We will through this message discuss two things:
1. The current state of an unrepented sinner
2. The judgement from God against an unrepented sinner
1. THE STATE OF AN UNREPENTED SINNER
Romans 1:18-22 (ESVST)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
The wrath of God is not an uncontrolled senseless rage but, rather a justified anger from God towards sinners who will not repent. God does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner so, clearly his anger is not an uncontrolled rage.
Ezekiel 18:32 (ESVST)
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
Although God does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner, God is also a just God and it’s only just that sinners are punished for disobedience.
The word “reveleaed” is from a Greek word “apokalypto” which means to uncover or to expose what was secret.
So the wrath of God has now being revealed or uncovered. The anger of God has now being seen. This anger that has now being revealed, has been revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness, suppress the truth. Men in this verse represents both male and female. Ungodliness means impiety or lack of respect to God and unrighteousness means immoral or unjust. So, against the immoral and those who disrespect God, has God’s anger been revealed because, they suppress the truth by their immoral and disrespectful nature. Another way of translating it is to say that these immoral and disrespectful men prevent the truth from being known and for this, God’s anger has been revealed against them.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Anything that can be known about God, God has made it plain. In other words, anything that can be known about God, God has made it available to all. Not only that but creation has also revealed God’s attributes which are his eternal power and divine nature. Just by looking at the creation, anyone can immediately tell how eternally powerful and divine God is. So, not only has God revealed himself to everyone but, creation has also shown and continues to show how eternally powerful and how divine God really is. So, there is epsolutely no excuse for men to be so immoral and disrespectful to God. They can never say that they did not know him or know about him. God not only revealed himself through the prophets and through Jesus but, God also reveals himself through his word which is the bible. So, no one has an excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Despite the fact that they knew God, despite the fact that God revealed himself to them, despite that even the creation testifies about God, despite the prophets, despite Jesus himself testifying about God and lately despite the bible, they did not honor God and did not give thanks to him. These people are no different to today’s sinners who will not repent. Despite all of the above, today unrepented sinners still reject God. The word honor means to glorify God. So, even when they knew God, they failed to give glory to him and to give him thanks. They instead became futile or worthless or useless in thier thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened or hardened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Instead of glorifying God and giving thanks to him, they instead glorified idols. This they did because they thought they were wise but actually, they moved from being wise to being fools. Instead of giving glory to God, they rejects he true living God and create for themselves gods. They reject the creator and worship the creation. How wise is that. That is complete and utter foolishness. The word translated “fool” in Greek is the word “moraino” form the word “Moros” which mean a moron. This is not just being a normal fool but, this is being a moron.
Unrepented sinners who will not repent even in today’s time are no different from these people. They have also rejected God despite having the knowledge of him. If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you are no different to these people. Failure to accept Jesus in your life, is failure to acknowledge and accept God. So, likewise, you are no different to these people for you also fail to glory God and give thanks to him. So, when God sends you to hell for eternity, you cannot say that God is unfair or unjust. You must simply accept the punishment.