God’s Righteousness & Human Unrighteousness

A Summary of Romans 1:18-32 by Philip P Eapen

1. God’s wrath: Paul was aware that he was called to proclaim the Gospel to a world that is facing God’s just wrath (1:18).
  1. 1.1 God’s wrath is currently being manifested in many forms. It will be manifested fully on the day of Judgment (2:5,16). God will render to each person according to his works (2:6).
1. Why is the world under God’s wrath?
  1. 2.1 The world is guilty of ignoring and suppressing God’s Truth that was revealed to all humanity. (1:18)
    1. 2.1.1 What truth? God has revealed Himself to us through His creation (1:19-20). All humanity knows God (1:21a) and His moral laws (1:32; 2:15) to a certain extent through the testimony of God’s created order. This external evidence of God in creation is often referred to as General Revelation.
    2. 2.1.2 No one can use ignorance as a cause for pleading innocence before God (1:20b). All who depart from the living God will be accused of “suppressing the truth” about God (1:18).
    3. 2.1.3 People who wilfully ignore the General Revelation of God create religions. Human religions are nothing but foolish “speculations” about the Divine (1:21b). Claiming to be wise, humanity became foolish (1:22)
    4. 2.1.4 Idolatry is evidence of human folly (1:23). It is foolish and offensive to think that an earthly object or creature can represent the eternal, glorious God.
    5. 2.1.5 Homosexuality is evidence of God’s wrath on people who, refusing to recognize the “Divine Other” (the Holy God), resorted to idolatry (1:24-25).They are unable to recognize the “sexual other.” God handed over rebellious humanity to their own passions.
      1. 2.1.5.1 Both homosexual tendency (“dishonorable passions” v26) and behavior (“shameful acts” v27) are unnatural (v26) and shameful.
      2. 2.1.5.2 Homosexual behavior is the result of sinful lusts and wayward passions (v24a). (No one is born a homosexual. There is no “gay gene” in the human body. The so-called homosexual “orientation” is as dubious as an orientation to steal or lie.)
  2. 2.2 The world is also guilty of not fulfilling its basic obligations towards God (1:21).
    1. 2.2.1 What duty? The fundamental duty of man, as a creature, is to honor God. God must be acknowledged. All mankind must be grateful to God. (1:21, 28)
  3. 2.3 Humanity is guilty of committing all kinds of unrighteousness (1:29-32).
    1. 2.3.1 What unrighteousness? They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (1:29-31)
    2. 2.3.2 What happens to those who. commit such sins? They deserve death (1:32)
    3. 2.3.3 Sexual immorality – especially homosexuality – was known to produce physical consequences. Paul regarded those as a form of divine penalty on the offenders. (1:27)
    4. 2.3.4 What if a sinner says he didn’t know God’s laws? God’s ordinance regarding sin and its consequences is known to ALL mankind (1:32). God has given everyone a conscience that testifies against him even when he tries to excuse himself. This is the internal evidence regarding the existence of God and His laws. (2:15)
    5. 2.3.5 Those who practice sin and those who encourage others to commit sins are equally guilty before God.
1. What is God’s response to human unrighteousness?
  1. 3.1 God has REVEALED his rescue plan through the Good News of Jesus Christ. “The Gospel is the power of God that rescues everyone who believes in Jesus.”(1:16). Salvation = Rescue
    1. 3.1.1 Rescue from what? God rescues sinners from God’s wrath.
    2. 3.1.2 Rescue from what? God rescues sinners from a life of unrighteousness so that they can lead a life of obedience to Christ. (Rom 6-8)
1. What must be a Christian’s response?
  1. 4.1 A Christian must not live in sin (6:1-2), knowing that all unrighteousness invites God’s wrath (6:13, 23).
  2. 4.2 Preachers of the Gospel must preach about sin and judgment. Warnings about divine judgement and the call to repentance are integral parts of the Gospel (2:16). The Epistle to the Romans has a large section devoted to proving that both Jews and Gentiles are equally sinners facing God’s wrath (1:18—3:20). In the absence of the bad news about God’s wrath, the Good News of Jesus Christ has no relevance.
  3. 4.3 Knowledge about the God’s sword hanging over the world’s head MUST lead Christians towards a burning zeal for missionary outreach—not just a desire to share the Gospel with our immediate neighbors. The Epistle to Romans reveals Paul’s passion to reach the unreached at any cost.

About the author

Philip Eapen, an environmental scientist by training, devoted his life to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ ever since he realized that the world needs Jesus Christ more than anyone or anything else. Apart from sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, Philip teaches Christians in order to equip them for service. He is supported by donations from readers. Philip is married to Dr. Jessimol and they are blessed with three sons and a daughter.

Date: May 2, 2020