The Normal Christian Life: A Journey Through Romans
Sunday, February 5, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, you are God alone! Beside you is none other! You’re in a class all by yourself. Help me not to put anything above you, for you are jealous God. May my heart and my mind be fixed totally upon you. I want to see you as you really are, and worship you with a pure heart. I ask you for grace today to please you in all that I do. I ask this in Jesus’ name. . . Amen.
God’s Word Today—Romans 1:21-23
21 “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
In Romans chapters 1-3, the apostle Paul explains that all humans have sinned and deserve to be punishment. God, however, provides a solution to the problem of sin by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ to take our sin and shame on the cross. The message of the Gospel makes sense only when we understand the “bad news” before the “good news.” Without understanding our sin, we can’t know the blessing of being free from the punishment of it. Romans 1:21-23 is simply a smaller portion of Paul’s larger explanation of the nature and problem of humanity’s sin. If we’re ever going to effectively communicate the Gospel of Jesus to others, it is vitally important that we not overlook the “bad news” when we explain God’s salvation. The good news only makes sense after the bad.
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
Read Romans 1:18-20 and explain why God’s anger is against humankind. What specific things kindle God’s wrath?
Romans 1:18-20 is the context to verses 21-23. How do these verses relate to one another?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
Romans 1:21-23 reveals that those who worship idols, or anything other than God, stand condemned before Him. According to Paul, even the unevangelized are without excuse, because God makes Himself known intuitively in creation (vs20). If all will be punished for their sin and shame, including those who have never heard the name of Jesus, then it should inspire all of us to reach everyone we can with the “good news” of Jesus Christ! Take time today to ask God how you might be a witness to those who’ve never heard the name of Jesus!
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
Before you were a Christian, did you have any misperceptions about God? If so, what were they?
Is it easy for you to see idolatry in your life? What about those around you?
What is one way you can share the “Good News” with someone else today?
Thoughts
Statistics show that the majority of people in America believe in God. According to a 2005 poll by the Barna Group, “nearly 70% of people believe in God.” While it’s true that most people in America acknowledge the existence of God, the question is, are they worshiping the true God or a “god” they’ve created in their own minds? We’ve heard people say: “My God would never send anyone to hell,” or “My God is tolerant,” or “My God is non-judgmental,” or “My God is. . .” When someone says the words “my God is,” it reveals they’ve made a god to suit themselves. They are essentially guilty of breaking the second of the Ten Commandments – “You Shall not make for yourself an idol. . . (Exodus 20:4-5).” When we make a god to suit ourselves in order to continue practicing our sinful behavior, we’re not worshiping the true God, but rather a “god we’ve created in our own minds – and this is idolatry. We may be a country that says we believe in God, but do we really?
One of the common attributes we use to describe God is that He’s “all loving.” We hear the message “God loves you” time and time again. While it’s true that God infinitely loves us more than we could ever imagine, an attribute we don’t hear too often is that God is “just.” He is a just judge. When we as humans sin against Him, our sin deserves to be punished. No good judge would let a crime go unpunished. Consequently, God’s wrath is being stored up against us if we’re unrepentant. In America, we don’t hear this message too often because we’ve created a god that wants to make us happy and comfortable. At the root of this perception is idolatry!
This Week’s Memory Verse:
And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes. Romans 1:23