Starting with Romans 1:18 God proves that all men are lost sinners in need of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because men are lost we read, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteounsess” (NASB). God’s wrath will be revealed against those who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” which means that men choose to ignore the truth that God has revealed in order to live unrighteous lives.

We often hear the question, “What about the heathen who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ; is God going to judge them too?” Verses 19-32 answer that question, for they show us that men are responsible for the knowledge God has given them. All men, even the heathen, have the knowledge of God through CREATION, as we see clearly in verses 19-20, “Because what may be known of God is manifest 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” (NKJV). All men should be able to KNOW GOD through the light of CREATION, and if they refuse to acknowledge Him, “they are without excuse.”

The rest of the chapter shows us what happened when men rejected the light of CREATION. Let’s read verses 21-23, “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened, Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—birds, and fourfooted animals and creeping things” (NKJV). Men became FOOLS and IDOLATERS! One cannot help but think of the “wise professors” in today’s universities who teach the terrible lie of EVOLUTION. They “say” that men are evolving to a higher state, yet here we see that man’s wisdom led them to DEVOLVE into idol worship. Notice, they started with images of man, then birds, then animals and finally creeping things. Again, men teach evolution, but here we see a downward progression. Verse 25 solemnly declares, “Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (NKJV).

Because of man’s rejection of God as their Creator, we read three times that “God gave them up.” In verse 24 we see that “God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.” This speaks of sexual filth. When Paul wrote this, the Roman Empire was known for its sexual orgies, and 2,000 years later the world still practices such things. Verses 26-27 tell us, “God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” This speaks of homosexuality. This practice of “unnatural sex” is so hateful in God’s sight that He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in one day, and the day is coming when His wrath will be revealed against those who practice it now. Then in verse 28 we read, “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.” A depraved mind is a “wicked mind” that is filled with “moral corruption.”  You can read of this moral corruption, which God calls “those things which are not proper,” in verses 29-31.

This subject ends in verse 32 with these sobering words, “Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Men instinctively know that all these sins deserve God’s judgment, yet they continue gratifying the lusts of their flesh and they gladly join in with others who commit the same sins.  (192.9)  (DO)