The Anatomy of Unbelief (part 2)

Manuscript Notes

Outline Notes

The Whole World Under Divine Wrath – Surveying Paul’s Case Against the World

Text: Romans 1:18-3:20, 3:9-20

Introduction:

Last week, we began a journey through a section in Romans where Paul makes the case for why the whole world and everyone in it needs to be saved. Every human being on the planet—regardless of who they are, where or when they lived, or how much spiritual light they possessed—stands under God’s just and righteous wrath and is condemned by His righteous standard (law).  Paul establishes this in Romans 3:19-20.

Romans 1:18-3:20 presents at least four uncomfortable truths that Paul clearly outlined and applied to every single person without exception:

1) The wrath of God is being revealed now (1:18), and one day it will come in full force against all sin and all sinners (2:5-10) for the sin of unbelief, which is manifested in three ways in this section:

2) God’s wrath falls on all men impartially—regardless of who they are, when or where they live, or how much spiritual light they possess (2:11)—because none is righteous, no, not one! No one does good, not even one! (3:9-12).

3) Every individual, including you and me, will stand before God to be judged by one of two unchangeable standards:

1. We will be judged by our own works according to the righteous standard set by the Law of God (3:19).
2. We will be judged by the work of Christ based on the righteousness provided by God and proclaimed through Paul’s gospel (2:16).

4) Our eternal destiny hinges on our personal belief or unbelief in the gospel that Paul was eager to declare to the world (1:16-17).

1. Those who receive God’s righteousness by responding to the gospel with obedient faith will be delivered from His wrath and granted eternal life – “glory, honor, peace, and immortality” (1:17; 2:6,10).
2. Those who reject God’s righteousness by refusing to obey the truth of the Gospel and instead “obey unrighteousness in unbelief” will incur God’s wrath and fury for all eternity (2:8-9).

Admittedly, these four assertions are extremely uncomfortable, which is why we often find it so difficult to share the gospel with others.

To help his readers understand, present, and defend the argument that the entire world needs salvation due to their unbelief and unrighteousness before God, Paul structures his case along four important lines, two of which we considered last week. 

I. God is Righteous and Just to Condemn the Whole World for the Sin of Unbelief against Him (1:18 – 3:20).

Paul sets out to support his case along these lines:

• The righteousness of God has been revealed from heaven and is announced through the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1:14-17).
• Everyone needs this righteousness because the wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against ungodliness (idolatry) and unrighteousness (immorality, iniquity, and injustice), for which all men are individually guilty and which is pervasive across all cultures universally (1:18-23).

• All men are guilty of rejecting the revelation God has given them, regardless of its source, availability, or proximity (1:24-3:8).
• Their rebellion against God’s moral standards is universal in scope, depraved in nature, and wicked in expression, whether idol-worshipping Gentiles or self-righteous Jews (3:9-18).
• The impartiality of God demands that He condemn every individual who has sinned, regardless of who they are, where and when they live, or how much spiritual light they possess (3:19-20).

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth might be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.  (3:19)

II. God is Righteous and Just to Condemn Pagan Idolaters who Deny and Suppress the Truth About Him (1:18-32).

1. God’s Wrath Presented (1:18-20).
2. God’s Wrath Justified (1:21-31)
3. God’s Wrath Verified (1:32)

At this point, every self-righteous Jew would consider this argument a brilliant and just condemnation of the Gentile nations who were filled with idolatry, immorality, and injustice! But Paul does not stop here.  He moves on to a second group that is equally under Divine Condemnation.

III. God is Righteous and Just to Condemn __________ for  __________, __________, and __________ the Truth __________ Him (2:1-3:8).

• What about people to whom God has given additional light?
• They are as guilty and have even greater accountability and culpability before God because of the greater light they possessed.

1. The Righteous Judgment of God Revealed against His __________ __________, Israel (2:1-11)
2. The Law gives you more __________ than the pagan Gentiles, but it does not give you a better __________ before God (2:12-16)
3. The Righteous __________ of God Verified by the __________ of His Chosen People (2:17-29)
4. The Righteous Character of God __________ against the __________ of His Chosen People (3:1-8)

Having proven that the entire world is justly under the wrath of God and rightly condemned for the sin of unbelief—both the Pagan Gentile nations and Israel, God’s chosen nation—Paul now brings the most devastating charge to bear on individuals.

IV. God is Righteous and Just to Condemn _____  and _____ for Defying His __________ and Disobeying His __________ Mandates (3:9-20).

1. The __________ of the Depravity of Our Sinfulness Exposed (3:9-17)
2. The __________ for Our Sinfulness Revealed (3:18)
   We often do these very sins with impunity because we don’t believe God will judge us, even if He has judged others!
3. The __________ __________ against Our Sinfulness Presented (3:19)
4. The Just __________ Imposed (3:20, 23)

Conclusion:  What will you say on that day?

• What answer will you give for your unbelief?
• What excuse will you make for your unrighteousness?
• What explanation will you offer for why you rejected the gospel God announced to you?