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Well, you can turn with me in 
your Bibles to Romans chapter 1. Romans chapter 1, we consider 
the doctrine or the teaching of idolatry this morning. in 
our section in the Book of Acts, when Stephen is referring to 
the incident with reference to Moses, where the people abandoned 
Moses, they asked Aaron to make a calf, and they worshiped the 
idol, they sacrificed to the idol, they danced before the 
idol. So I thought, while idolatry 
was still in our minds, we'd look at a passage that highlights 
idolatry with reference to the Gentiles specifically. As we 
move through this passage, you'll notice that Paul takes from Psalm 
106, for instance, and other places in the Old Testament. 
And I think, in essence, shows that idolatry is the same, whether 
you're a Jew or a Gentile. And the gospel is the same. Whether 
you are a Jew or a Gentile, the Lord God Most High in that gospel 
receives sinners, forgives them, and gives them a righteousness. 
Well, I want to begin reading in Romans chapter 1 at verse 
16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel 
of Christ, For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone 
who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in 
it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, 
as it is written, the just shall live by faith. For the wrath 
of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness 
of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Because what 
may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it 
to them. For since the creation of the 
world, his invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood 
by the things that are made, even as eternal power and Godhead, 
so that they are without excuse. Because although they knew God, 
they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became 
futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 
Professing to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of 
the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, 
and birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. Therefore, 
God also gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts 
to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the 
truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature 
rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For 
this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For even their 
women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, 
also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their 
lust for one another. Men with men committing what 
is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their 
error, which was due. And even as they did not like 
to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased 
mind to do those things which are not fitting. being filled 
with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, 
maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness. They are whisperers, backbiters, 
haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, 
disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, 
unmerciful. who, knowing the righteous judgment 
of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of 
death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who 
practice them. Amen. Well, let us pray. Excuse 
me. Father in heaven, thank you for 
the written word. Thank you for this wonderful book of Romans. And God, thank you for the reality 
that it sets forth, that in Christ there is forgiveness of sin, 
that in Christ there is salvation, that in Christ there is most 
blessing from a great and glorious God. Before he begins with that 
good news, the apostle starts with the bad news. So by your 
spirit now, Lord God, help us to receive these things, help 
us to understand the flow of the argument, and help us to 
see the great abomination that idolatry is to the living God. And we pray this in the name 
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Well, this is probably 
one of the most famous books in all of the Bible. Obviously, 
the gospel narratives, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But Romans 
is right up there. Everybody has hopefully heard 
or read the book of Romans. It is a clear exposition of the 
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it's very intriguing that 
the apostle, after setting forth his thesis statement in verses 
16 and 17, starts with the wrath of God. He starts with the bad 
news. There was a common approach to 
evangelism many years ago. I would imagine it's probably 
still like this, where you tell sinners God loves you and has 
a wonderful plan for your life. That's not what Paul does. Paul 
does not tell sinners, God loves you and has a wonderful plan 
for your life. Rather, Paul starts with the 
wrath of God. Paul starts with the plight of 
man. Paul starts with the problem of sin, because in order to appreciate 
and understand the solution or remedy provided by God, we have 
to know how bad the problem is. And so that is precisely what 
Paul does in chapter 1 at verse 18, all the way to chapter 3 
verse 20. The primary emphasis of the Apostle 
is that all men everywhere, whether Jew or Gentile, are guilty before 
a holy God. If you notice first, just by 
way of introduction, the thesis is found in verses 16 and 17. 
You see Paul's conviction. He says, I'm not ashamed of the 
gospel of Christ. This is what animated the apostle. 
