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The Fourth Sermon
Romans 1:18-32
Why It's Good News

If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you know that  the word "gospel" just means "good news."  In writing his letter, Paul wanted to be sure the Romans had truly received the good news of Christ, the news of His Cross and of His resurrection.

But we need to see that the news of His resurrection is indeed wonderfully good news - because it makes it abundantly clear that Jesus really is the Son of God and that His atonement and redemption really were successful. If His purpose in dying hadn't been completely fulfilled, then of course He couldn't have risen from death at all.  Nor could He have said on the Cross those wonderful words, "It is finished!" Since He had voluntarily accepted all the guilt of all our sins, and since adequate satisfaction had indeed been made for those sins in His death, then that death could no longer hold Him, because its purpose was accomplished! His resurrection is final proof!

And indeed Paul wasn't ashamed of news like that!  Even though it originated in an unimportant place (Judea) and among unimportant people (Israel), yet its results are not unimportant!  Its result was and still is "salvation for everyone who believes!" 

But, dear people, there's something we need to consider very very carefully.  It's this: there really can't be any joy in the news of what Jesus did unless there was truly a need for it.  Salvation is wonderful if we need to be saved from something,  but the all-important question is - from what do we need to be saved?

Let's look at Paul's answer.  In thinking about this answer, though, I want you to  be fully aware that it isn't mere intellectual and theological trivia!  I very much want you to be deeply persuaded that it's an accurate – even if dark and tragic - picture of the human race and its relationship to its Creator.  And, please, keep in mind that this isn't just a description of some uniquely godless portion of humanity.  It's a description of all of us!

What we're really going to be considering is actually a sequence of events, a sequence that began a long time ago but is still continuing.  It began when the first humans denied God His rule and authority, and it continued on and on and resulted in the degradation and corruption of all mankind.  And I'm sorry to have to report that none of us are uninvolved.

I have to tell you, in fact, that unless you and I are rescued by God and lifted out of the morass of human depravity described here, then, plainly, we're still mired in it, and we will eventually have to face the justice of that absolutely holy God!  You or I may or may not be chargeable with all of the specific practices described in these paragraphs, but every one of us has been involved in the overall and continuing rebellion of humankind against its Maker, and, as Paul puts it, we've all "suppressed the truth in unrighteousness."

The Greek word here translated "suppressed" is an intensely active verb.  Such a word is used because we haven't simply turned our backs on the truth, but have instead actively, deliberately, and forcefully slammed the door on it! What's involved is the denial that everything and everybody rightfully belongs to the creator-God and that this world is still His property today.  Because we, and all humanity with us just don't want that "truth," we suppress it and deny it, and we sometimes even become angry about it and about people who believe it.

The keyword in this part of Paul's letter is the word "unrighteousness."  God's wrath is against a humanity that suppresses the truth in "unrighteousness."  To understand the meaning of that unrighteousness, we first of all have to admit that everything in this universe is the rightful property of its Creator.  So, doing things righteously, then, is just doing them His way!   But that hasn't happened! We have to admit that we've attempted to do everything our own way and to be our own gods and masters. The result has been that we don't even want Him around - we want to suppress the truth about Him. Consciously or unconsciously we deny Him any place in our lives - so that we can feel free to do whatever we want. It's rather like the child who has done wrong and who therefore wants to keep out of sight of his parents!

But it isn't easy to suppress the truth, especially with the evidence of that truth all around us (and even in us!).  As Paul points out, " . . . because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them."  What he's saying is that awareness of God is in our hearts – in the very core of our beings! Every human being KNOWS that God is there.

As the Apostle points out, "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."  It's what David was saying when he wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.  Day unto day utters speech and night unto night reveals knowledge." (Ps. 19:1-4) 

So Paul has to say, " . . . so that they are without excuse!"The little child who has misbehaved doesn't want to be around his parents, and, just like him, we don't want to be around God.  But we have a problem: we can't run away because we live in His world!  And the evidence that it's His world is overwhelming. Whether we'll admit it or not, our hearts always know it. That's what Paul meant when he said the truth is "suppressed."

But we just keep on trying.  Paul spells it out.  He says, "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."  He's talking about the attempt we humans have made to provide a controllable substitute god, a god who fills the vacuum created by our rejection of the true Creator, but a god who is at the same time fully explainable and controllable.  To accomplish such results, as we're well aware, idols have been carved, shaped, molded, and placed on a shelf in the back of our imaginations!

Of course in the age of science, an age in which everything is explained as natural phenomena, we no longer need the idols of ignorant savages!  Really?  I think there's a different explanation.  I think we have to admit that we've just replaced the carved and molded idols with superstition and mysticism.  There's an outright hysteria, even in our modern day, over every seemingly unexplainable event.

