WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.440 Romans chapter 1, we're going to begin in verse 18 and read through verse 23. 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:10.019 Paul writes, 00:00:10.019 --> 00:00:16.420 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.379 ! who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 00:00:20.460 --> 00:00:24.480 For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:29.120 For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:34.039 have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. 00:00:34.460 --> 00:00:36.079 So they are without excuse. 00:00:37.160 --> 00:00:40.480 For although they knew God, they didn't honor him as God or give thanks to him, 00:00:40.859 --> 00:00:44.780 but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:50.159 Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:54.840 for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 00:00:55.260 --> 00:00:55.920 Let's pray together. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:04.480 Father God, I pray that you find us humble this morning, expectant to hear from you. 00:01:05.459 --> 00:01:10.640 And as we study your word together, I pray that you will be generous to us, 00:01:11.479 --> 00:01:16.200 show us the failings in our own life, embolden us with the gospel. 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:18.680 And I pray these things in Christ's name. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:19.740 Amen. 00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:26.120 And you remember over the past two weeks, we talked about Paul's obligation to gospel ministry, 00:01:26.240 --> 00:01:29.359 first to the church and then to the world. 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:31.140 In verse 16, he says, 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:38.000 For it, meaning the gospel, is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. 00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:43.219 It being the only thing, the only power of God for salvation. 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:46.780 Romans 10, verse 14, he wrote, 00:01:46.900 --> 00:01:50.140 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:54.500 And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? 00:01:54.760 --> 00:01:57.840 And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:05.480 And so we see Paul come to this point in his presentation of gospel ministry. 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:10.360 I am compelled, I am obligated to share the gospel with the dying world. 00:02:11.420 --> 00:02:12.620 And then he kind of sets reset. 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:17.020 He goes back to the beginning in this treatise that he's about to present. 00:02:17.640 --> 00:02:22.580 The gospel itself through all 16 chapters of the book of Romans. 00:02:23.920 --> 00:02:27.060 And he starts with the wrath of God. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:30.000 It's a good place to start, isn't it? 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:33.139 We're going to do part one of that this week. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:35.280 And then for me, part two on Easter Sunday. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:36.120 It should be interesting. 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:41.719 But he actually takes that through chapter 3, verse 20. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:42.780 So pretty extensive. 00:02:42.939 --> 00:02:46.080 So we're going to be kind of settling on this idea for a while. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:52.620 The depravity of man and the wrath of God that is just toward a sinful man. 00:02:52.620 --> 00:03:01.460 And mankind has, throughout the ages, asked the question, is man inherently good or is man inherently evil? 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:05.840 And the message of scripture is that he is most certainly evil. 00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:08.599 And the question then is to what degree? 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:10.860 And that's what he speaks of here. 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:15.319 And I'll go ahead and tell you the answer to that is absolutely evil. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:16.379 Man's heart is. 00:03:16.379 --> 00:03:22.139 In verse 1, he starts out talking about this wrath. 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:23.199 This wrath of God. 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:23.799 And he writes, 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:27.919 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:31.539 who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:33.259 So the wrath of God. 00:03:33.579 --> 00:03:37.199 Not something that we typically like to talk about as Christians, is it? 00:03:38.019 --> 00:03:40.800 It's a very true thing that we need to know. 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:48.580 We need to recognize that while God is both fully loved, he's also fully wrath as well. 00:03:48.660 --> 00:03:55.360 I thought Alethea Wade did a good job this morning of saying to us that God is loving toward his people, 00:03:55.540 --> 00:03:57.220 but he still had to punish sin. 00:03:57.620 --> 00:03:58.480 He punished sin in Christ. 00:03:58.760 --> 00:04:00.080 He didn't just let it go. 00:04:00.200 --> 00:04:01.280 He didn't just say, you know what? 00:04:01.300 --> 00:04:02.140 I love you guys. 00:04:02.200 --> 00:04:02.640 It's okay. 00:04:02.760 --> 00:04:03.260 It's cool. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:05.800 He couldn't do that because he's fully just. 00:04:06.600 --> 00:04:08.260 He had to punish sin. 00:04:08.259 --> 00:04:12.120 He had to pour out his wrath for the sins that we've committed as his church. 00:04:12.399 --> 00:04:14.819 And he did that on Christ. 00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:23.879 So he is fully loving, but he's fully just, vengeful, full of wrath towards sinful man. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:28.659 Asaph in Psalm 76, 7 wrote, 00:04:28.659 --> 00:04:31.300 But you, you are to be feared. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:36.000 Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:43.439 Another psalmist wrote about what God did to the defiant Egyptians who did not obey his commands to let the Israelites go. 00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:47.180 In Psalm 78, 49, and 50, he wrote, 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:54.480 He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:56.439 He made a path for his anger. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:01.399 He did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague. 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:07.159 In many ways, God has demonstrated his wrath on sinful man. 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:13.819 He destroyed all the inhabitants of the earth, except for eight people, in the flood, in Genesis 6 and 7. 