This is what drove the apostle. This is what was the impetus 
in his life. When you read, for instance, 2 Corinthians chapter 
11, and the sorts of things that he suffered, and the sorts of 
turmoil that he faced, it was all as a result of this. He wasn't 
ashamed of the gospel. He highlights the power of God 
demonstrated in that gospel. He says, I'm not ashamed of it, 
for it, the gospel, is the power of God to salvation for everyone 
who believes. Paul loved his fellow man so 
much that he would go into hostile territory. He would go into difficult 
situations so that he could preach this gospel in order to demonstrate 
the very power of God Most High. And then he highlights that it's 
in the gospel that the righteousness of God is revealed. Notice, for 
it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for 
the Jew first. and also for the Greek, for in it, for in the 
gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to 
faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith. Now, 
it's a revelation of the righteousness of God, not the rightness of 
God, the justice of God. The rest of the Bible everywhere 
does highlight that. But in this context, the righteousness 
that Paul has in view is the righteousness that God demands 
and the righteousness that God supplies. When Martin Luther 
figured that out by the power of the Holy Spirit, he says, 
as it were, heaven opened up. Paradise opened up before him 
when he understood that the gospel was the revelation of the righteousness 
that God demands and the righteousness that God supplies. It is in and 
through the person in the work. of the Lord Jesus Christ. So 
Paul begins, as I said, his presentation with the bad news. So in chapter 
one, verses 18 or verse 18 to chapter three, verse 20, the 
overarching concern is to demonstrate the universal condemnation of 
all mankind. Now, I want to look at five things 
in this brief sermon. I said five in brief so you don't 
think five is going to take us into nine o'clock. First of all, 
I want to look at the revelation of God's wrath. Secondly, the 
reason for its manifestation. Thirdly, the descent into idolatry. Fourthly, the consequent practice 
of idolaters. And then finally, the judgment 
of God upon idolaters. Now there's a whole lot of sin 
mentioned by Paul in this particular chapter, particular section. 
There's a whole lot of sin when we look from, say, verses 29 
to 32. He mentions specific vices. But I'll argue that those things 
flow out of, first, a rejection of the living and true God. In 
other words, I think what Paul is showing here is something 
that you see demonstrated or displayed in the prophets. When 
men reject the first table, they will inevitably reject the second 
table. In other words, if we reject 
the living and true God, we're not going to conduct ourselves 
in a proper manner toward our fellows. The problem with society 
today is a God problem. The problem with society today 
is an idolatry problem. The problem with society today 
is a rejection of the first table, and we see it flashed out vividly 
in a rejection of the second table of the law. But notice 
first the revelation of God's wrath. In verse 18, for the wrath 
of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness 
of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. The wrath 
of God is revealed. John Murray, I think, defines 
this wrath well. He says, wrath is the holy revulsion 
of God's being against that which is the contradiction of His holiness. 
It's the opposite of His love. It's the opposite of His blessing. 
It's the opposite of His approval. Rather, it is His judgment. It's 
the wrath of God that is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness 
of man. Now, I say, or I would argue, 
that this is conspicuous and specific. Ungodliness here precedes 
unrighteousness. I don't think it's accidental. 
As I mentioned, ungodliness, a rejection of the first table, 
leads to unrighteousness, a rejection of the second table. When you 
see people killing each other on the streets, when you see 
the sorts of sexual perversion going on in our streets, When 
you see the vileness and the wickedness and the lawlessness 
perpetrated all around us, you have to conclude that man has 
a problem with God. It's manifested in the way that 
they treat one another, but in terms of God, that rejection 
of him leads to a rejection of all the other commands. And Paul 
highlights that. This wrath is against all ungodliness. and unrighteousness of men. I'll 
argue further that in the chapter, Paul's exposition or amplification 
of sin follows this order. He deals first with ungodliness 
and then he deals with unrighteousness. Now, ungodliness is unrighteous 
and unrighteous is ungodly. But the point is, with reference 
to God, with reference to men, he deals with the ungodliness 
in terms of idolatry, and then the unrighteousness that flows 
from that with reference to our conduct toward one another. Now, 
God is, the specifics in the end of the verse. Notice, he 
has done this because man suppresses the truth in unrighteousness. 
