Romans 1:21 - Forerunner Commentary

Romans 1:21

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Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain Romans 1:21:

Romans 1:21-23
Excerpted from: Truth (Part 2)

Here we have the introductory statement. It is sort of like a cannon shot across the bow where Paul asserts that men "stuff the truth." Mankind does it. It is evident that God exists and that there is a Creator. And not only that there is a Creator, but this God also provides for His creation. He cares for it. He is concerned about it. He loves it. But men still stuff that and they suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

In this case the truth was the evidence manifested at creation that there is a Creator God. The lie, in this context, is the idol. They exchanged the fact of a Creator for something that they could see and say, "This is our god."

In Paul's explanation, truth comes very close to being personified, that is, given life. And it is almost as if truth, being a living thing, is held down, strangled, and throttled until its very life is almost gone. That is why he says here (I substituted the word "stuffed") the truth is "stuffed" and if stuffing of the truth is allowed to continue unchecked, then it is inevitably going to lead to idolatry.

Now catch that. That is very important to pick from what Paul is saying. The idolatry will be a direct consequence of ignoring the evidence of the truth of the existence of the Creator God, because if that is ignored or stuffed or suppressed, then what is the natural consequence? The natural consequence of that is man is left on his own to devise his own means of worshipping a god.

Is man going to come up with the truth about the Creator God on his own? It is impossible. Absolutely impossible. Because whatever representation he comes up with is going to automatically be a lie because he does not know what God looks like since he is stuffing the existence of a Creator God. He does not really know how that Creator God thinks. He does not know the Creator God's purpose. He does not know the whys, the wherefores, or the hows of that Creator. So whatever he comes up with is going to be idolatry.

Romans 1:21-23
Excerpted from: The Divine Warrior

What is he saying? He is saying people know. They know what is right. They know that there is a God. He has shown it to them. If they claim they do not know, they are lying; they are simply remaining willfully ignorant of that, and He says they have no excuse.

So they do not want to worship God because He places restrictions on them. He places responsibilities on them. They ignore His law. They ignore all the ways that He has shown that He is there and He is enforcing His way, and so God says they are without excuse. They have done it to themselves.

'Political' Science
The Sabbath Committed to the Hebrews

Articles
'Unless Those Days Were Shortened . . .'
A Subtle Yet Devastating Curse
Are These the Last Days? (Part 1)
Five Teachings of Grace
Is Alcoholics Anonymous Godly?
Prepare to Meet Your God! (Part Seven): The Prophesied Blow Falls
Spiritual Blindness (Part Three): Choosing a Curse
The First Commandment
The Names of God
The Sacredness of Marriage
The Second Commandment (1997)
What Evolution Really Means

Bible Studies
Pagan Holidays
Parable of the Faithful and Evil Servants
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing Malchus' Ear (Part One)
The Seven Churches (Part Five): Pergamos
The Ten Commandments

Booklets
Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part Two)

Essays
Beware of Unbelief
One Choice
Our True Identity
Pharaoh's Magicians Return
Time to Repent (Part One)
Traditions of Men (Part One)
Trust the Bible (Part One)
What Does It Say? (2003)
What's With Education Today?

Sermons
The Danger of Trusting in Oneself
In Search of a Clear World View (Part Seven)
What You Feel vs. What You Believe
The Book of Daniel (Part Four)
Jesus Christ's Trial (Part One)
Hosea's Prophecy (Part 2)
Hosea's Prophecy (Part 2)
Human Nature: Good or Evil?
Is America a Christian Nation? (Part Two)
What's Wrong With Christmas?
The March Toward Globalism (Part 3)
Humanism's Flooding Influence (Part Five)
Humanism's Flooding Influence (Part Four)
The Spirit of Gratitude
Anger (Part 1)
Loving God's Law: The Thread of Reality
Are You Sure You Believe in God? (Part 1)
Is America a Christian Nation? (Part Five)
The Sabbath: Creation
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part Two)
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part Two)
Are Humans Becoming More Intelligent? (Part Four)
You Are My Friends!
Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part Two)
Back to Life (Part Five)
God Is Not a Mystery Wrapped in an Enigma
Confidence in the Flesh Versus Faith
Confidence in the Flesh Versus Faith
The Wrath of God
The Doctrine of Israel (Part One): Origins
Truth-Based Worship Vs Spiritual Confusion
The Household of God and Truth
Seeing the Invisible
Strategies for Escaping Babylon (Part Two)
Flee From Idolatry (Part Two): Faithfulness
Our Creator and Savior
God Expects a Return on His Investment (Part Three)
Micah (Part Three): Who is a God Like You?
The Beauty of God's Law
Hollywood Propaganda: The Insidious LGBT Agenda (Part One)
Sin (Part 3)
Keeping God's Standards
The Fear of God (Part 1)
The Occult
Maintaining Good Health (Part 10)
Itching Ears
Sacredness Of Marriage
Christ Our Wisdom
How Did We Get This Way?
The Commandments (Part One)
The Commandments (Part Two)
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part 8)
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part 9)
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part 13)
Man's Greatest Challenge (Part 1)
Matthew (Part Twelve)
Many Excuses
Why Many Do Not Understand
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 3)
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 5)
Paul's Letter to Titus (Part 1)

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