Romans 1:16-22
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools...
Living a life of not being ashamed of the gospel of Christ, is not easy, especially when the gospel clashes with our culture or the expectations of those around us. Paul had to pay 'n price for living this statement in his time and we will pay a price for living it in our time, but the gospel is the power for salvation to all, and this life is only temporary while the life that comes is eternal. Living by faith does not just mean to believe in some distant God that we cannot know. The God of the Bible is a God that wants to make Himself known to us. In this scripture Paul argues that since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes can be clearly seen because He reveals Himself to everyone through faith WITHIN us. He says that the reason we do not know God is because we suppress the truth that God has set within us. Paul teaches us that we are without excuse because even though we knew God, we did not honour Him as God, nor are we thankful for what He did for us. This suppression of truth causes man to become futile in reason and our hearts are darkened. We think we are wise but in actual fact we have become foolish....
When I was contemplating this piece of scripture I was asking myself the question, how did or how does God reveal Himself in all mankind so that He can say in these verses that mankind are without excuse? And then I remembered that in the Garden of Eden man ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Suddenly I understood that we do not have any excuse because God has placed, revealed deep in our hearts, the truth of His righteousness. The only way we can say we 'do not know' is when we suppress that truth that God has revealed within us. What an incredible indictment against mankind this piece of scripture is. That we know God, we know His truth, but we do not honour Him as God nor are we thankful for what He did for us!
But for those who live by faith, the truth of God is revealed and it is the power of our salvation, and God's righteousness keeps being revealed to us from faith to faith. It springs up from faith and it leads to faith. It makes God's invisible attributes visible within us, it reveals Him in our spirits, His eternal power and divine nature can be clearly perceived - because He revealed it within us... what an amazing thought... the God of the universe is revealed within you and me so that we may have the privilege of knowing Him. Even though He is holy and unknowable - through His Spirit and in faith He is knowable in His "unknowable-ness...". too big for words....
Point to ponder:
- Can I say I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?
- What invisible attributes of God does He make visible within you and me this week?
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