Man suppresses the truth in unrighteousness. God has made himself known, but 
sinners do all they can to rid themselves of the thought of 
God. The psalmist speaks of this. Psalm 10.4, the wicked in his 
proud countenance does not seek God. God is in none of his thoughts. Psalm 14.1, the fool has said 
in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt. They have done 
abominable works. There is none who does good. 
The rest of the Bible tells us that very thing. Man in nature, 
man by nature, man in Adam, man apart from the grace of God, 
will take the knowledge of God that he possesses, and he will 
suppress it in unrighteousness. He doesn't want God, he rejects 
God, and as a result, he tries to rid himself of the thought 
of God, and that is what the Apostle highlights. Now notice, 
secondly, the reason for the manifestation of God's wrath. God has revealed himself. Notice 
in verse 19. Because what may be known of 
God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them." Now, 
I think this is done in two ways. In the first way, we are created 
in the image of God. We are created in the image of 
God. And as a result, there are certain 
things hardwired into us. Calvin refers to it as a sense 
of deity. Certainly, we have that. Certainly, 
that's the explanation behind the religiosity of man wherever 
he finds himself. He has this sense of deity. He 
suppresses truth with reference to the true and living God. But 
in terms of this religiosity, he expresses it with reference 
to calves. He expresses it with reference 
to poles or to sticks or whatever it may be. But man has this sense 
of deity because he's created in the image of God. But Paul 
as well is referring to what we call general revelation. You 
can turn to Psalm 19 for just a moment. Psalm 19, where you 
see this doctrine of general revelation in the Old Testament, 
and this is what Paul is dealing with in the New Testament. or 
in this section in Romans. Notice in Psalm 19 verse one, 
to the chief musician, a Psalm of David, the heavens declare 
the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork. C.H. Spurgeon's comment here is great. 
He who looks upon the firmament and then writes himself down 
an atheist, brands himself at the same moment as an idiot or 
a liar. As an idiot or a liar, that is 
what Spurgeon says, because God has manifested himself in the 
creation. Verse two, day unto day utter 
speech and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech 
nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has 
gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of 
the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun. which 
is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices 
like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one 
end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end, and there is 
nothing hidden from its heat." See, the psalmist is rehearsing 
the general revelation of God, where he reveals himself, through 
the created order, to image bearers. We understand that, but we suppress 
that truth in unrighteousness. The psalmist here, then turns 
his attention to the special revelation of God, the law of 
the Lord, and that occupies his time to the remainder of the 
psalm. But that's what Paul is highlighting in Romans chapter 
1. Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for 
God has shown it to them. And then he highlights specific 
things that man, apart from God's grace, knows about God. This 
is why I will always encourage the Christian. You do not have 
to try to prove the existence of God. The sinner to whom you 
speak already knows that God is. The sinner to whom you speak 
already knows that God is, but he says in his heart as the fool 
of Psalm 14, 1, there is no God. That's the reality. We can spend, 
you know, hour upon hour upon hour trying to prove the existence 
of God, or we can understand that Paul is telling us that 
everybody already knows that God exists and that the problem 
is they're suppressing that truth and unrighteousness. So I think 
the better use of our time is to try to show them how they 
are suppressing that truth in unrighteousness. Why it is they 
do what they do, it's because they love sin, they don't love 
God, they don't want His holiness, they don't want His righteousness, 
they want to do whatever it is that pleases them. And so in 
that, they are suppressing truth and unrighteousness. But notice 
what Paul says that we learn as image bearers of God with 
reference to general revelation. He says, we know God's eternal 
power. Verse 20, for since the creation 
of the world, his invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood 
by the things that are made. Again, the general revelation, 
the stuff that God has made, tells us or teaches us something 
about God the maker. And then he speaks specifically 
concerning this. Even his eternal power and Godhead. We know something of God's power. 
We know something of God's deity. And that information renders 
us without excuse on the day of judgment. This is Paul's point 
in Romans 1.20. Now, this is offensive to some 
people. If it's going to offend you, I want to give you a little 
trigger warning here. But general revelation is enough 
to make a man damnable, but it is not enough to make him savable. 
In other words, through the general revelation of God, that renders 
us without a defense, without an apologetic. It renders us 
in a position of culpability, liability to the just judgment 
of God. We need special revelation. And 
that's Paul's point from 321 and following the revelation 
of Jesus Christ, the revelation of blood atonement, the revelation 
of justification by faith, the revelation of covenant theology, 
the revelation of the fact that God deals with men on the basis 
of Adam the first and Adam the last. And so, with reference 
to general revelation, we see from this passage that what man 
knows as an image bearer of God, based on the general revelation 
of God, it renders him inexcusable before God. So, I would hope, 
on a practical note, That would cause us to have an impetus to 
evangelize, to tell sinners the truth about Jesus. They can't 
look at this beautiful day and learn of blood atonement. They 
can learn of the glory of God. They can learn of His handiwork. 
They can learn of His power. They can learn certain truths 
that are real and legit and glorious, but they're not salvific. You 
need to hear about the cross. You need to hear about the life 
and the death and the resurrection of Jesus. You need to look to 
Him in faith in order to be saved. So when we understand that man 
apart from the grace of God is in a damnable condition, hopefully 
it will motivate the church to do something more than squabble 
amongst ourselves and actually go out and tell sinners, Jesus 
saves. The apostle goes on. He tells 
us that man, the image bearer, with general revelation, knows 
something as well about God's righteousness. Notice in verse 
32, he says, who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that 
those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only 
do the same, but also approve those who practice that. Again, 
he's telling us that within man, He's hard-wired. The fact that 
he's image-bearer. The fact that he has general 
revelation. He knows that it's right with God to judge. He knows 
that it's right with God to punish. He knows that it's right with 
God to even administrate the death penalty with reference 
to those who practice such things. So man in this particular condition 
knows a lot about God. He knows God exists. He knows 
certain truths about God. Man is without excuse for his 
rebellion against God. And then notice what Paul goes 
on to say in verse 21. He says, because although they 
knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, 
but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were 
darkened. See, that's where this suppression of truth ends. This 
is where that suppression of the truth that we have of God 
ends. It ends with verse 21. On the 
one hand, we know God, but on the other hand, we don't acknowledge 
Him. We don't glorify Him, nor are we thankful to Him. This 
is active suppression of the truth possessed by sinners apart 
from the Lord Jesus Christ. This is Paul's point. This is 
why the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness 
and unrighteousness of man. And then man becomes futile in 
his thoughts and his wicked heart is darkened, according to Paul 
in verse 21. Now, let's move thirdly into 
this descent into idolatry in verses 22 to 23. It says, professing 
to be wise, they became fools. I mean, talk about atheism right 
here. You know, atheists, they like 
to write big, thick books on why there's no God or how there's 
no God. They profess to be wise, don't 
they? Isn't that what they're doing in a big book? I'm thinking 
of Michael Martin going way back, you know, many years ago, I remember 
attending a seminar that Greg Bonson did, actually in his living 
room, sitting in his chair. It was really a great experience. 
But Bonson was taking apart this book by Michael Martin, The Philosophical 
Case for Atheism. I mean, this was a thick book. 
And I'm sure that if you ask Michael Martin, are you smart? 
Are you intelligent? He'd probably say, well, yeah, 
I wrote that thick of a book. He professed himself to be wise, 
but in reality, he's a fool. He was really a sophomore. Sophomore 
is an interesting word. You hear it used of people in 
high school, I think, in grade 10. Sophomore means wise fool. And that's precisely what a sophomore 
is. He's a wise fool. He's not a 
freshman anymore. He's not a junior. He's not a senior. He's a sophomore. 
He's a wise fool. And that's precisely what Paul 
is saying with reference to these people. They profess themselves 
to be wise, but they're in reality fools. That's the emphasis. that 
he highlights in verse 21. Because although they knew God, 
they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became 
futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and the chief manifestation 
of that folly is seen in their idolatry. And they changed the 
glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible 
man, and birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. 
