Romans 1:18-25 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Scripture teaches it is the purpose and work of evil and wickedness to smother the Truth about God. God created humanity in his image and within every human being is the seed of Truth about God that wickedness tries to smother. According to our Scripture today, no human being has an excuse for why he or she does not know the Truth about God, because from the beginning of creation God embedded this understanding in the human heart. So the real issue is not ignorance of God; rather, the problem is the power of wickedness that positions itself to manipulate and dominate human flesh with lies. Seek the Truth from the Word of God, pray to walk with the Spirit into all Truth, and speak the Truth to others.
Romans 1:18-25 God Reveals His Wrath
18 For God in heaven unveils his holy anger breaking forth against every form of sin, both toward ungodliness that lives in hearts and evil actions. For the wickedness of humanity deliberately smothers the truth and keeps people from acknowledging the truth about God. 19 In reality, the truth of God is known instinctively, for God has embedded this knowledge inside every human heart.
20 Opposition to truth cannot be excused on the basis of ignorance, because from the creation of the world, the invisible qualities of God’s nature have been made visible, such as his eternal power and transcendence. He has made his wonderful attributes easily perceived, for seeing the visible makes us understand the invisible. So then, this leaves everyone without excuse.
21 Throughout human history the fingerprints of God were upon them, yet they refused to honor him as God or even be thankful for his kindness. Instead, they entertained corrupt and foolish thoughts about what God was like. This left them with nothing but misguided hearts, steeped in moral darkness. 22 Although claiming to be super-intelligent, they were in fact shallow fools. 23 For only a fool would trade the unfading splendor of the immortal God to worship the fading image of other humans, idols made to look like people, animals, birds, and even creeping reptiles!
24 This is why God lifted off his restraining hand and let them have full expression of their sinful and shameful desires. They were given over to moral depravity, dishonoring their bodies by sexual perversion among themselves— 25 all because they traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served the things God made rather than the God who made all things—glory and praises to him for eternity of eternities! Amen!
Prayer: Father, thank you for embedding in my heart the knowledge and glory of you. Thank you for Jesus—my Redeemer—who rolled back the stone covering my heart in order to liberate me and thank you for the Spirit who now helps me live in the Truth of who I was created to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.