Someone once asked Billy Graham, “If Christianity is valid, why is there so much evil in the world?” To this the famous preacher replied, “With so much soap, why are there so many dirty people in the world? Christianity, like soap, must be personally applied if it is to make a difference in our lives.”
Suppressing or hiding the truth of God’s eternal power and divine nature causes idolatry that leads to materialism, sexual sin and total societal breakdown. The gospel of Christ is God’s power to bring people to righteousness when they believe in Him. It moves them from suppression to spiritual fruit.
Paul was a bond-servant of Christ and an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, promised through His prophets in the Scriptures concerning His Son. He was descended from David as the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness. Paul and others received grace and apostleship to bring the obedience of faith among Gentiles to all in Rome called saints (Rom 1:1-7). The resurrection empowers the gospel of Christ promised by prophets in the Old Testament.
He thanked God because their faith was being proclaimed throughout the world. Paul always prayed and hoped to see them. He wanted to impart some spiritual gift that they may be established and be encouraged in each other’s faith. Paul wanted to obtain some fruit among them and the rest of the Gentiles. He was under obligation to Greeks, barbarians, wise and foolish in preaching the gospel to those in Rome (Rom 1:8-15). Preach the gospel to impart some spiritual gift, encourage each other’s faith and obtain fruit.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel since it was the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes from Jew to Greek. The righteousness of God was revealed from faith to faith as the righteous live by faith (Rom. 1:16-17). Be not ashamed of the gospel since God’s power for salvation and righteousness occurs from faith to faith.
God’s wrath was revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. God’s creation reveals His eternal power and divine nature so everyone is without excuse. They did not honor Him as God or give thanks but became futile in their speculations as their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged God’s glory for an image in the form of man and animals (Rom. 1:18-23). Those who suppress the truth of God’s divine attributes experience God’s wrath and idolatry.
Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity that their bodies might be dishonored among them. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator (Rom 1:24-25). God gives peoples’ mind over to the lie of materialism caused by lustful hearts and impurity.
God gave them over to degrading passions for women and men exchanged the natural function for the unnatural. They burned in their desire for the same sex, committing indecent acts and receiving the due penalty of their error (Rom 1:26-27). God gives peoples’ emotions over to sexual sin, including homosexuality, caused by degrading passions.
Just as they did not acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind to do things not proper: greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving and unmerciful. Although they knew the ordinance of God, those who practice such things are worthy of death and also give hearty approval to those who practice them (Rom. 1:28-32). God gives peoples’ will over to total wickedness caused by depravity and not acknowledging Him any longer.
Have you believed in the gospel of Christ? If so, are you preaching the gospel of Christ? Are you letting your mind, emotions and will acknowledge God and the truth of His word?