Now the history of idolatry will evidence that that is the case. You remember when Nebuchadnezzar 
made that great big image and he put it out on the plains of 
Dura and he wanted everybody to worship it? Most likely it 
was an image of him. Most likely it was his depiction. And he wanted people to worship 
him. Remember Herod in Acts chapter 
12, the people are saying, the voice of a God and not of a man. I mean, he's just soaking this 
in. meant throughout the history of the world have liked the fact 
that people will actually want to worship them. And this is 
Paul's point. There are those who worship the 
image of a corruptible man and also birds and four-footed animals 
and creeping things. There's no end to what man will 
worship. There's no end. We mentioned 
this morning with reference to Israel. at Mount Sinai when they 
asked Aaron to make them a calf. That's what was, you know, utilized 
by the Egyptians. They like oxen, so the Israelites 
want this calf. And they ascribe to it the power 
of having brought them out of the land of Egypt. It really 
is insanity. It really is folly. But this 
is precisely the point of the Apostle. As I mentioned, the 
backdrop is Psalm 106, verses 19 to 21. Very intriguing. Paul is dealing with Gentile 
guilt in this first part of his exposition of the universal condemnation 
of man because of sin. He's dealing with Gentiles, but 
the categories with reference to the Jewish idolatry. are appropriate. Psalm 106, 19 to 21, they made 
a calf in Horeb and worshiped the molded image. Thus they exchanged 
their glory into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot 
God their Savior who had done great things in Egypt. That's 
the language the Apostle is utilizing here to show Gentile guilt with 
reference to idolatry. Jeremiah 2.11, has a nation changed 
its gods which are not gods? But my people have changed their 
glory for what does not profit. You take the glory of the incorruptible 
God, and you put it to the side. You take the non-glory of corruptible 
man or bird or four-footed animal or creeping thing, and you give 
it religious attention, worship, homage, and praise. is falling. You may profess yourself to be 
the wisest of the wise, but if you reject the true and living 
God, you're a fool. The fool has said in his heart, 
there is no God. The fool has said in his heart, 
there is no God. I've often thought, I've often 
said, we take our two-year-olds, our three-year-olds, our four-year-olds, 
and we teach them what is God, and they're able to rehearse 
what the Westminster Shorter Catechism says. They're far wiser, 
far smarter than any atheist PhD out there. The law of Yahweh 
makes wise the simple. It made me wiser than all my 
instructors, David says in Psalm 119. Douglas Moo makes this comment 
in his commentary. He says, this tragic process 
of human God-making continues apace in our own day. And Paul's 
words have as much relevance for people who have made money 
or sex or fame their gods as for those who carve idols out 
of wood and stone. Thus, as verses 24 to 31 show, 
the whole dreadful range of sins that plague humanity has its 
roots in the soil of this idolatry. It's important that we see the 
connection. It's important that we understand 
the connection. If you have somebody that you 
work with that's a homosexual, yes, they shouldn't be a homosexual. You should tell them to stop 
having homosexual relations. But more important, you should 
tell them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Their problem is 
a God problem. Their problem is an idolatry 
problem. Their problem is they've rejected 
the true and living God. So the seventh commandment doesn't 
matter. When you reject the first four, 
the latter six don't matter. And oftentimes we go out there 
as good little moralists telling people to stop this, stop this, 
stop this, stop this, stop this. And we don't tell them to look 
unto Jesus Christ and live. That's what sinners need. That's 
what this society needs. That is certainly what Paul was 
prescribing with reference to this mess. This idolatry. Knowing God, but suppressing 
the truth in unrighteousness. Knowing God, but exchanging His 
glory for incorruptible man and the rest of the animals. And 
exchanging the truth of God for the lie results in the sorts 
of things that Paul indicates in this particular passage, which 
is certainly going on outside of our church. The whole dreadful 
range of sins that plague humanity has its roots in the soil of 
this idolatry. If you don't get anything else 
tonight, get that. Your homosexual work friend or 
acquaintance needs the gospel. Your heterosexual fornicating 
work friend needs the gospel. Your kids need the gospel if 
they're not converted. Your spouse needs the gospel, 
if he or she is not converted. It's what people need. Of course, 
they need to stop doing those bad things. But even more imperatively, 
they need to look unto Jesus Christ and live. Because people 
can stop doing bad things. Does that necessarily mean that 
they'll go to heaven? If somebody stops being a homosexual, 
do they now have entitlement to heaven? No, because they've 
got a bunch of other sin that has to be dealt with as well. 
