“…the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all UNGODLINESS and UNRIGHTEOUSNESS of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest (made known, revealed) in them, for God has SHOWN IT TO THEM. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes ARE CLEARLY SEEN, being understood by the things that are made, EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GODHEAD, so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE, because, although they (the ungodly) knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but BECAME FUTILE (mataioō: to be foolish) IN THEIR THOUGHTS, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and CHANGED THE GLORY of the incorruptible God INTO AN IMAGE MADE LIKE CORRUPTIBLE MAN—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:18-23) These men refuse to give God credit and instead they honor created things. That’s not right, as Paul describes this idol worship, they trade the glory of the immortal God for images that LOOK LIKE MORTAL PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. Egyptians worshiped beetles and other creeping things; Greek’s worshiped gods represented in animal form. Romans worshiped demigods in human form.
Paul is describing how humanity becomes so desperately unrighteous and therefore EARNS GOD’S WRATH against their sinfulness. So far, Paul has shown that in spite of the fact that God has made some things about Himself OBVIOUS IN WHAT HE HAS MADE IN CREATION, unrighteous human beings REFUSE to see Him as having made all things. Having rejected Him as creator, why would they honor Him? Why would they give Him thanks for, in their minds, for supposedly providing for them through His creation? They would not for they have become fools!!!
We must remember scriptures like this, “WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE will be the STABILITY (‘ĕmûnâ: security) of your times, And the STRENGTH of salvation; THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS HIS TREASURE.” (Isaiah 33:6) Our understanding of the Word of God will give us the wisdom and knowledge we need to arm ourselves TO DO BATTLE AGAINST the enemies of the gospel. Our fear of the Lord is God’s treasure for us to be ARMED FOR THAT BATTLE.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham