God Revealed
Romans 1:18-25
“Is God real? And if He is real, why should I worship
Him?”
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is
the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also
for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to
faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for
God has shown it to them.
1.
Imagine going to your doctor for your annual
physical, and after going through the tests and observations, the doctor comes
into the room and tells you, “I have some news, I’ve detected the beginning
stages of cancer.”
a.
What would be your response?
b.
Option 1:
You say “OK, so tell me how bad is it, and what' she solution?"
c.
Option 2: Get up, storm out of the office, say
to yourself “what a terrible, mean doctor, telling me I have cancer. The Nerve
of that guy! I’m never going back to that doctor, or for that matter, any
doctor! I do not have cancer, I'm fine!”
d.
I think we’d all agree, that option 1 is the
better play here.
2.
Fact is, since you caught it early, the doctor
might be able to remove the offending growth, you may have to go through some
chemo or radiation, but you could beat it, and live the rest of your life.
a.
If you go with option 2, that small growth is
going to grow, spread, metastasize to where you no longer have options, and
you’ll die a slow painful death. No fun at all in option 2.
3.
A third option: What if your doctor decided not
to tell you? He didn't want to upset you.
a.
You'd consider it malpractice if he didn't tell
you the truth! You’d sue him! You’d want his license taken away!
4.
That is exactly what Paul is doing as we come to
the second half of Romans chapter 1;
a.
He's telling us who God is, how He has revealed
Himself to us,
b.
He gives us a diagnosis of the human condition.
5.
Some people may read this passage and think,
“Paul is so mean, telling me these things.
The nerve of Him. I’m never going
back to church! I am fine!"
a.
That's one option
b.
Or we could see Paul, being like the good
doctor, “look, there’s a problem, but it’s not fatal, there is a solution.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness,
6.
“Wrath” – Don’t misunderstand this word. When we think of wrath, we thing of an angry,
mean person who just wants to hurt others.
a.
That isn't what Paul means here.
b.
God’s wrath isn't meanness, it doesn't originate
from anger; it originates from
justice.
c.
It is righteous wrath against unrighteousness,
what Is unjust.
7.
See we all understand the concept of
righteousness and justice: When
something wrong is done, it is right and just that there is a penalty for the
wrong that was done.
a.
If a person were to break into your house,
assault one of your children, you would rightfully expect justice, a penalty
for that crime.
b.
If the police caught the intruder, then decided
“eh, it wasn't that bad,” and let him go, you would rightfully protest: “That is not justice!”
8.
Think about as parents we teach our children
about right and wrong, to obey the rules, or there is a penalty.
a.
We don’t make up arbitrary rules just to mess
with our kids, we create rules in order to teach them principles that we know
are GOOD, principles that will bring positive results to their lives.
b.
Lying and stealing are wrong, not just because
we say so, but because they will be harmful to them in life.
9.
If we didn't teach our kids that lying and
stealing were wrong, and when they started their first job and were fired for
lying and stealing, they would come back to us “Why would you not teach me that
was wrong? Do you know how much trouble that caused me?”
a.
If we were to suppress the truth, what we know
to be good and sound principles, our kids would say we failed them as parents,
because we didn't teach them the truth
10. God,
being just and righteous, is compelled to tell us what is good, and what is
bad, what is right. And what is wrong, because these truths are life affecting!
a.
And the first truth Is very simple: God is God!
19 because what may be known of God is manifest (made visible)
in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that
are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
11. God
is real, He is God, and He has clearly revealed Himself as God to mankind.
a.
The question that always comes up in debates
about the nature and reality of God is “what about the pygmies in Africa? How
could a just God let them die without revealing Himself to them?”
b.
The answer is simple: He doesn't.
The evidence of God is everywhere; you simply have to open to open your
eyes and look around you!
c.
Matter of fact, you have to close your eye’s to
ignore the evidence of God.
12. One
evening Napoleon was walking with his generals, several of which were
discussing whether God existed, to which Napoleon pointed to the heavens and
replied “Sirs, if you’re going to get rid of God, then you must get rid of
these.”
a.
Napoleon was right; The entire universe that surrounds us shouts
out the existence of it’s master architect and creator!
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies
display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after
night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is
never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words
to all the world. Ps 19:1-4 (NLT)
13. The
fact that we walk around on a planet, spinning in space, in perfect proximity
to a small star, perfectly suited to support life, containing all of the
resources that we need to not only live, but to prosper!
a.
Astrologers search the heavens for planets that
may have water, or a certain atmosphere, maybe some bacteria is out there
somewhere.
b.
I find it interesting that the more we learn
about our world, the clearer it becomes that it didn't happen by chance.
14. To
consider that even the most basic, single-cell organism, an amoebae for
instance, has all of the characteristics of life:
a.
Uses energy, grows, responds and adapts to its
environment, reproduces,
"there are
multiple operating systems, multiple programming languages, encoding/decoding
hardware and software, specialized communications systems, error detection and
correction mechanisms, specialized input/output channels for organelle control
and feedback, and a variety of specialized 'devices' to accomplish the tasks of
life..”
