“...we have already shown that all people, whether

Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.”

(Romans 3:9, NLT)

The Naked Truth

Romans 1:18-32

…about God’s anger

The Truth

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all

sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

(Romans 1:18, NLT)

“This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight…But God shows

his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people...” (Romans 1:17–

18, NLT)

reveal

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all

sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their

wickedness.” (Romans 1:18, NLT)

anger

gGod’s annihilating response to that which

destroys His creation and tramples on His

holy will.

Why?

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful,

wicked people who suppress the truth by

their wickedness.” (Romans 1:18, NLT)

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they

have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans

1:20, NLT)

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the

earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they

have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20, NLT)

x…they are without excuse.

“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming

to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” (Romans 1:21–22, NLT)

“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish

ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became

dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became

utter fools.” (Romans 1:21–22, NLT)

…about our condition

The Truth

Trade #1

“And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living

God, they worshiped idols....”

(Romans 1:23, NLT)

Living in the wonderment of our own creations

instead of the wonderment of the

eternal God.

idolatry

the idolatry of an affluent modern culture is found in

the ideologies of naturalism, materialism,

individualism, and hedonism. Our idols are not stone but digitized

images of our most corrupt imaginations.

Trade #1

“And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God,

they worshiped idols....” “So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things

their hearts desired.” (Romans 1:23-24, NLT)

The handing over of an individual to an enemy

who will presumably take undue advantage of the

victim.

abandon

People exchanged the truth of God for idols –

God hands them over to their desires

Trade #2

“They traded the truth about God for a lie.” (Romans 1:25, NLT)

The reality about as He has revealed Himself.

truth

The created is worthy of our wonderment and our

worship.

lie

Trade #2

“They traded the truth about God for a lie.”

“That is why God abandoned them to their

shameful desires.” (Romans 1:25-26a, NLT)

Distortion of God-given desires that arise when what is created is the object of our highest

wonder.

shameful

People exchanged the truth of God for a lie –

God hands them over to their appetite for evil

Trade #3

“Even the women turned against the natural way to

have sex and instead indulged in sex with each

other.” (Romans 1:26b NLT)

“And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful

things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.” (Romans 1:27,

NLT)

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God

made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities...”

(Romans 1:20, NLT)

the natural order reflecting God’s purposes.

REFLECT RULEREPRODUCE

against nature

“Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge

God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be

done.” (Romans 1:28, NLT)

People exchanged God’s “creation design” for sex for a distorted design –

God hands them over to their worthless thinking and immoral behavior

“…every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder,

quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, gossip…backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful.

They invent new ways of sinning, …disobey their

parents…refuse to understand, break their promises, are

heartless, and have no mercy.” (Romans 1:29–31, NLT)

…about our responsibiity

The Truth

“They know God’s justice requires that those who

do these things deserve to die, yet they do them

anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do

them, too.” (Romans 1:32, NLT)

“They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway.

Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”

(Romans 1:32, NLT)

“This Good News tells us how God makes us right in

his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the

Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a

righteous person has life.”” (Romans 1:17, NLT)