The Revealed God Romans 1:18-20
The objection Paul is address is this: "You say, Paul, that the wrath of God is being revealed in history against humankind because the truth of God is suppressed by the human heart. Well, what about those who don't have the truth of God? Don't they have a legitimate excuse to protest God's anger? How can it be right for God to be angry at people, and punish people for suppressing a truth that they never had? What about people who have not yet been reached by the gospel of Christ? How are they held accountable before God? (Piper)
Revelation to Men
The word revelations means: “ the unveiling of something hidden, so that it may be seen and known for what it is” (Bruce Milne) There are two types of revelation, general or natural revelation and specific or special revelation. God’s revelation of himself through creation, within our conscience, through his common grace and by circumstantial historical events are his general revelation. God’s revelation of the Savior and the scripture is his special revelation. General revelation can be defined as: the personal act of God by which he makes himself known to humanity in general through his creation, providence, and conscience so that they might come into relationship with him. It is general because it is reveled to everyone and it is general in the scope of the revelation. (Sproul). Romans 1 unveils God’s natural revelation unto everyone everywhere.
"God not only has sowed in our minds that seed of religion but revealed himself and daily discloses himself in the whole creation and preservation of the universe. As a result, humans can not open their eyes without being compelled to see God." (John Calvin) God did something to make himself known. Knowledge of God did not just happen coincidentally. God makes provision for it. (Piper)
Three lessons to learn from General Revelation
God is Justice in punishing disobedience cause he has revealed himself
It puts all under judgment for a response to the revelation that they have received. Rom 1:18-32, 2:5-6, 8-9, John 3:18-19
Gives opportunity for those who follow the revelations received Acts 10:1-7, Rom 2:7, 10; 10:15-18
It is not sufficient for saving knowledge of God they must receive and believe God’s special revelation in Christ (Acts 4:12, Heb 1:1-2)
Manner of Revelation
20 ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. Creation Rom 1:18-20, Ps 19:1-3, 8:3-4, Ps 139 God’s Creation is mediate general or natural revelation. The heavens reveal God and they become the medium or means through which God displays His glory. The whole world is the medium of divine revelation. (Sproul) The daily declaration of the existence of God through what God has made cannot be silenced. All persons have a deep, inner sense that God exists, they are his creatures, and he is their creator (Rom 1:21) Every created thing gives evidence of God’s existence. (Rom 1:20, Act 14:17, Ps.19:1-2) Man, in the image of God, most abundantly shows the existence of God. (Gen 1:27) The beauty of a snowflake, the majestic power of a thunderstorm, the skill of a honey bee, the refreshing taste of cold water, the incredible abilities of the human hand—all these and thousands of other aspects of creation simply could not have come into existence apart from an all -powerful and all-wise creator. Everything in Scripture and everything in nature proves clearly that God exists (Grudem) God is in himself invisible; but as his majesty shines forth (becomes visible) in his works and in his creatures everywhere, men ought in these to acknowledge him, for they clearly set forth their Maker (Calvin).
Conscience within them Rom 2:14-15, John 16:8-11 God also reveals himself directly to the human mind. This is immediate general revelation. It is a sense of the divine that is found in every human being. It is implanted in the mind of all men. No matter how we try, we cannot silence this inner voice. It can be muffled but not destroyed. (Sproul) They have the voice of conscience within, the law written in the heart (Rom 2:15). That makes clear the difference between moral good and bad. They have the testimony of creation around them which God makes clear in their hearts, testifying to His eternal power and Godhead.(Pett).
Circumstantial events Gen 50; Acts 4
Common Grace (Augustine) Providence – God’s care for his creation Ps 65:9, 104:14, Matt 5:45, Acts 14:15-17 Common Grace is God’s providential provisions for and protection of his creation. He makes himself know to all people through his care for them. God’s goodness and kindness is benevolently bestowed on all his creation. This alone increases the guilt on those who refuse to worship God out of undying gratitude for his unseen care over them.
Traditional “Proofs” for the Existence of God
1) The cosmological argument: every known thing in the universe has a cause. Therefore, the universe itself must have a cause, and the cause of such a gr eat universe can only be God.
2) The teleological argument: (Grk. telos: end or goal) since the universe appears to be designed with a purpose, there must be an intelligent or purposeful God who created it to function this way.
3) The ontological argument: assumes the idea of God, defined as a being “greater than which nothing can be imagined,” arguing that the characteristics of existence must belong to such a being, since it is greater to exist than not to exist.
4) The moral argument: man has a sense of right and wrong and of the need for justice to be done. Argues that there must be a God who is the source of right and wrong and who will someday mete out justice to all people.
