Romans 1:18-32 God’s Wrath Against the Unrighteous
Who By Their Unrighteousness Suppress the Truth
Righteousness vs Unrighteousness
In Rom_1:17 Paul said the righteousness of God is revealed (in believers' lives) from faith to faith, and "The just shall live by faith."
'Just' is G1342, dikaios, which means righteous.
Then, starting in verse 18, Paul contrasts this divine righteousness that's being revealed in believers with the wrath of God being revealed from heaven against the unrighteousness of unbelievers—who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
v18 By their unrighteousness they suppress the truth
Unrighteousness (G93, adikia means unrighteous, iniquity, wrong-doing)
Suppress (G2722, katecho, to hold down or withhold)
Today the Bible and its truths are either marginalized or outlawed in every nation of the world
Since Cain murdered his brother Abel, there’s been conflict between the righteous and the unrighteous.
It’s true that God loves everyone, and wishes for all people to be saved.
But it’s also true that most people choose to walk in disobedience to God.
By nature, these people hate the righteous.
Why? Because they call evil good and good evil. The righteous, who choose God’s way, are a constant reminder of their guilt and eventual judgment.
Over the 6000-years since Adam, the Book of Genesis teaches us that evil people have used violence and deceit to gain power over their nations.
Lamech, Nimrod, Pharaoh, Ahab, Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus Epiphanes, Herod the Great, Nero, Genghis Khan, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao—each used treachery, murder, or manipulation to exalt themselves above others and oppose God’s people. And in our future, the Antichrist will the worst of all.
These godless men rule what the Bible calls “the world.”
God's Kingdom vs 'the World'
Jesus doesn’t pray for ‘the world,’ but He prays for His disciples.
In John 17:9 Jesus said, “I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.”
Christians are "called out" of the world, Romans 1:1, 6, 7
What is ‘the world?’
1 John 5:19 teaches, “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
‘The world’ includes all the manmade systems that Satan controls, including all human governments, economies, and religions.
‘The world’ is also called Babylon in the Bible.
Believers must depart from unrighteousness/iniquity 2Ti_2:19-21 (Gold, silver, wood, clay)
Unrighteousness in the End-time world system
2Th 2:7-12 the mystery of lawlessness (anomia, the rejection of God's law)
the Antichrist will deceive many, using Satanic power, false signs and wonders v9
Wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refuse to love the truth v10
Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false v11
They choose to disbelieve the truth, having pleasure in unrighteousness v12 (adikia)
Rev_22:11-15 Contrasts the unjust (G91, adikeo) with the righteous (G1342, dikaios).
In vs 12, they each get their reward
In vs 14, Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and enter into the New Jerusalem.
In vs 15 For outside are the unrighteous, i.e., the dogs, sorcerers, etc.
v19-23
People rationalize their disbelief in the face of God's creation
v24-32
The consequences of their disbelief
God is 'Slow to Anger'
Rom_1:26-31 God 'gave them up' to suffer the consequences of their sinful desires
Homosexuality
v28 God gave them up to a debased mind
All manner of unrighteousness:
evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
In Conclusion
Rom_1:32 Though they know God's righteous (G1345, dikaioma) decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.