15. One
recent article in Nature: “Social amoebae travel with a posse, have amazingly
complicated lives”
a.
Dictyostelium discoideum, carries two bacteria;
one is edible, which it carries to new locations and harvests like crops, and
the other releases defensive chemicals against competing species (packs a
lunch, carries a weapon. It's smarter than some humans).
b.
This came by random acts of nature? What are the odds?
16. Forget
single-cell organism, just the PROTEIN:
One scientist calculated the statistical odds of amino acids randomly forming
into a single protein,
a.
Given the ideal mix of chemicals, in an ideal
atmosphere, the odds are 1:10 64th power (a number so large, it wouldn't happen
once in 100 Billion years)
17. Riddle
me this: How is it that so many really smart people can figure out the social interactions
of a microscopic organism, while at the same time defy simple logic by saying
life came into being by random act of nature?
a.
Which by the way contradicts laws of physics: All matter moves from order to disorder. It doesn’t matter how many times you toss a
load of bricks off a truck, they will NEVER land in a neat pile!
18. God
bless the scientists who hold firm to the theory of evolution, but I have to
wonder how people who are so intelligent could hold to a theory that defies not
only logic, but the known laws of nature?
a.
I believe it stems from one reason: an
unwillingness to acknowledge the existence of God.
19. “Where
is the proof? If God exists, why doesn't He reveal Himself to us? Why doesn't
He let us see Him?”
a.
Well, Moses asked that same question thousands
of years ago, and God told Moses that His glory was so intense, it would kill
him if he were exposed to it.
b.
That’s why God said “I’m going to have you hide
in a crack in the mountain, and I’ll pass by,” just the contrails of God’s
glory made Moses face glow.
c.
Whatever it is about the glory that emanates
from God, if it’s some type of radiation or what, the human body cannot endure
it.
d.
Matter of fact, Paul tells us in 2 Thess that
when Jesus returns, He will destroy the antichrist with His glory:
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the
Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness
of His coming. 2 Thess 2:8
20. So
what does a loving God do? He reveales Himself to us in ways that will not
destroy us:
a.
Through creation (BMW), His word (love-letter),
and in the person of Jesus Christ, who became human and dwelt among us, as
Jesus disciple John wrote:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth. John 1:14
b.
The issue is not that God hasn't done enough to
reveal Himself to us, the issue is that men refuse to acknowledge Him!
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him
as God, nor were thankful,
21. See,
the problem with acknowledging God, is that once you do, you have make a
decision:
a.
Worship Him as the true God, or reject Him.
b.
Remember in grade school you would send a
note: "I like you, do you like me,
yes or no," you had to make a decision which box to check.
c.
If a young man were to show up at your door,
"You don’t know me, but I have a DNA test that proves I'm your son.."
i. You
have to make a decision – receive him as your son, or reject him.
22. You
see when a person keeps God out in the periphery: “The big guy up there… Maybe He exists but He doesn’t get involved
in our lives…”
a.
That mental position allows that person to not
have to act on that knowledge.
b.
It’s a form of denial, like the person who owes
a debt, but when the bills come they toss them in the trash…
c.
Or the addict whose life is collapsing around
them, and they say “I’m not gonna think about that right now, I’m just gonna
get high…
d.
Or the man whose doctor told him he had a
growth, and the man walks out and says “I’m fine…”
23. See
the problem that happens when a person chooses to reject an obvious truth, it
has an affect on that person’s mind…
but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish
hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
24. When
a person willfully rejects truth, it changes their mind, I don’t mean taking a
different position, but a literal change in their thought process:
a.
The word Paul uses here - futile - means “not
able to choose rightly.”
25. Have
you ever known someone that rejected truth, and over time an obvious change
took place in how they perceived things, and they were no longer able to make
good decisions.
a.
Something changed in their mind, you look at
their life and you don't understand how they can keep making dumb choices, but
they seem totally fine with it!
b.
Their minds become futile, their hearts become
darkened...
26. Well
that certainly explains how very intelligent people can hold to a theory like
evolution.
a.
If fact, the change in thought process leads
that person into idolatry.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed
the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and
birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
27. What
Paul is talking about here is idolatry: The worship of anything other than the
true God.
a.
Idolatry is to reject the truth - what truth?
The truth that the Eternal God, spun the universe into existence.
b.
He created every single thing that exists.
c.
Everything He created has design intent - there
is purpose:
d.
Water serves as an environmental stabilizer, and
a transport medium for nutrients.
e.
The Tree’s suck up carbon dioxide and release
oxygen
f.
Even the lowly amoebae has purpose, feeding on
decaying matter
28. Man
has design intent - we were created with a purpose, to reflect and declare the
glory of Our creator
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He
has put eternity in their hearts… Eccl 3:11
a.
Human beings were created with design intent,
programmed to worship the true and living God, to reflect His glory
b.
But when a human refuses to acknowledge and
worship the True and Living God, that programming is still working, and it will
lead that person to worship something - idolatry.
