In order to understand the full counsel of God, one must not shy away from portions of Scripture that speak on subject matters that do not tickle the ears. The Bible warns of the tendency that people will have in the last days to only want to hear what sounds good to them rather than the truth of God’s Word. Scripture says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Times will come, Paul says, when the people of the earth will seek out teachers that will only tell them what they want to hear.
If the Bible is taught cover to cover, many will turn away. When people hear messages on sin, they may believe that they should be hearing more upbeat messages that will cause them to leave church on a cloud. However, the problem with this thinking is that the Holy Spirit came to convict the world of sin. Therefore, when sin is preached rightly, the Spirit of God is present.
Take the topic of suffering. The Bible makes it clear that times of affliction will come upon the saints of God. Nevertheless, you may find some who do not want to hear such a thing. But if one takes a careful look into the life of Jesus, he will see this humble Servant of the Father bearing His cross and bidding others to follow Him.
The topic of repentance is yet another teaching that can arouse irritation in the hearts of many. It can be hard for some to believe that turning to Christ would actually involve a lifestyle change. But avoiding the clear teaching of Scripture will be done at one’s own peril. The Bible says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Repentance is a must for salvation and therefore must be preached and shared with all.
It is on a difficult topic that this article now turns. In Romans 1:18-23, Paul shares about the wrath of God with the church in Rome. He highlights three ways that the people of the world had fallen into a condemned state with God.
Condemnation for suppressing God’s truth
First, Paul makes it clear that God is opposed to those that suppress the truth. God is the very essence of what is true. Everything that is true is, in a sense, connected with God. He could be deemed the Father of truth. Even Jesus said that He Himself is the truth (John 14:6). In contrast, Satan is said to be the father of lies. This means that the origin of lies is rooted and grounded in him.
Paul tells of the wrath of God being upon His creation because they “hold the truth in righteousness” (Rom. 1:18). This word “hold” in the original Greek language is “katecho,” which means to possess, retain, take, or hold. While this word has the meaning of “holding,” it also bears the meaning of holding down, quashing, restraining, hindering, or suppressing. In Romans 1:18, we see that these individuals did not hold the truth near and dear to their hearts. Instead, they held the truth down away from the heart. Rather than let the truth travel freely like a bird, these men were holding the truth down and restraining its flow.
Paul makes it clear that it is their unrighteous acts that restrain, hold down, and suppress the truth.
Condemnation for disregarding God’s revelation
But wouldn’t man have an excuse to do such a thing? Wouldn’t man be justified in his actions if God were continually playing a game of hide-and-seek? Paul desires to dismantle this line of thought by bringing the people back to the truth. Scripture says, “Because that which may be known of God is manifested in them; for God hath shewed it unto them” (Rom. 1:19). Paul says that mankind is left without an excuse before God because God has not been playing hide-and-seek.
Rather, God has revealed Himself to His creation from the very beginning.
Specifically, God’s eternal power has been revealed. The creation speaks of an eternal Creator with immense power. His divine nature has been revealed as being outside of creation and therefore better than the creation. Finally, throughout all of creation, God has left His mark upon that which has been created.
Paul speaks out against those that know God exists (which is everyone) but who then choose to disregard His revelation.
Condemnation for exchanging God’s glory
The third point that Paul wants to stress to the believers in Rome is the tendency for people to exchange the glory of God for a lie. Scripture says, “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” (Rom. 1:23). The word “changed” found in this verse is “allasso,” which means to make different. It has do with the exchanging of one thing for another.
This can happen today as people turn to the creation and seek to find ways to find fulfillment in it rather than in God. God desires to be worshipped as God alone, and nothing in all of creation should replace the majesty of the Creator.
Paul says that those who worship the creation have the wrath of God abiding on them.
What is the solution?
While this is an important part of Scripture that must be discussed, it is also important to discuss it correctly. It has been said before, “Don’t take someone to hell if you are not going to take them out.” What this means is that there is a requirement to share the good news of the Gospel if you are going to share the bad news. Paul does not stop at Romans 1:23. Therefore, we also must keep going rather than finish with the bad news.
Although the wrath of God is heavy and is being stored up for the day of wrath, God is also a gracious God. He has made a way for sinners to know Him. Two thousand years ago, God the Father sent His Son to the earth to live a perfectly sinless life. While on earth, in each and every way, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law’s demands and pleased His Father.
Jesus did what nobody has ever done. Simply put, He lived a perfect life. This perfect life made Him a perfect sacrifice. In the Old Testament, animals without spot or blemish were to be offered to God. This foreshadowed the spotless Lamb of the New Covenant, Christ Jesus.
Because He was perfect, He did not have sin of His own to pay for. No other human being could die for another man’s sin, because at his death, he would need to pay for his own sin. But when Christ died, He was able to pay the ransom price for another, for Christ was no mere man; He was also the Son of God. He was more valuable than anything in God’s creation – even than all of God’s creation combined. Therefore, when Jesus died, He did not simply pay for the sin of one man, as though He was equal with man. Rather, Christ paid for the sins of the human race because His value is greater than all of creation.
As Jesus died on the cross, God poured His wrath out on His Son in the once-and-for-all propitiating act found in Romans 3:25. And although Jesus died on the cross for the sins of His creation, He also rose from the dead. Jesus’ rising from the dead also signifies the acceptance of His sacrifice.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the ways that You have revealed Yourself to me. Help me to not suppress the truth of Your revelation. I pray that You would also help me to worship You and You alone. You are worthy of my worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.