00:05:14.719 --> 00:05:22.859 In the days of Abraham, he destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, except for Lot's family, in Genesis 18 and 19. 00:05:23.719 --> 00:05:27.539 He destroyed Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea, Exodus 14. 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:30.780 It's a theme that carries into the New Testament. 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:33.760 Our beloved John 3, 16, 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:39.520 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:42.820 It's followed later in the same chapter, in verse 36. 00:05:43.820 --> 00:05:46.020 With whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. 00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:51.600 Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:58.939 Paul, in his letter to Ephesus, states that the wrath of God will come on the sons of disobedience. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:06.939 Jesus himself speaks more about the coming judgment of his Father than the love of the Father. 00:06:08.260 --> 00:06:09.360 Why is that? 00:06:10.260 --> 00:06:14.560 Because we have to know the illness before we can treat it. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:21.720 We have to know where we stand and who we are before we can take the pill that cures. 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:25.939 And this wrath, where does it come from? 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:27.800 It comes from heaven. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:30.560 It comes from our Heavenly Father. 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:43.319 In my studies this week, I heard this story of a pagan farmer who would, on Sundays, plow his field outside of the meeting house where the church would meet. 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:44.480 He would make lots of noise intentionally. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:49.079 It was kind of a thumb of his nose at the religion of Christianity. 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:52.459 He would make lots of racket and noise as he plowed his field. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:56.899 And he wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper and said, 00:06:56.899 --> 00:07:01.939 Why is it that my crops yield the greatest amount of produce? 00:07:02.779 --> 00:07:03.500 My crops. 00:07:03.659 --> 00:07:11.800 I'm so against Christianity, and yet I plow my field on Sunday, and my crops yield better than anyone else in this region. 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:19.280 And very wisely, the editor posted his letter and wrote this one sentence at the bottom of it. 00:07:19.780 --> 00:07:23.400 God does not settle all of his accounts in the month of October. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:25.120 That's the response to that. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:32.639 So the wrath of God is here now and coming from heaven. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:37.620 The text says, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. 00:07:37.840 --> 00:07:40.920 So how is it currently being revealed? 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:43.660 In all kinds of ways, isn't it? 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.220 We live in a very fallen world. 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:53.980 This morning, some of you might be a little hot or a little warm or a tad uncomfortable sitting in your seats. 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:56.720 That's the effect of sin. 00:07:57.400 --> 00:08:00.320 My knee hurts, and I have a bad headache this morning. 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:02.240 That is the effect of sin. 00:08:03.140 --> 00:08:04.040 Find it and kill it. 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:12.740 Those things, the sicknesses that we experience, the death that's around us, are all results of sin. 00:08:12.900 --> 00:08:13.540 This is awesome. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:15.819 This is totally disfusing. 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:17.439 I'm not even nervous anymore now. 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:22.060 There's no more nervousness in me at all. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:24.460 That was probably more embarrassing. 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:33.500 Okay, here we go. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:35.460 I got it. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:44.279 The natural disasters that we experience in the world, the war, all that calamity that's going on in the world is the wrath of God towards sin. 00:08:44.819 --> 00:08:46.439 This world's not perfect at all, is it? 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:54.040 But also, the Greek term here, this wrath of God, is a bearing, an ongoing wrath. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:58.420 And ultimately, what Paul is talking about is the final judgment that is to come. 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:05.260 Those who are not found in Christ, the wrath of God, will eternally be poured out on them. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:07.980 It's a frightening thought, isn't it? 00:09:08.580 --> 00:09:10.700 Turn with me to Revelation chapter 19. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:19.520 I want you to see my Jesus. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:21.640 I hope he's yours as well. 00:09:22.640 --> 00:09:23.860 Revelation chapter 19. 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:26.740 We're going to start reading in verse 11. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:39.879 Speaking of the end of things, the final days of judgment. 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:41.120 Verse 11. 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:42.840 John writes, 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:46.019 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:48.980 The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True. 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:52.340 And in righteousness he judges and makes war. 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:54.519 His eyes are like a flame of fire. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:59.939 On his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:05.100 He is clothed in a robe dipped or splattered in blood. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.379 And the name by which he is called is the Word of God. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:14.500 And the armies of heaven arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:20.679 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:25.139 He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:31.620 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:38.240 That is the wrath that is going to be revealed from heaven against those who are not found in Christ. 