And the only way to deal with the totality of sin is with the 
glory of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. Now notice, fourthly, the consequent 
practice of idolaters in verses 24 to 32. We see gross sexual perversion, 
obviously, in verses 24 to 27. And Paul is dealing with what 
Paul is dealing with. This is precisely the case. I 
know there's those today, even within the professing church, 
that say it's not homosexuality that God's against. It's a non-monogamous 
homosexuality. It's a profligate. It's a promiscuous. It's the kind of stuff that is 
an abuse. But if persons are in a loving 
relation, that's not what Paul is saying. Paul is saying homosexuality 
is sin. It's wrong. Paul is reflecting 
what the Old Testament says. He not only does that here, he 
does it in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, and he does it in 1 Timothy 
chapter 1. It's not the case that the New Testament somehow 
overturns the Old Testament and now, under this new covenant 
era, homosexuality is somehow okay. It's not okay. And Paul 
condemns it. very clearly in verses 24 to 
27. As well, he highlights the rejection 
of God. Now, let me just back up for 
a moment because there can be this mindset that the only sin 
we as Christians ever pick on is homosexuality. I hope that 
you wouldn't think that's what I'm doing. I think heterosexual 
fornication is bad. I think all sin is bad. Every 
transgression of the law of God, every lack of conformity unto 
that law of God opens ourselves up to the wrath and curse of 
God, both in this life and that which is to come. But in terms 
of the modern professing church and its receptivity, to what 
is viewed as sort of a harmless, non-sinful homosexuality. It is imperative that we are 
clear on this point. It's not simply condemned in 
the Law of Moses. It's condemned in all of the 
Bible. And this is Paul's point. But 
notice this rejection of God in verse 28. Again, this is the 
sort of practical outflowing of the previous idolatry. In other words, we have excluded 
God, supposing we're in this passage. We have professed ourselves 
to be wise. We have disregarded the incorruptible 
God, and we have put in his stead corruptible man and these other 
animals, and we have bowed to them, and we have worshiped them. 
Now, as a result of that faith commitment in this God, this 
is what life looks like apart from the true and living God. 
That's the point. All ungodliness and unrighteousness 
of men. That's the flow. That's the narrative. 
That's the way that the apostle is proceeding. Note the rejection 
of God in verse 28. And even as they did not like 
to retain God in their knowledge. I'm sure I said this recently. 
I'm getting a little older. I don't always remember everything 
I've said, but this is terrible. Who are we to not want to retain 
the knowledge of God in our minds? I mean, do we have that right? 
Well, I don't want God in my mind. I don't want to think about 
God. You don't have that prerogative. You're supposed to think God's 
thoughts after Him. The fact that people do this 
doesn't somehow legitimize it. It is offensive. It is wretched. 
It is like those people in the book of Jeremiah when God condemns 
them and says, you've turned me the back and not the face. You've given me your back rather 
than the face. In other words, they have turned 
their back upon him. Notice the various vices in verses 
29 to 31. being filled with all unrighteousness, 
sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, 
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness. They 
are whispers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, 
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. Imagine that. The apostle in a vice list highlighting 
the wretchedness of man brings to the forefront this disobedience 
to parents. It's a terrible thing. And we 
just sort of, well, you know, it's childish foolishness. No, 
it's rebellion against God. If we don't teach them that, 
they're going to think it's okay to sin against God. Brethren, 
there are a lot of things that kids do that are foolish, connected 
to their childishness. But there is sin. There is wretchedness. There is abomination in the hearts. And we need to point that out. 
