Refugees In Jesus

This is the passage we were supposed to study in our Bible study class at church yesterday. I thought maybe I’d post my own thinking about it here. The translation I’m using here is the TNIV.



The first point I want to make deals with the first seven words of the first sentence, “The wrath of God is being revealed…” Older translations often say the wrath of God is revealed. However, my study is showing me that the word translated “is” or “is being” means “constantly or continually is being revealed.” So it’s not a one time thing, but has been happening from the time of Adam’s sin up until today. It’s not just something that happened at the time Paul is writing this passage. We can apply it to today.

The second interesting point is that the people “suppress” the truth by or in their wickedness. I think this is something to keep in mind as we look at the mindset of these people.

The third point is that God has revealed himself through his creation, and God’s message to us here is that what can be known about God through his creation is enough that people should be able to see that he does exist, and not only that, but he has immense eternal power and a divine nature. Do we see that when we look at the creation? God says here that we should.

The next section makes it clear that, although people should know God just by looking at the creation, they do not.



God’s power and divine nature are clearly seen through his creation, but people refuse to give him glory, and instead they rebel and turn away from God, taking instead for themselves gods of their own making – that’s idolatry.

I ask, do we see enough evidence of God’s power and divine nature when we look at nature and his creation? We should, according to this passage. It even says we have no excuse, because it’s clearly revealed. Why do we not see it? Is it because we don’t want to see? Is it because we have been blinded by some evil force that doesn’t want us to see?

This scripture places the blame squarely on us, whether the devil is involved or not.



Therefore God gave them over…

They refused God. They rebelled, and turned to their own way. Their sin leads them into sexual impurity and idolatry, and they believe a lie, rather than God’s truth.


God gave them over… Is this a second time? Or is it just a continuation of the first? At any rate they turn farther away from God by turning from the natural order to an unnatural order.



And so here they are. They have turned away from God and their lives have become nothing but sin. They are so blinded by their own sin that they can’t even see what a bad thing it is. They actually are calling evil good by this point.

When we read this passage we can do a lot of finger-pointing. Do you see any of these sins that you are committing in your life? We need to examine ourselves when we read this passage, and not just point our fingers at what other people do. Do you see any of your favorite sins on that list?

You don’t? That’s fine. Just wait until we get to chapter two. That’s when we see those other fingers on our hand that are pointing back at ourselves.

Gary,

Your thoughts have composed a good study.

Consider the reason that the wrath of GOD is being revealed from heaven is because mankind keeps sinning. As the family of man continually sins, GOD's wrath is continually being revealed ...against all the godlessness and wickedness of human beings who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Your second interesting point raises a question: what truth is being suppressed? To those who continually disobey GOD's moral laws to face His punishment, how can they know His mercy and His compassion? Is this part of the truth that is being suppressed? Is it the very nature of GOD that is suppressed?

Micah 6:8 states, in the same version, "8 He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." GOD would not tell His children to love mercy unless the Lord GOD loves mercy.



What is darkness? It is the absence of light. What darkness is referenced by the above? Being separated from the light by not knowing GOD. Why would people not know GOD? They do not want a relationship with Him. This is very sad.

Thank GOD, praise Him, and give Him glory. This is all part of having a personal relationship with Him. GOD wants his children to be humble. We should not boast about ourselves. Claiming to be wise is tooting our own horns, or puffing ourselves up. If we are full of ourselves, we have little room for GOD. Those who do not see GOD do not have a relationship with GOD. Praise draws GOD closer to us. Those who do not thank and praise Him or do not think of Him are closing the door of their heart to Him. When they shut him out, they are in darkness and their hearts grow cold. Cold hearts to not see the glory of GOD.

Remember to keep them in prayer. Tomorrow may be too late to repent. This must be done now.

Hey Brother Gary,

How long do we have to wait for Chapter 2?

Oh, uh, I hadn't thought about it, Elena. Sorry!

We have been looking at chapter 2 in our SS class, but the class is so shallow it's been hard to come up with much that's worth talking about here. I've really only been going to the class to cultivate some friendships with church people who never ever came to my classes, as well as to see what kind of teacher our pastor's wife is.

My impression of verse 19 is that it is much stronger than trying to see some vaguer revelation of God in nature or the heavens. It says that He has made it plain to them.

That tells me He has added His inner witness in the human heart to what it seen. It is also the kindling of the idea that when we hear the truth of God spoken, something in our spirit testifies (even before salvation) that we are hearing truth about God.

That is why I think God can be forceful in the ending words - so that all are without excuse.

With just the look at nature alone, man can say he didn't get it in any comprehensive way, because it is more of a latent disclosure not a patent one.

How also does God hold man in the jungle accountable if he can claim that nothing specific was revealed that he should become accountable?

Being without excuse means we have had it made clear.

Mike

Hi Mike! Nice to see you!

Yes, I think the argument is very clear and your point is strong.

Gary

Good study Gary;



One might want to incorporate verse 17 and 18, so as to emphasize that both the righteousness and the wrath is revealed. It seems like a window into Heaven has been opened and the True God has shown through to His creation, continuously from the beginning.

That's a good point, Drew! I'm sure you've noticed, as have I, how often Bibles will put a break at certain places, including a chapter or a topic heading, when the subject is really tied together and needs to be see as a whole. This is a good example.

I pulled this off of Bible Gateway as an example, from the ESV:


If Drew hadn't pointed this out, I would have gone on thinking that we are talking about two separate topics. But when we read the scriptures, the important thing is "context, context, context!" And that isn't only the context of the verses around a particular verse, nor is it the context of that particular book of the Bible, nor even the context of the particular covenant/testament. It must be the context of the entire Bible.