In Romans 1:16-17 Paul challenges us to be unashamed of the gospel which saves us and conforms us to God's righteousness.
Then Paul explains God’s wrath:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:16-21
People who reject God have no excuse. God's character is evident in creation and evident in our God-given conscience (see Romans 2:14-15).(1)
I love the "play on words" in verse 20. the "invisible" (God's divine nature) is clearly "seen." We may not see God face-to-face, but we see His "handprints" everywhere.
If we suppress these truths about God, Satan blinds us and we reject God as Creator. And we reject God's design in creation as well (2 Peter 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 4:4).
I'm so glad that God's "invisible qualities" led me to the Lord because I am not ashamed of the gospel!
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We'll study more about this passage in subsequent devotions…
Until then, I encourage you to read these 1-minute devotions:
Dealing with Existential Angst
(1) Even
Gentiles who weren’t raised with the laws of God “show that the
requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences
also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at
other times even defending them” (Romans 2:15).
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