The Gospel for the Gentiles (1)
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. Romans 1:21 ESV
Knew – Paul is acknowledged as the missionary to the Gentiles. He was commissioned to take the good news to those outside Israel. We might find it odd that everywhere he goes he always ends up preaching in synagogues, but nevertheless, his message is not exclusively for Jews. It is for those whom God has called regardless of their ethnic background. This verse in Paul’s letter to the Romans is crucial for our understanding of his message because this verse describes the spiritual condition of those whose hearts are not open to the good news, in particular the Gentiles. What Paul says about the population of the first century is just as true today. But what Paul doesn’t say is even more important, as we shall see.
First, we need to notice how these people knew God. Paul uses the verb ginosko, a Greek verb that describes knowledge as a result of factual investigation. Kittel uses the expression “intelligent comprehension,” including understanding, recognition, perception and informed opinion. In other words, knowing God in this manner means knowing that there is a God, that I am not God and that He is responsible in some manner for what is. This is the same idea we find in Psalm 19. God is revealed as the Designer and Creator. The mere fact that I did not bring about the world of my experience was enough in the first century to convince me that there must be a god or gods. That I have some obligation to the divine is taken for granted. In fact, in the Roman Empire it was a capital offense to be an atheist. Paul’s use of ginosko does not imply any sort of personal relationship with this God. It merely implies that I am aware of my own finitude and the power of the divine. Today this is the equivalent of what most people mean when they say, “I believe in God.” They believe that there is a god but his or her involvement in the daily affairs of life is for all intents and purposes non-existent. These people are the exact opposite of Abraham Heschel’s insight that unless God is of supreme importance He is of no importance. What we must notice is that Paul does not suggest, in fact he denies, that these people have any real concern for God. They merely conclude that there is a god from the evidence of their lives.
Secondly, we should notice that for Paul, this is enough to bring condemnation. There is no mention whatsoever about the failure to keep Torah, about the lack of devotion, about the absence of a personal relationship. Simply acknowledging the facts of a finite, temporal existence is enough for men to conclude that God exists. This is about as close as the Bible ever gets to a “proof for the existence of God,” and even here is it a far cry from the usual philosophical and theological arguments. In Paul’s world, the denial of divinity is simply unimaginable. Anyone with even a glimmer of intelligence can come to the conclusion that there is a god; anyone, that is, who has not already presupposed that the existence of a god impinges on personal freedom. Atheists were considered utter fools in the first century. Today they are no less fools, just pathetic ones.
So we note that Paul’s insight into God’s reality is fundamental to what it means to be human. We exist in a divine cosmos. It exudes divinity. At every turn it points toward divinity. And not just any divinity. According to Paul, everything that exists points us toward a god who is sovereign and good. But that is the next essential conclusion and it will have to wait until tomorrow. Today we are confronted with this: Paul sees that everything points toward God, that God is the rational conclusion of all the evidence. He claims that anyone should be able to see this. So what about us? Do we see God in all of it? Do we see God in the serpent in the Garden, in the tsunami, in the Holocaust, in the “killing fields”? Do we see God in those personal tragedies that haunt our lives? If even the ones whose minds are darkened were able to know God in all this, are we not that much more accountable?
Topical Index: Romans 1:21, know, ginosko, Gentiles, evil
Love and liberty go hand in hand. They require one another. God does not prove himself on demand because he does not want to compel a relationship. He leaves room for us to choose against. All of creation testifies that God is. “I AM THAT I AM”. Yet he puts the decision to us; ” Am I your God? Are you My people?” Neither did Jesus produce signs on demand, yet all the books in the world could not contain the things which he did. And yet he ASKS; “Who do you say I Am?” Relationships are not proven up front. They are organic. They grow as you learn faithful response to faith expressed. That facts are true will be self evident; What God wants is people to prove true. This is not something that can be created in us to start with but is produced within the relationship itself. The character of the people who populate the promised land is produced by the journey to the promised land. The promised land is LOVE and you only reach it by LOVING. These things go together; Love, liberty, faith, hope, and life. The opposing counterparts are; Sin, law, proof, despair, and death. One group looks up and forward, the other back and down.
God makes Himself evident to every man.
His creation boldly shows forth His might and power,
and majestically reveals His exquisite beauty and
precise order.
Yet, each man can freely choose to dwell on it . . .
or look right past it.
Jesus tells us we have to look deeper than just the surface.
“The kingdom of God does not come with careful observation,
nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the
kingdom of God is within you.” Lk 17:20-21
God does His best work on the inside. In man’s heart.
The power is that of His Holy Spirit.
Paul reveals this inner process in Rm 8: 9-11.
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit,
if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit
of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body
is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you,
He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through His Spirit who lives in you.”
Yes, the outer created world shows forth His existence.
Yet, His Spirit opens forth the inner way to His kingdom.
By faith and His grace we joyfully follow in loving obedience
to His revealed Heart within us.
Abraham was the first to get this heartfelt inner confidence.
“Abraham believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” Gen 15:6
Rich,
“Abraham was the first to get this heartfelt inner confidence.
Abraham believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” Gen 15:6”
So, are you saying no one experienced God’s salvation prior to Abraham?
The reality of salvation began with Abraham?
No one could know heart felt confidence prior to Abraham?
Tickets of righteousness weren’t credited and passed out before Abraham?
Just questions for clarification.
Simplicity isn’t always simple to understand, unfortunately.
Hi Michael C,
Only God can answer your questions definitively!
My only reference is His Word.
It’s been my understanding that God has been in the
salvation business since the time He made coverings
for Adam and Eve.
So, yes, my hope is many were saved before Abraham,
Abel and Noah most notably among them.
