Rom 1:18-21 | PNT | STEP | For . Now follows a declaration of the world's unrighteousness, of the wrath of God against unrighteousness, and hence the need of the righteousness of God through the gospel received by faith in order to salvation. The "for" introduces an argument which shows that Christ's gospel is the world's only hope. The wrath of God . His displeasure. Is revealed . Not only by the declarations of the Holy Scriptures, and his judgments, but by nature's teachings, and by the human conscience. Ungodliness . Irreligiousness. This is the fountain of unrighteousness. Hold the truth in unrighteousness . There is a measure of truth revealed to every man. See . Many refuse to profit by the light they have, and love the darkness rather than the light. All who do not live up to the knowledge they possess, who do worse than they know, hold the truth in unrighteousness. They obstruct the truth, rather than let it have free scope.

Romans 1:18-21

For. Now follows a declaration of the world's unrighteousness, of the wrath of God against unrighteousness, and hence the need of the righteousness of God through the gospel received by faith in order to salvation. The "for" introduces an argument which shows that Christ's gospel is the world's only hope.

The wrath of God. His displeasure.

Is revealed. Not only by the declarations of the Holy Scriptures, and his judgments, but by nature's teachings, and by the human conscience.

Ungodliness. Irreligiousness. This is the fountain of unrighteousness.

Hold the truth in unrighteousness. There is a measure of truth revealed to every man. See Ro 1:19. Many refuse to profit by the light they have, and love the darkness rather than the light. All who do not live up to the knowledge they possess, who do worse than they know, hold the truth in unrighteousness. They obstruct the truth, rather than let it have free scope. Because. Here he begins to show why God's wrath is manifest. They are inexcusable because "that which may be known of God is manifest in them". Ro 1:20 shows what may be known of God by all. The invisible things of him. God's attributes.

Are clearly seen. Are manifested by his works. Nature speaks of nature's God.

His eternal power and Godhead. The attributes are especially shown in his works. The earth and the heavenly bodies are effects which must be due to eternal power and divinity.

So that they are without excuse. No excuse is left for worshiping helpless idols. When they knew God. Had the knowledge shown in Ro 1:20. They turned from their knowledge, did not glorify the invisible Creator, yielded neither adoration nor gratitude.

Became vain in their imaginations. Thoughts or reasonings. When men turn willfully from truth, they will run to the extremes of error. The world (the pagan world) yielded to idle fancies, and were involved in deeper darkness. He who shuts out the light will finally be unable to bear it.

Vain. Empty, useless. See De 32:21.