All of these proofs are “valid”: the correctly evaluate the evidence and they reason to a correct conclusion. However, they cannot compel belief or agreement from people who begin with false assumptions, or who reason incorrectly. The value of these proofs lies chiefly in overcoming some of the intellectual objections of unbelievers. Only God can overcome our sin and enable us to be persuaded of his existence (2Cor 4:4, 1Cor 1:21, 1Cor 2:5) (Grudem)
Magnitude of Revelation
Entire in its reach plain to them . . . so they are God speaks to all people all places, and all the time. Ps 19 says this proclamation of God’s existence and power through creation goes out throughout all the earth and to the end of the world. General revelation is so called because everyone receives it, just by virtue of being alive in God’s world. This has been so from the start of human history. God actively discloses these aspects of himself to all human beings, so that in every case failure to thank and serve the Creator in righteousness is sin against knowledge, and denials of having received this knowledge should not be taken seriously (JI Packer)
Enough in its revelation. God has given a revelation of himself in nature sufficient to lead any right-thinking man or woman to seek him out and worship him. (Boice). God’s revelation of himself through nature is enough to make man aware of his power and presence and that they should worship him. The awareness of God’s presence will not save them (James 2:19, Luke 18:18-24). It is sufficient to condemn them if they fail to follow nature’s leading, as they could and should do and seek out the true God so reveled (Acts 17:27) (Boice). God’s revelation in creation is enough to communicate the truth of His existence and condemn those who suppress this marvelous truth.
Extensive in its Revelation God’s invisible attributes are manifest through his self-disclosure through what has been made. First his eternal power and second his divine nature. Obviously, there are many attributes that are not revealed through nature; his love, mercy, grace, etc, but the revelation of his power and presence are extensive and overwhelming in their force (Boice). You say, “What do those mean?” Well, eternal power simply means never failing omnipotence. His omnipotence, His tremendous power is available to men. And His divine nature, that is that He is wise, that He is good, that He is loving, all of the elements of God’s nature are visible. (Mac Arthur) This means, not by the original “act” of creation, but by the continual operations of God in his Providence, by his doings, Gk poiēmasin by what he is continually producing and accomplishing in the displays of his power and goodness in the heavens and the earth. In Ancient days the majesty and grandeur of the heavens would strike their eye, and be full demonstration that they were the work of an infinitely great and glorious God. But to us, under the full blaze of modern science, with our knowledge of the magnitude, and distances, and revolutions of the heavenly bodies, the proof of this power is much more grand and impressive (Albert Barnes). His deity; divinity; divine nature, or essence. The word is not used elsewhere in the New Testament. Its meaning cannot therefore be fixed by any parallel passages. It proves the truth that the supremacy, or supreme divinity of God, was exhibited in the works of creation, or that he was exalted above all creatures and things. The Knowledge of God that is manifest by creation makes all people aware of God’s power and existence. The knowledge of his power and his presence is so conclusive that it is plain to them, it is clearly perceived by them and it leaves them without excuse,
Motive of revelation
"For . . . they did not honor Him as God or give thanks." v. 21. They are without excuse and do, in fact, deserve the wrath of God, because they do not glorify God or give him thanks. Nowhere in the world does God receive the glory or the gratitude that truly righteous hearts would render to him. The fullness of his divine glory and the extent of our dependence on his power are suppressed everywhere. So all men everywhere are guilty and without excuse. (Piper)
Responsibility of men When the heathens had nothing else than the manifestation of the Divine perfections in the works of creation and providence, there was enough to render them inexcusable, since it was their duty to make a good use of them, and the only cause of their not doing so was their perversity.(Haldane) God revealed himself to all men that they might acknowledge him and adore Him (Rom 1:21, Acts 17:22-31, Acts 14:16) Man is responsible for the revelation that he is given. He can seek for more truth or he can suppress the truth that he has (1:18) He can embrace the truth or exchange the truth for a lie ((1: 25) He can exalt the creature or worship and serve the creator (1:25). Man is judged based on the revelation that he is given (2:6-16)
Piper suggests two great truths from General revelation
1. The Creator's power and deity are evident. God is the Creator and has acted to make the truth of his eternal power and deity evident to all (19b,20, poiema). This means . . . that you and every person you will meet in this city are the creation of God and designed by God for a purpose, namely, to communicate God. You are God's poem and so are they. God has gone before you. You will reap where others have sown -especially God, the Creator.
2. All people know God. All the men and women . . . know God. There is a profound common ground between you and everyone you will ever meet. Yes, the truth is suppressed, but it is there, buried and distorted. God has not left himself without a witness - to every mind and heart.