The Anatomy of Unbelief

Manuscript Notes      Outline Notes

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

Text: Romans 1:18-3:20

This morning, as we continue our journey through the book of Romans, we find ourselves listening to Paul make a case that explains why the whole world and everyone in it needs to be saved – because every human being on the planet (no matter who they are, where or when they live, or how much spiritual light they possess) stands under God’s just and righteous wrath and is condemned by His righteous standard (law).

1. In the verses that precede this section (1:1-17), Paul makes a powerful case that God is saving the world by making His own righteousness available to anyone who believes.
2. This righteousness is revealed (present tense) in the gospel – the good news that God is saving the world through the righteous life and substitutionary death of His Son Jesus Christ, who came into the world not to condemn it, but to save it (1:16-17).
3. The reason the world needs salvation relates to another aspect of God’s righteousness—His wrath (1:18). God’s righteous character demands He respond to sin and sinners with wrath in line with His moral nature.
4. Paul argues that all men are deservedly under this wrath and rightly condemned for their unrighteousness in 3:19-20, 23. This is true because God is impartial.
5. The righteousness God provides to all men must be obtained and extended in a manner consistent with God’s righteous character (1:16-17; 3:21-31).

BUT before a person can attain the righteousness that God is revealing from heaven and that is made available by faith, they must understand God is also revealing His wrath and the universal condemnation of all men for rejecting the truth about God and suppressing His righteous demands. They have done so because they are unrighteous (1:18).

I. The __________ case Paul makes for the just __________ of God upon all men (1:18-3:20)
Paul’s case in this section looks like this:

A. God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against ungodly (godless) men because of their unrighteousness in willfully rejecting God and suppressing His truth (1:18).

B. All men everywhere are under the power of sin, in bondage to its dominion (3:19-20, 23), and justly condemned by God (2:6-9).

C. The proof that all men are justly condemned is made in 3:10-18, where Paul provides evidence for the universal depravity of man.
“None is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one!” (3:10-12; Psalm 14:3-4).

D. This is how we know sin has dominion over mankind . . . “We have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin.” (3:9).

E. Only the gospel can break the power of sin by redeeming all men and releasing them from sin’s dominion (1:16-17; 3:21-26).

• For a sinner to be made righteous before God, that sinner must render an obedient faith to God (1:5; 1:17). In other words, they must __________!
• But before a person can believe the gospel of God, they must accept that they are under just and righteous condemnation from God due to their wicked (unrighteous) unbelief!
• In other words, God sends people to hell because of __________. This is why the way to be rescued from that condemnation requires repentance of your unbelief and faith in God.
• Here is how Paul makes his case:

II. The condemnation of God on all people who do not know or believe in God __________ and __________ (1:18-32)

A. God’s wrath __________ (1:18-20).

B. God’s wrath __________ (1:21-31)

1. People exchange the truth about God’s existence for idols (1:21-24).
2. People exchange the truth about God’s honor and authority for a lie (1:25-27).
   Note: The particular sins Paul lists here have been debated in the public square for many decades. However, as these behaviors have become more common, they have affected the lives of people we know and love. How we view these behaviors as sinful is a matter of loyalty to truth. Our response to those in bondage to these sins is a matter of love for them. That the power of the gospel can break this bondage and deliver a person from these sins is evidenced in the biblical record (1 Cor. 6:9-11), which gives us hope and sustains our prayers as we witness to the truth that Jesus came to save sinners, among whom we once numbered!

3. People do not see fit to acknowledge God (who He is and what He is like – His righteous character and authority)(1:28-31).

C. God’s wrath __________ (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. The condemnation of God on a people who knew and believed in God __________ and __________ (2:1-3:8)

A. The righteous judgment of God revealed against His chosen people, __________ (2:1-11)

B. The Law gives you more light than the pagan Gentiles, but it does not give you a better __________ before God (2:12-16)

C. The righteous indignation of God verified by the __________ of His chosen people (2:17-29)

D. The righteous character of God __________ against the __________ of His chosen people (3:1-8)

IV. The condemnation of God on every individual pronounced and __________ (3:9-20).

A. The reality of human sinfulness __________ (3:9-17)

B. The reason for human sinfulness __________ (3:18)

C. The chief witness against human sinfulness __________ (3:19)

D. The just sentence __________ (3:20, 23)

• No one is righteous; therefore, no one is justified.
• Because no one is justified, the whole world stands condemned to eternal death on account of their unbelief (6:23).

Conclusion:

• Admittedly, a survey of Paul’s case leaves us weary, exhausted, concerned, and perhaps even a little fearful!
• This section of Romans intends to jolt us from our spiritual complacency and awaken us from our spiritual stupor by confronting us with the uncomfortable and inescapable truth about God’s wrath.
• We all should be asking, “Paul, are you talking to me?”
• And Paul will respond, “Yes, I am talking to you! This is why I want to come to Rome and bring the gospel to you! Because in the gospel is a righteousness that resolves all of this and will make you safe from God’s wrath!”
• And the best part about that righteousness is that you don’t have to earn it – in fact, you can’t earn it! It is a gift of God’s gracious mercy and bountiful love toward you.
• And you don’t have to worry about keeping it – you can’t lose it! The God who earned it for you and gave it to you will preserve and grow it in you if you keep believing!

But there is a great danger to look out for, and that is the danger of letting unbelief grow deep roots in your life! So pray what Peter and the disciples prayed, “Lord, I believe! But help my unbelief!”