In America, they're discussing lowering the voting age to 16. 
Lowering the voting age to 16. And some people are saying, you 
know, when I was 16, I ran my car into a tree six times in 
one year. When I was 16, I tried to pierce 
my own belly button and ended up with infection for a week. 
The point is, at 16, you're not ready to vote. You can't even 
drive your car straight. This idea of disobedience to 
parents, it's like we've accepted it. It's OK. Somehow, that's 
just the way kids will be kids. No. No, we need to, as parents, 
drive that out of them by the grace of God. But also in this 
vice list where there's some really horrible stuff. Notice, 
sexual immorality, murder, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful. 
Look at what else is sort of tucked in here. Sort of the respectable 
sins that the church really doesn't care about or deal with. Backbiters, 
backbiters. You're not supposed to backbite 
brethren. Whisperers, you're not supposed to gossip. When 
did the memo come out that God is somehow okay now with gossip? It is never okay to gossip. Can 
I give you a wonderful rule of thumb? If something isn't your 
business, it isn't your business. You have no right to talk about 
other people's stuff. If they have included you, if 
they have asked for counsel, if they want help and assistance 
from you, by all means speak into their situation. But if 
it is disconnected from you and you're filling conversation with 
gossipy morsels or nuggets about another person's life, I say 
to you, stop. We don't want whisperers, backbiters, 
gossips. That's in the same vice list 
as sexually immoral, as murderers. You see, God doesn't say, well, 
I really hate murderers. But you know, these gossipy men 
and women, they're not so bad. They are bad, it's wretched, 
and it reflects poorly on our church if we engage in that sort 
of stuff. If it isn't your business, shut 
your mouth. Isn't that what your mothers 
taught you? I'm sure they did. Your mom probably 
went to the same school my mom went to. If you don't have something 
nice to say, don't say anything at all. And it's certainly not 
nice to talk about somebody else's issues apart from those people 
and apart from persons who are actually connected to the scene. 
It's wrong, brethren, on every level. And you can't say, oh, 
God hates murder. God hates sexual immorality. 
But He doesn't hate my gossip. He doesn't hate my slander. He 
doesn't hate my backbiting. He doesn't hate my whispering 
into somebody else's ears. And if you are a person with 
backbone, if somebody tries to gossip to you, you don't have 
to receive it. You can legitimately, kindly, 
and courteously say, that's not my business. I don't want to 
hear about it. We saw that in the Proverbs, 
right? It's like tasty morsels. What is it about us that gravitates 
towards other people's calamity? What is it about us that makes 
us want to seek out and know things that are problematic in 
another person's life? Are we that miserable and pathetic 
and we need that kind of a boost for ourselves that somebody out 
there is a whole lot worse than me? Well, brethren, I'm a whole 
lot worse than you. You can always just think about 
me and save your gossip with reference to the other people 
of God in our congregation. It's wicked, it's vile, and it 
ought not to be named among us. If it ain't your business, it 
ain't your business. I've heard stuff about me from 
people that aren't even connected to our church. Now, I'm not saying, 
oh, this is all about, I'm not, you know, say whatever they want, 
but they shouldn't be saying things or they shouldn't know 
certain things that isn't their business. You get that, right? You don't like that, do you? 
When somebody's talking about you on something they know nothing 
about, and then they come to you with half a story, you're 
like, whoa, whoa, wait a minute. This ain't your business. Now, 
contrary to Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, contrary to this 
social media sort of malaise that we're in, not everything 
is your business. You don't need to know what I 
ate for lunch. I don't care what you ate for lunch. But in this 
day and age, we take pictures of our lunch and put it on the 
internet. Well, why? What's wrong with 
us? What's happened to us? Facebook 
and Instagram were down this week for what, hours? People 
are losing their minds. It's like, we have to look at 
pictures of people's food on our phone? Is that the defining 
thing now? We know way too much about everybody 
else already. Let's not foster that by being 
gossipy, whispering, backbiting wretches, opening our mouths 
with stuff that is not our business. It's in the same vice list with 
murder and sexual immorality. And we need to appreciate that. 