29. Now
we can look at the cultures of past ages and say “Oh yes, they made idols of
animals and worshipped them, but they were dumb pagans. We don't do that.”
30. I
can tell you, everyone worships something.
a.
The person that worships money may not have a
picture of a hundred dollar bill that they bow down to, but they do have their
imagery.
i. The
big house, a super nice car, expensive clothes, a big boat, these are the
trophy-images of a person that worships money.
b.
The person that worships at the altar of
sexuality – certainly there are images in that form of worship that we don't
need to go into detail about.
c.
What about the person that worships food? “Look at that steak….” (worship at the temple
of the holy grill…)
d.
Or the person that worships their own body? You see them in the gym, checking themselves
out in the mirror. (I avoid the mirrors…)
31. Did
you know that you can actually worship good things? For example being a mom is a good thing,
having children is a blessing
a.
But warning:
Being a mom can become a idolatrous thing. That child can become the most important
thing in your life, even ahead of God, and that is idolatry.
b.
“But wait PC, aren’t we supposed to love and
cherish our kids?” Yes, but let me tell
you something:
c.
Yes our children are wonderful, and incredible,
but one day that child will grow up and say “I love you mom, goodbye…” and they
will go on to live their life. AS IT
SHOULD BE.
d.
But if that child is your god, you’re in
trouble; your god just left you.
32. Church,
religion, work, sports; things that are good can become god to us.
a.
So the question becomes: What does God do when a person disregards the
clear evidence of God, and they make the choice to worship something other than
Him?
b.
He lets them.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the
lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who
exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature
rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
33. I
think these are some of the scariest words in the bible, because in effect, God
is saying: “If you want to worship money, go ahead, you’re free. If you want to worship sex, go for it, I
won’t stop you...”
a.
In other words, the righteousness and justness
of God is revealed by the fact that God doesn't MAKE you worship Him.
b.
God gives us liberty to choose whom we worship.
34. Sometimes
people wonder why God would allow liberty, specifically, why God allow evil?
Why did God allow Hitler to come to power, why didn't God take him out?
a.
Why didn’t God stop James Holms before he shot
all those people in Aurora Colorado?
35. Good
question, why doesn't God stop all evil before it happens? That would be good, right?
a.
Like right before I looked at a woman on the
beach in the wrong way, God should have blinded me!
b.
Right before you told your wife a lie, God
should have struck you dumb.
c.
Right before you wrote those “not completely
factual” numbers on your tax return, God should have shriveled up your arm.
36. “Oh,
when you put it that way… maybe that's not such a good thing.”
a.
We would say “that’s not just, we have no
liberty. We want freedom!”
b.
If God forced us to worship Him, wouldn’t that
be slavery? Sure it would!
37. You
see, God created human beings to be free - free to acknowledge and worship God;
free to reject God and go our own way, free to choose whom or what we will
worship.
a.
But it is an indisputable fact that choices have
consequences, both good and bad, positive and negative.
38. Anyone
here ever smoke weed? I did. I actually enjoyed it. Had some fun, a lot of
laughs! And, It didn’t kill me.
a.
But what it did do, which I didn’t recognize it
until later, it caused me to check out for about 12 years. I operated at about 25% capacity from ages 13
to 25.
b.
The missed opportunities, missed maturing, the
important life lessons that I missed that took years to recover from.
c.
Not everyone recovers - I have friends that
today still live like we did in high school.
And the scary part is that they don’t even realize that there is a
problem!
39. Do
I want my kids to smoke weed? Of course not.
Is it because I don’t want them to have any fun, because I want to suck
the fun out of their life?
a.
No, it’s because I know from experience the
negative consequences that are very likely if they start smoking weed.
b.
Sure it’ll be fun for a while, but they may end
up in that sinkhole.
c.
So, I tell them the truth: This stuff will hurt you, maybe not
immediately, but in the long term it will.
d.
They have a choice; They can believe the truth,
or they can reject it.
e.
Ultimately, they will either reap the negative
consequences of their decision, or they will enjoy the positive consequences of
their decision.
40. That
is what Paul is laying before us today truths, like the good physician that
brings the truth, the diagnosis:
a.
God is real. He is the master architect, the
master creator of our present reality.
b.
He designed the world, and everything in it,
including you and I, and as the Master Architect and Creator, He knows better
than anyone else what is good for us, as well as what is bad for us.
c.
He loves
you, and He only wants good for you.
41. Some
might look at all of the evil that fills our world and think “How could God allow all of this?”
a.
Here’s the thing: God doesn’t allow evil; evil
is simply the absence of the righteousness of God.
b.
Just as darkness is the absence of light, and
cold is the absence of heat,
c.
Evil is the natural state of a world that has
rejected the righteousness of God.
d.
Paul is simply laying out the diagnosis… but
there is a solution:
the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes… for in it the righteousness of God is
revealed from faith to faith; Rom 1:16-17
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, Rom 3:23
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now
been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Rom 5:8-9
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