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:39.899 Guess what? 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:44.340 Those who are found in Christ is that army arrayed behind him in our fine linen, clean. 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:46.039 Because we don't have to do the fighting. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:48.700 But Christ will be the victor. 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:52.220 And he's going to punish those who aren't found in him. 00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:53.940 And justly so. 00:10:56.580 --> 00:11:06.120 The text goes on and says that this just punishment is going to come against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. 00:11:06.920 --> 00:11:07.700 All of it. 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:11.460 Not in varying degrees or forms, but all of it. 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:14.259 And Romans 3.23 says, 00:11:14.420 --> 00:11:16.860 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:21.320 So if you've not placed your faith in Christ, that's where you stand. 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:25.320 Awaiting this judgment. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:30.700 Now those terms, ungodliness and unrighteousness, they're actually synonyms. 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:34.180 But they have a little bit of a different feel in Greek. 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:39.120 We don't have the words to quite express them, but they came close. 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:45.860 Ungodliness refers to a lack of reverence for, devotion to, and worship of the true God. 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:49.600 And unrighteousness is kind of the end result of that. 00:11:50.060 --> 00:11:56.779 What comes out of the lack of devotion to and worship of the true God. 00:11:57.419 --> 00:12:00.700 And these people suppress the truth. 00:12:01.539 --> 00:12:05.919 This truth that we're about to see, this revelation that God has given of himself, 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:10.279 it is suppressed because of their hearts. 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:12.079 See Jeremiah 29.13. 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:16.399 God writes, or God tells Jeremiah to write, 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:21.480 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 00:12:22.439 --> 00:12:24.120 If we're to seek God, we will find him. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:29.220 But the problem is that we don't because in our righteousness we suppress the truth of God. 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:32.379 Because men are not naturally inclined to seek God. 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:37.059 Our nature, we are born enemies of God. 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:39.679 We do not naturally pursue him. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:43.679 And it takes a change in our hearts for that to happen. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:48.719 So Paul starts out talking about the wrath of God. 00:12:48.719 --> 00:12:51.959 And then he talks about the nature of these men. 00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:55.819 These men that will be recipients of this wrath. 00:12:56.719 --> 00:12:58.959 Humankind is who he's talking about. 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:06.679 And he gives us five characteristics of this fallen man that deserves God's wrath. 00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:07.799 And here they are. 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.579 Let me give them to you and then we'll go through them. 00:13:09.859 --> 00:13:10.419 There's five of them. 00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:14.019 The fallen man rejects God's revelation. 00:13:16.699 --> 00:13:18.740 Fails to give God glory. 00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:19.699 The glory due him. 00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:23.879 Is not thankful toward God. 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.959 Thinks foolishly. 00:13:29.099 --> 00:13:30.419 And worships wrongly. 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.379 Don't go ahead. 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:34.599 We'll go through them one at a time. 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:37.539 The fallen man, number one. 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:41.120 The fallen man rejects God's revelation. 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:43.980 Let's find this in verse 19 and 20. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:46.699 Verse 19. 00:13:46.819 --> 00:13:50.360 For what can be known about God is plain to them. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:51.379 Why? 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.879 Because God has shown it to them. 00:13:53.219 --> 00:13:58.179 For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, 00:13:58.179 --> 00:14:01.899 have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:04.439 in the things that have been made. 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:06.460 So they are without excuse. 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:08.300 Daniel, can I ask a favor? 00:14:08.540 --> 00:14:10.060 In my bag right behind you, that black bag, 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.180 will you bring me in Carpenter's commentary? 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.500 Something I wanted to read to you. 00:14:12.520 --> 00:14:13.160 And I don't have it with me. 00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:15.800 We'll read to you, though. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.700 Job 38, 4 and 7. 00:14:18.880 --> 00:14:23.020 God responds to Job and says, 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:26.240 Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? 00:14:26.640 --> 00:14:28.460 Tell me if you have understanding. 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:29.300 Thank you, sir. 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:32.359 Who determined its measurements? 00:14:32.719 --> 00:14:34.199 Surely you know. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:37.099 Or who stretched the line upon it? 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:39.639 On what were its bases sunk? 00:14:39.719 --> 00:14:41.199 Or who laid its cornerstone? 00:14:41.479 --> 00:14:46.339 When the morning star sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:49.299 Who are you is what he's saying to Job. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:53.439 Who are you to even question me, Job? 00:14:53.439 --> 00:14:56.240 And that's the very thing we do in unrighteousness. 