Romans 1:18-23

In writing to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul addressed believers who were surrounded by individuals who practiced ungodly and unrighteous lifestyles. In verse 18, Paul states that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Paul’s message gives us (believers) understanding of God’s dealings with the ungodly and the unrighteous whom we dwell among.

What does it mean to hold the truth in unrighteousness? To hold the truth in righteousness is to believe God as Abraham believed God. God counts belief for righteousness. God is a God of truth (Deut. 32:4).

Paul makes it known that the truth is that which may be known of God (v. 19). Believers know God through the Son. The Son has said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We know the Son to be the promised seed of woman who should bruise the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). While God reveals Himself to believers through His scriptures, He reveals Himself to all men through His work of creation.

In verse 20, the Apostle states that God’s eternal power is evident in all of God’s creation. The physical universe is governed by cause and effect. The world about us did not come to be without a cause. Cosmology is the science of the origin and development of the universe. Men gain understanding of a cause by observing its effects. Scientists attribute an effect to a cause. Natural laws, while cited by scientists as causes, are effects of God, the ultimate cause of all things. To declare that creation is without a creator is willful denial of that which God has shown all men — that He is the cause of all things. There are consequences that result from this denial of God.

In verse 21, the Holy Spirit through Paul makes it known that man’s denial of God causes the imaginations of men to become vain and their hearts to be darkened. Again, the effect (vain imaginations and darkened hearts) is produced by a cause. Cause and effect apply in both the spiritual and the physical realms. Refusal to believe that the physical realm in which we exist is the work of the Creator is a cause which produces vain imaginations. “Vain” means empty, worthless, or lacking substance, while “imaginations” are thoughts or images which are contrary to reality. Denial of God is cause for men to imagine a reality which is not governed by God — a creation without a creator. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Ps. 14:1).

“Professing themselves to be wise . . .” (v. 22). The wild imaginations of men result in declarations of wisdom, declarations which are contrary to reality. Wisdom and God are not separate. “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6). In professing themselves to be wise, men reveal that their wisdom is not of God. Again, a man’s declaration of wisdom is the fruit of a vain imagination. In reality, it is an unwitting confession of foolishness.

The heart of a fool is darkened by his imagination (thoughts contrary to reality). Some fools imagine that there is no spiritual reality. They imagine a meaningless physical reality. God is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24) and He speaks to men through and by His physical creation. Fools fail to hear God speak and bring condemnation upon themselves.

In verse 23, Paul speaks of fools who imagine spiritual realms governed by images of corruptible man and/or images of birds, four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Fools imagine a spiritual reality which is governed by creatures made by a source they believe to be non-existent. Only a fool can imagine scenarios where non-existence produces existence.

Return to verse 18. The cause of God’s wrath is the ungodliness and unrighteousness of them who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Believers do not hold the truth in unrighteousness. God does not see the ungodliness and unrighteousness of believers because the blood of the Lamb cleanses us from all sin ( I Jn. 1:7). God sees only the ungodliness and unrighteousness of those who lack the Lamb’s covering blood.

Verse 18 does not state that God’s wrath will be revealed (future tense); it states His wrath is revealed (present tense) from heaven. The manner in which it is revealed is stated in verse 24. God allows men to follow the depraved lusts of their darkened hearts. God allows fools to dishonor themselves. God allows men to suffer the consequences of their actions. God allows fools to remain fools. How different it is for them whom God loves. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Heb. 12:6).

God reveals His righteousness in a manner differently from His wrath. God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith (v. 17). The just shall live by faith. The righteousness of God is made known to men through the gospel of Jesus Christ. God gives His righteousness to all who believe. God gave His Son for whosoever should believe in Him. God reveals His righteousness by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). His righteousness is seen in all who abide in Him. When we abide in Him, we bring forth much fruit (Jn. 15:5).

God sent His Son, not to condemn, but, to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10). Believers are called to mirror the Son. Let us love one another and tell all men in all places of His love. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9).