An example of what I mean occurred a few years ago at Colfax, California.  Some people, coming into the Catholic church there, thought they saw a vision of Mary.  It turns out that the shadows of the building, at certain seasons and at certain times of the day can suggest such a "vision" to viewers - if they want to see one.  And they did want to see one!  They came in droves!

But that wasn't an isolated incident.  People in our day want very much to have miracles and unexplainable events happen around them so that they can have "something to believe in."  The problem is that the "something" is always a substitute for the real God Who created all and rules all.

This mindset exists even among Christians and even in churches.  There are some good things to be said about the charismatic movement in our day, but, unfortunately, there is also mixed with it much mysticism and superstition.  People explain their actions, for instance, by saying, "God told me to do it."  Others feel an "all-over-warm sensation" when, they say, the Holy Spirit fills them.  Such things are substitutes.  They're substitutes for God's entirely adequate Word.  Oh brothers and sisters!  Let's study thoroughly His objective truth!  Let's  reject anything and everything else!  Let's not let imagination become a god!

The attempt to hide from the true and holy God as revealed in His true and holy Word is rebellion.  It's an attempt to live apart from God while still in His world.  I have to tell you the worst - I have to warn you - He'll let you do it if that's what you want to do.  He'll let you live just the way you're inclined to live, do just what you want to do, believe just what you want to believe.  But I also have to tell you that all of the worlds' troubles (not to mention eternal damnation) stem directly from just such "freedom!"

See what we're told here: "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves."  Do you see it?  People want freedom from God and His ways - so God lets them have it.  Why?  I'm sorry to have to say that it's because they want it and deserve it. 

After all, Paul says they are the ones, " . . . who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever."

People rebelled, and God simply let them.  Mind you - they were still living in His world, a world shaped and made by Him, a world in which they'd be hurt if they tried to live their own way - but God let them!

The result was the awful list you see here - and much more.  The next two verses clearly describe homosexuality.  They also tell us that those involved in it were " . . . receiving in themselves the penalty of the error which was due."  Many of the awful diseases that are in the world today originated because of totally sinful behavior.

But that was only one aspect of man's rebellion.  We need to listen, painful though it is, to the rest of this awful list.  He goes on, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things that are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evilmindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who knowing the righteous judgement of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve those who practice them."

Horrible isn't it!  But it's absolutely accurate.  Read today's headlines - you'll see it all reflected there.  Look at your own heart when you were apart from Christ - you'll see it all there, too.  Look at the Cross of our Savior - there too you'll see it reflected in the death of the Prince of Life!

That's the acurate scenario, dear ones. That's why the "good news" of Jesus Christ is good! That's why Paul wasn't ashamed of it.  It's GLORIOUS news when you understand these things - and it's the only good news we have!  I only wish we could read THAT in our daily newspapers!  It should be plastered on every wall, every billboard - everywhere!  It should be no wonder that our Savior told us to "preach the gospel to every creature!"  It should be no wonder that some have been willing to give their lives to spread it abroad!  Oh to be free from the effects of sin through the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

I urge you today, as you consider these things, to give deepest thanks to Him Who rescued you!  And, if you don't know you've been rescued, if you're not on intimate terms with a formerly estranged God, then don't rest until you've surrendered to Jesus Christ and until you've confessed and admitted all your need of Him and asked Him to be your Lord.

Dear Al,

Thanks so much for your inspiring lesson.  I thank God I have experienced the powerful effects of God's salvation and I, for one, am not ashamed to proclaim it to the world.  I'm looking for extra time to read all your lessons.  I think they're great.

Thank you so much, Gwen, for your comments!  My prayer is that His Word may be a great and continuing blessing in your heart and life.

How can we not sing His praises!.


http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/t/othedeep.htm

Chris - that hymn brings back powerful memories.  A group of about 30 college-age young people gathered on a beach near the waves after dark.  A young man leading them in singing "O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" - the waves crashing in the near background.  Fifty one years ago I was gathered with them in an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship called "Campus Christian Fellowship."  I was just beginning to learn the true meaning of Christianity, and it would be a few years before our Lord brought me powerfully to Himself and showed me just how deep was the love of Jesus!

Quote from: Chris & Margit Saunders on October 30, 2004, 09:04:03 AM
How can we not sing His praises!.


http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/t/othedeep.htm

That's one of my favourite hymns, Chris.  Thanks for posting it.  Sitting here singing as I type.

Quote from: Al Moak on October 30, 2004, 09:51:34 AM
Chris - that hymn brings back powerful memories. A group of about 30 college-age young people gathered on a beach near the waves after dark. A young man leading them in singing "O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" - the waves crashing in the near background. Fifty one years ago I was gathered with them in an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship called "Campus Christian Fellowship." I was just beginning to learn the true meaning of Christianity, and it would be a few years before our Lord brought me powerfully to Himself and showed me just how deep was the love of Jesus!

Al, what a scene!   I can just imagine it!  Thanks for the lovely picture of God's creation and this wonderful hymn.