00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:00.240 We question the God who laid the foundations of the earth. 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:05.039 Let me read this to you of MacArthur's commentary on this text. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:06.960 Try to stick with me. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:07.560 It's a little bit long. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:08.759 But here's this. 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:14.620 At any given time, there are an average of 1,800 storms in operation in the world. 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:24.080 The energy needed to generate those storms amounts to the incredible figure of 1.3 billion, counting zeros, horsepower. 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:26.279 1.3 billion horsepower. 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:33.960 By comparison, a large earth-moving machine has 420 horsepower and requires 100 gallons of fuel a day to operate. 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:48.560 Just one of those storms producing a rain of 4 inches over an area of 10,000 square miles would require energy equivalent to the burning of 640 million tons of coal to evaporate enough water for such a rain. 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:58.300 And to cool those vapors and collect them in clouds would take another 800 million horsepower of refrigeration working night and day for 100 years. 00:15:58.299 --> 00:16:09.879 Agricultural studies have determined that the average farmer in Minnesota gets 407,000 gallons of rainwater per acre per year, free of charge, of course. 00:16:10.599 --> 00:16:16.339 The state of Missouri has some 70,000 square miles and averages 38 inches of rain a year. 00:16:16.839 --> 00:16:22.819 That amount of water is equal to a lake 250 miles long, 60 miles wide, and 22 feet deep. 00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:32.460 The U.S. Natural Museum has determined there are at least 10 million species of insects, including some 2,500 varieties of ants. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:40.300 There are about 5 billion birds in the United States, among which some species are able to fly 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico. 00:16:41.640 --> 00:16:43.800 Mallard ducks can fly 60 miles an hour. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.420 Isn't that crazy? 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:46.660 Eagles, 100 miles an hour. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:50.580 And falcons can dive at speeds of 180 miles an hour. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:17:00.139 The Earth is 25,000 miles in circumference, weighs 6,588,6 billion tons, and hangs unsupported in space. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:10.900 It spins at 1,000 miles per hour with absolute precision and careens through space around the sun at the speed of 1,000 miles per minute in an orbit 580 million miles long. 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:22.680 The head of a comet may be from 10,000 to 1,000,000 miles long, having a tail 100,000,000,000 miles long, and traveling at speeds of 350 miles per second. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:31.360 If the sun's radiated energy could be converted into horsepower, it would be the equivalent of 500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 horsepower. 00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:33.140 Glad he didn't put zeros on that one. 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:37.160 Each second, it consumes some 4 million tons of matter. 00:17:37.520 --> 00:17:47.100 To travel at the speed of light across the Milky Way, the galaxy in which our solar system is located would take 125,000 years, and our galaxy is but one of millions. 00:17:48.300 --> 00:17:51.140 The human heart is about the size of its owner's fist. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:59.540 An adult heart weighs less than half a pound, yet can do enough work in 12 hours to lift 65 tons one inch off the ground. 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:07.519 A water molecule is composed of only three atoms, but if all the molecules in one drop of water were the size of a grain of sand, 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:13.099 they could make a road one foot thick and half a mile wide that would stretch from Los Angeles to New York. 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:16.299 Amazingly, however, the atom itself is largely spaced. 00:18:16.399 --> 00:18:20.920 It's actual matter taking up only one trillionth of its volume. 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.559 Point made. 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:24.220 He goes on for another two pages. 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.119 A little overkill. 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.180 Isn't that phenomenal? 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:29.500 Our God is phenomenal. 00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:33.259 And he's revealed all that to us in his created order. 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:35.060 His immense power. 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.180 And so we're without excuse. 00:18:39.320 --> 00:18:47.080 The fact that God exists and we worship ourselves instead of him puts us in a bad place. 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:53.580 The text here says that we are without excuse. 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:57.599 Psalm 19, 1 through 3, David writes, 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:02.439 The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:07.299 Day to day pours out speech and night to night reveals knowledge. 00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:12.259 There is no speech nor are there words whose voice is not heard. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:18.460 So the very passing of the day and the passing of the night pours out the knowledge of God. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.460 Phenomenal. 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:20.460 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:27.340 Second, the fallen man fails to give glory to God. 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:30.339 Verse 21a. 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:32.119 The first part of it there. 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:36.359 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:41.659 They did not give to him or do not give to him the glory that is due him. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:46.220 Scripture continually admonishes man to glorify God. 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:50.140 Psalm 29, 1 and 2 says, 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:54.940 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:57.559 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. 