Jan 13, 2019
Originally Presented on August 6th, 2006.
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-21
Following the introduction of the epistle to the Romans in the first 17 verses of the book, Romans 1:18 begins the first major section of a tightly-knit argument which unfolds the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. After sounding the theme of the book . . . the righteousness of God which justifies people who have faith in Christ . . . Paul proceeds to begin to unfold that wondrous truth.
The first major section of Romans runs from Romans 1:18 to 3:20. This section lays out the need for God to declare men righteous through faith. These chapters answer the question, "Why do we need God's righteousness to act on our behalf?" The resounding answer to that question, presented with an irrefutable logic, is that we all stand rightly condemned before God . . . every last one of us.
The rebellion of the human heart comes in many forms. There is open pagan rebellion (Rom 1:18-32); there is moral rebellion (Rom 2:1-16); there is religious rebellion, characterized by the Jews (Rom 2:17-3:8). The climax to the argument of this section comes in a series of Old Testament quotations concluding that all people stand condemned before God (Rom 3:9-20).
The pagan man is condemned because of his rebellious heart (Rom 1:18-23), which is displayed in his repulsive life (Rom 1:24-32). But we all need God to act on our behalf because His wrath has already been revealed against ungodliness and unrighteousness. How desperate is our need of Him!