but instead find all sorts of created objects to worship. Part of the wrath of God is revealed in humanity’s loss of intelligent thinking”[9] (CSB).
“Became Vain In Their Imaginations”
People running away from God no longer have the ability to think correctly. The word imaginations come from the Greek word that means “thinking or thoughts.”
“‘Vain,’ here, as often in Scripture, is ‘wrong,’ morally as well as mentally”[10] (CB).
People without God have lost the ability to think clearly about spiritual things. And just as a baby will put anything into its mouth, these wrong thinkers will fall for anything.
“When truth is rejected, in time, the ability to recognize and to receive truth is impaired (cf. John 3:19–20)”[11] (BCK).
“And Their Foolish Heart Was Darkened”
Not only have they lost the ability to think rightly, but now they are in the dark. The metaphorical use of the word “darkened” used here means that sinners are “covered with darkness,” “of the eyes,… of the understanding,” and “of the mind”[12] (Thayer).
“In short, their foolish, darkened minds sought God nowhere but in the place in which He is never to be found; …the vile, corrupted, and corrupting passions of their own hearts. As they did not discover Him there, they scarcely sought Him anywhere else”[13] (Clarke).
If you read the rest of Romans chapter 1, you will see where man’s devolving leads him. Man is hopeless and helpless to save himself. What lost humanity needs most is the very One they refuse to think about – God, their Creator.
“People still have consciences and know what is right, but they encourage one another to abandon all self-control. Now the human race is hostile to God, ignorant of His ways, and depraved in its behavior. Instead of being the living image of God, humans are now the most corrupt animals on earth” [14] (TBG).
Please remember that God, our great and gracious Creator came to earth in the person of Jesus to redeem His fallen creatures. What the world needs is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. His “Good News” is the only thing on earth that has the power to change the sinful human heart!
Quote: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
[1] ESV is the English Standard Version.
[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ro 1:18–23). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] EWC, Guzik’s quote is from the Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. Romans 1:18b-23. The emphasis is his.
[4] Runge, S. E. (2014). High Definition Commentary: Romans (pp. 23–28). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] EWC, The Enduring Word Commentary, ibid.
[6] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 518–519). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Jones’ quote is one of the many “Chapel Sayings” that the students of Bob Jones University heard through Dr. Bob’s ministry.
[9] Blum, E. A. (2017). Romans. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1781). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] CB, This quote is from the Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[11] Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 441–443). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[12]J.H. Thayer, ibid.
[13] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[14] TBG, Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 568). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg. The emphasis is mine.