00:19:57.819 --> 00:20:00.740 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.819 1 Corinthians 10, 31. 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:07.480 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:14.099 And one day, 24 elders will fall down before Christ on his heavenly throne and declare, 00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:19.180 Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:25.079 For you created all things and by your will they existed and were created. 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:29.360 So all honor, all glory belongs to God. 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.940 The fallen man gives him none. 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:36.839 Third, the fallen man is not thankful. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.640 Toward God. 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:42.480 Verse 21, B, the middle of it. 00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.839 Or give thanks to him. 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.680 Which is to be expected. 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:48.579 Right? 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:56.120 The man who doesn't honor God, doesn't recognize him in his created order, 00:20:57.299 --> 00:21:00.400 obviously will not give thanks to him. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:05.339 Acts 14, 15 and 17. 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:10.939 This is a story of Paul at Lystra after they've healed a crippled man. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:14.539 And everybody comes to him and Barnabas and begin to worship him. 00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:16.919 They think there's Zeus and Hermes. 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:19.539 And he says, men, why are you doing these things? 00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:22.500 We also are men of like nature with you. 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:27.720 And we bring you good news that you should turn from these vain things to a living God 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.900 who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:35.299 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.900 Yet he did not leave himself without witness. 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:42.220 For he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:46.180 satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:51.620 Everything we have, all of it, comes from God. 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:55.320 The fallen man doesn't recognize that at all. 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:58.100 I'm afraid we don't at times either. 00:21:58.099 --> 00:22:00.879 Number four. 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:05.899 The fallen man thinks foolishly. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:08.699 The last part of verse 21 and verse 22. 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:13.279 But they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. 00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:16.699 Claiming to be wise, they became fools. 00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:21.379 So the fallen man thinks he knows what's going on. 00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:23.500 We've got a lot of that in the world around us, don't we? 00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:27.740 We live in America where people tend to be more educated than others in the world. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:34.740 There is a lot of philosophy and psychology out there that claims to be wise, 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:39.019 but is altogether foolish because it's contrary to the Scriptures. 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.339 In Colossians 2.8, Paul says, 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:46.519 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:50.539 according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:53.000 and not according to Christ. 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:57.579 All truth is found in Christ. 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.740 Hear that. 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:01.859 All truth is found in Christ. 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:08.640 There is no theory of this world that is true, that contradicts our Savior. 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:11.480 And their foolish hearts were darkened. 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.960 Something I wrestled with a little bit. 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:15.140 This whole text, actually, I wrestled with a tad. 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:25.220 But this phrase here simply means that their futile thinking has led them further down the road of sin. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:32.240 It has made them more estranged from God because of their foolishness, their foolish thinking. 00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:37.440 And that's what he's talking about when he says their foolish hearts were darkened. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:43.480 Number five, the fallen man worships wrongly. 00:23:43.820 --> 00:23:46.779 Verse 23 says, 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:56.380 And exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:59.400 There's the indictment in that. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:12.380 Exchange the glory of the immortal God, the God who goes on for eternity, the God that is worthy to be praised for things that are mortal and unworthy of our praise. 00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:20.360 It's outside of our text, but for next week, Paul writes that they serve the creature rather than the creator. 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.600 Do you hear the foolishness in that? 00:24:22.760 --> 00:24:25.720 The foolish minds that would do such a thing? 00:24:27.800 --> 00:24:30.500 It's where we were before we found ourselves in Christ. 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:33.980 It's probably where we are often now. 00:24:35.260 --> 00:24:41.180 Humanistic sociologists, philosophers, and theologians say that religion is an upward climb. 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:44.440 From primitive ignorance. 00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:46.300 From primitive chaos. 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:52.820 They say that religion is man's attempt to come out of those things. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:58.320 Ascending through animism to polytheism to monotheism. 00:24:58.420 --> 00:25:00.660 It's been this climb throughout history. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:07.420 Sadly, human religion of every sort is a downward movement away from God. 