I beg to differ,Paul was sent to the lost sheep of Isreal.To the 10 lost tribes of Isreal,who were so steeped in hellanisim that they appeared like gentiles.For all intense purposes they were considered to be gentiles by the 2 tribes of Judah.I understand that all can be grafted into Isreal.But Paul was simply continueing Yashuahs work of bringing back the 10 tribes into covenant with Hashem.This is why he went from synagog to synagog.
“unless God is of supreme importance He is of no importance”
This, of course, is fantasy. The rebellious, arrogant person might THINK YHVH either doesn’t exist or His existence has no bearing on that person’s life and that he is a “self-made man,” but, as we discussed yesterday, we are mere CLAY and He is the Potter!
“everything points toward God … God is the rational conclusion of all the evidence.”
Absolutely!!!
Armed and Dangerous!!
“In the beginning God..” is not a defensive, but a declarative statement. It does not “defend” God (prove to me there is a God) but instead presents or reveals Him. Who “made it all?” Friend, God did. Little daughter, – God did. My son, God did. Good neighbor, God did. Yes, ~ the Heavens (do) declare the glory of God and the firmament “shows off” His handiwork. ~ God is quite the original Artist and Architect. Yes, “Intelligent Design,”- far beyond my “paygrade.”
Forget trying to explain as mank ind has done for eons, the origin (or beginning) of the species or the stars, but think instead of the complexity of one square inch of soil. Mank ind is so smart, so “advanced,” – or are we?
Infinite variety, infinite detail, just how “big” is our God? I have an answer- I’m armed with information!
(Armed and dangerous!). Friend, God is “bigger!” Bigger than all our combined wildest imaginings.. (His ways are NOT our ways and His thoughts NOT our thoughts!)
Now please, tell me, show me, give me some “helpful household hint,” some “gospel” good news, how may I or any other man- know God?
By His creation? Yes. What we have seen with our own eyes amazes us. Do you believe in the “existence” of God? (A simple yes or no will suffice here..) Yea or nay? If yes, – I wouldn’t be so quick as to reach around and pat yourself on the back just yet.. Congratulations!- You have faith!- But less faith than that of a demon! (slap-slap).
~You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, – and they tremble in terror. ~ (James 2.19) Do you believe in (the one) God? Yes? No?
Do you (also) tremble? Yes? No? If not, -you (or I) have less faith than that of a demon!
~ the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.. ~ Do we (educated, cultured, refined and civilized citizens of the world) believe in God? (Check yes or no.) Go ahead, – write that down. “I believe in God.”
One small step for man. One step does not a journey or pilgrimage make! And… do you (or I) believe in “a” god? or do we believe in “the” God, – “the” God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
Say, who are these guys- or do you even know about them? How many ignorant sheeple among us have never even heard of “Abraham, Isaac or Jacob?”- much less the God they knew.. It is a heartbreaking thought.. Ignorance, (contrary to popular thought) is NOT bliss! Ignorance is costly in many ways! (We all) ~ do “err,” not knowing the scriptures, -nor the power of God!! ~ (Matthew 22.29)
~ That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.. ~ (Philippians 3.10) and then ~ raised to walk in newness of life ~ (Romans 6.4)
Blessing and honor and glory and power,
Wisdom and riches and strength evermore
Give to Him Who our battle has won
Whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne?
Into the Heaven of the heavens has He gone,
Seated He now us the joy of the throne,
Sovereign, His now, the kingdom, the crown,
Sings He now the new song with His own.
Sounding the Heaven of the heavens with His Name;
Ringing the earth with His glory and fame;
Ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flower
Echo His praises and tell of His power.
Past are the darkness, the storm, and the war,
Come is the radiance, that sparkles afar,
Breaking the gleam of the day without end,
Rises the Sun that shall never descend.
Ever ascending,- the song and the joy;
Ever descending, – the Love from on high;
Blessing and honor and glory and praise,
This is the theme of the hymns that we raise.
Life of all life, and true Light of all light,
Star of the dawning -unchangingly bright,
Sun of the Salem whose light is the Lamb,
Theme of the ever new, ever glad psalm!
Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb;
Take we the robe and the harp and the palm;
Sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain,
Dying in weakness, but rising to reign!
~ O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? ~
“Secondly, we should notice that for Paul, this is enough to bring condemnation.”
Hmmm
IMO Paul, given his own behavior of having killed innocent people who were followers of Jesus
Never earned the right to condemn anybody for anything
Reason tells me that whether or not God exists, Jesus is a model for mankind
So if Jesus serves God, then it is rational for us to try to follow his lead and trust God
But this path leads Jesus to crucifixion
So reason alone does not support this path or a belief in God who is all good IMO
Reason does support sacred texts that connect us to a higher power
What is IMO? It’s interesting that Paul is stating a fact. How can we apply this to push ourselves forward in a relationship that acknowledges our Father? What I worship, my own ideas, my own desires, what am I pursuing? What are we all pursuing, our comfort and lack of stress? This life isn’t about us and it seems to be all about us. I think we are all caught up in some sort of futility of our thoughts. Darkened in our hearts that play little mind games with our thoughts. When true pressure comes what we turn to for comfort and strength that shows where and who is our God.
What is IMO? It’s interesting that Paul is stating a fact.
Hi Babs,
In my opinion/view (IMO) Paul is making a diatribe against others who behave badly
My point was that Paul behaved badly himself in killing the followers of Jesus
Jesus teaches us a higher law, to love others and forgive sinners
I can see more of myself in Paul than in Jesus
And I don’t particularly like what I see
di·a·tribe
noun
1.
a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.