A lot of times these days, it seems like churches don't want to talk about how we can DISplease God. Of course it makes us all feel so good to know how much God loves us but what about knowing that we can offend him. And that if we do offend Him, He will punish us. If we choose not to be as He would have us be ... choose not to proclaim His truth, chose not to show ourselves as holy, then that will bring forth His wrath on us. Godly wrath is a just punishment for our sin. God gave us His truth, He justified and sanctified us and to deny this and act other than holy will bring His wrath on us.
(Rom 1:18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;
(Rom 1:19) because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them.
Even though God's wonder and glory can be seen in and through His creation, often people choose to deny him. Our sinful hearts and our pride cause us to deny His glory and not to give thanks to Him as we ought. Man's sin caused him to turn away from God to sinfulness such as idolatry and homosexuality.
God actually gave man up to these sins because of his wrath against them. How sad that we human beings can be so prone to sin that we don't even see that not only does God LOVE us, He will let out His wrath on us as punishment for sin.
(Rom 1:20) For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:
(Rom 1:21) because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
(Rom 1:22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(Rom 1:23) and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
(Rom 1:24) Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:
(Rom 1:25) for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
(Rom 1:26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:
(Rom 1:27) and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.
We can be so blind that we turn our backs to God for a myriad of sins.
(Rom 1:28) And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
(Rom 1:29) being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
(Rom 1:30) backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
(Rom 1:31) without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:
(Rom 1:32) who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.
I often look at Romans 1:29 and am reminded of our frail human minds compared to God's all knowing sovereignty. God holds those of us that are haughty or disobedient to parents on the same level as those of us that murder. Isn't it amazing how God does not see sin in "levels" as we often do, but to Him all sin is the same and worthy of His wrath?
I'll continue this study next time starting with Romans chapter 2. If you'd like to, read along with me!
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