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:10.000 It's a downward movement. 00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:11.560 It takes us further from. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:13.579 Even those of us who are found in Christ. 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:16.679 Our religion makes us estranged from Him. 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:17.779 Right? 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:22.319 It's the relationship that we have with Him that is endearing and brings us close. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:26.379 We fall into that trap so often. 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:32.279 So we turn the relational aspect of God into a religion. 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:36.679 We begin to follow our rules again and dress a certain way and do certain things. 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:38.700 And we have to have it just so. 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:41.200 Even in the Reformed tradition. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:43.340 And I think we do a ton of things really right. 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:49.880 We begin to worship those things rather than the God of those things. 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:53.660 Men's religions do not reflect their highest endeavors. 00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:57.540 But their lowest depravity. 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:02.640 Religion is the search for God. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:07.360 Those of us in Christ, we found Him. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.980 We don't need religion anymore. 00:26:10.020 --> 00:26:10.800 Have you ever played that game? 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:13.140 I don't really know what to call it. 00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:14.940 Hot or cold, maybe. 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:15.540 Is that what it's called? 00:26:16.060 --> 00:26:16.800 Somebody's trying to find something. 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.960 A kid's trying to find something. 00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:18.700 He says, you're getting hotter. 00:26:18.780 --> 00:26:19.280 You're getting hotter. 00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:19.759 You're getting hotter. 00:26:19.800 --> 00:26:20.280 You're burning up. 00:26:20.320 --> 00:26:20.759 You're burning up. 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.840 Or Arctic temperatures. 00:26:23.020 --> 00:26:23.500 You're in Antarctica. 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.160 It's so cold. 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:27.580 Now, have you ever played that game with a kid and totally confused them? 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.600 Just made it super random? 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.420 You just make up what's going on. 00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:31.240 You're getting hotter. 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:31.900 You're getting hotter. 00:26:32.040 --> 00:26:32.960 No, you're colder, colder. 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:35.140 And they are standing on the spot that should be. 00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:36.960 And you're just leading them all around the room. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.840 It's really quite fun. 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:42.380 But that's religion. 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:46.320 It seeks to take us to God. 00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:48.560 But in fact, it just confuses us terribly. 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:54.060 And the fallen man worships something. 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:56.320 We were all created to worship. 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.460 Everyone's religious. 00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:59.660 Even the atheist is religious. 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:02.680 We're all religious in some way. 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:04.779 We all have something that we worship. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:06.160 Whether it's material goods. 00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:07.660 Or false gods. 00:27:07.820 --> 00:27:08.840 Or our families. 00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:10.900 Our own ideologies. 00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:14.420 We have something that we worship. 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:17.600 And you see here, first of man. 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:19.920 Then of other effigies he's talking about. 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:21.720 But all of it is idolatry. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:27.620 All of it seeks to take Christ off the throne. 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:31.560 And put us in some way back onto it. 00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:36.120 It's a little poem by a man named J.H. 00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:38.939 He wrote, 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:41.539 And still from him we turn away. 00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:44.259 And fill our hearts with worthless things. 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:47.259 The fires of greed melt the clay. 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:49.299 And forth the idle springs. 00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:52.920 Ambition's flame and passion's heart. 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:57.019 By wondrous alchemy transmute earth's dross. 00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:59.539 To raise some gilded brute. 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:01.460 To fill Jehovah's seat. 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.940 Isn't that cutting? 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.839 It is to me. 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:10.740 So the fallen man is these five things. 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:13.059 Is characterized by them. 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:16.759 And this morning if you find yourself in that place. 00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.940 I have good news for you. 00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:25.559 If you are a Christian. 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:28.700 You ought to examine yourself by these things. 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:31.440 Because this is the way the fallen man lives. 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.880 It's not the way the children of God live. 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:38.360 But don't we so often do all these things? 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:41.460 At moments in all of our lives. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.539 I could look into your life. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.600 And you would look like this man. 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:47.819 If we are found in Christ. 00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:49.379 We ought to look the opposite. 00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:51.219 Of this man. 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.579 So for us as Christians. 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.740 Praise God. 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:58.899 The wrath of God doesn't abide on us. 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.799 Even though we live this way sometimes. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:03.480 The wrath of God doesn't abide on us. 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.299 But hear the gospel. 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:08.980 In some verses that are later on in Romans. 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:12.619 Romans chapter 5 verses 6 through 9. 00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:18.559 All right. 00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:20.159 For while we were still weak. 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:22.759 At the right time Christ died. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.159 For the ungodly. 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:27.459 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person. 00:29:27.679 --> 00:29:29.259 Though perhaps for a good person. 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:31.419 One would dare even to die. 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:33.679 Or neither of those two. 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:36.759 But God shows his love for us. 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:38.339 And that while we were still sinners. 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.619 Christ died. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:40.939 For us. 00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:44.079 Since therefore we have now been justified. 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:45.179 By his blood. 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:47.579 Much more shall we be saved by him. 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.539 From the wrath. 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:49.619 Of God. 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.559 And that's the gospel. 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:55.099 Nothing in this world. 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.699 Will bring us close to God. 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.579 Except for Christ. 00:29:58.619 --> 00:29:58.960 That's it. 00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:00.240 And all of us. 00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:01.319 Apart from Christ. 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.460 Are fallen. 00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.740 Far off from him. 00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:06.119 Which is punishment in and of itself. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:07.579 But his wrath also. 00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:10.159 Is coming to abide on us. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:13.960 I hope this morning you're found in Christ. 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:16.080 As you are exempt from that punishment. 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:20.340 That Christ himself has already bore the wrath of God for you. 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.380 On your behalf. 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:24.820 If you're one of those. 00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:27.520 And you're living like the fallen man. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.360 Repent. 00:30:29.540 --> 00:30:30.380 Place your faith. 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.060 Back in Christ. 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.860 Turn back. 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.020 To him. 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:37.279 If you're feeling the conviction. 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:39.000 That you're not found in Christ. 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:41.319 Place your faith in the gospel. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:44.200 It's really pretty simple. 00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:46.379 If you're feeling the conviction. 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:49.079 Of a life lived this way. 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:52.500 You're an enemy of God. 00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:56.059 It's the spirit of God working within you. 00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.379 Repent. 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.379 Say to God. 00:30:59.439 --> 00:30:59.639 God. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.059 I have been your enemy. 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:04.399 And I need Christ to draw near to you. 00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:07.179 I plead with you this morning. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.980 Repent and believe. 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:10.220 You will not. 00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:11.619 Regret it. 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.579 It will not buy you. 00:31:14.179 --> 00:31:15.199 A life of. 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.139 Pleasures. 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.480 And money. 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:19.220 But it will buy you. 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.779 A life of joy. 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.740 I have been set free. 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.860 From the wrath of God. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:25.019 Even though I have a headache. 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:26.160 And my knee hurts this morning. 00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.779 Because I have joy in Christ. 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:29.380 I have Christ. 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.779 And that is better than all. 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.880 Those things. 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.640 Let's pray together.