We need to accept that. And we need to stop. Verse 32 
highlights the universality of the problem. Who knowing the 
righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things 
are deserving of death, they not only do the same, but also 
approve of those who practice that. And that's sick and twisted 
too, isn't it? We do something wicked, so we 
want to find others who do that wicked, and so that we can approve 
of them and somehow feel good about ourselves. When you start 
feeling especially proud in your own life about how good you are 
or what you've accomplished, can I just recommend read Romans 
1? Just read Romans 1 18 to 32 with an open heart and an open 
mind. And then hopefully you won't 
be proud. Hopefully you'll see that's really what I am. Praise 
God for the grace of God that rescued me from this mess. John Murray speaks with reference 
to verse 32. He says, to put it bluntly, we're 
not only bent on damning ourselves, but we congratulate others in 
the doing of those things that we know have their issue in damnation. It's not enough that we damn 
ourselves. We want everybody else to damn 
themselves. We want everybody else to sort 
of jump on the bus and ride with us right into hell itself. It's 
a very bleak picture. I mean, Romans chapter 1, this 
ain't a happy message, brethren. I don't think you're going to 
go home. tonight somehow exhilarated with the joy of Romans chapter 
1. It's not designed for that. It's 
designed to show us our sin. It's designed to show us how 
far short we fall. It's designed to show us our 
great need for Jesus Christ. The grid is Romans 118. The wrath 
of God is revealed from heaven. 321, but now the righteousness 
of God is revealed. You've got wrath revealed, the 
universal condemnation of all men, under the just liability 
of God with reference to their sin. And then in 321, he changes 
direction and says, but now the righteousness of God is revealed. 
Now he reveals the glorious gospel, the remedy for man in sin. But finally, before we move on 
to a concluding thought, notice the judgment of God upon idolaters. Verses 24, 26, and 28. We saw 
this this morning in Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7, Stephen said, 
Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, 
as it is written in the book of the prophets. Did you offer 
me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during 40 years in the wilderness, 
O house of Israel? You also took up the tabernacle 
of Moloch and the star of your God, Ramphan, images which you 
made to worship, and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. that 
had historical application at the time of the prophet Amos. 
Beyond Babylon, beyond Damascus, the Assyrians will come and they 
will decimate the northern kingdom in 722. The Babylonians will 
come and decimate the southern kingdom in 586 BC. But with reference 
to 24, 26 and 28 in Romans chapter 1, it's not just being taken 
to Babylon. It's not just being taken beyond 
Damascus. It is rather being given over 
by a just and a holy God. Notice in Romans 1, 24. Therefore, 
God also gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts 
to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the 
truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature 
rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. The 
principle that scripture so often sets forth is that a rejection 
of God will lead to a rejection by God. And this is precisely 
what the apostle says. Now, as I mentioned this morning, 
Sexual perversion at a societal level is not an indicator of 
liberty. It's not an indicator of a sexual 
revolution. It's an indicator of the just 
judgment and the wrath and fury of God. Notice in verse 26. For 
this reason, God gave them up to vile passions, for even their 
women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, 
also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their 
lust for one another, men with men, committing what is shameful 
and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error, which 
was due. God gave them up. That's the 
result of God's having given them up. It's not liberty, it's 
not freedom, it's not a sexual revolution. It is a perversion 
that God has given man over to in his sin. And then verse 28, 
and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, 
God gave them over to a debased mind, to a reprobate mind, to 
do those things which are not fitting. Psalm 106 verses 40 
and 41, therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against 
his people so that he abhorred his own inheritance and he gave 
them into the hand of the Gentiles and those who hated them ruled 
over them. Well, in conclusion, we need 
to appreciate the various types of idolatry that are out there. 
I mentioned this morning as well. 1 John 5, 21. My little children, keep yourselves 
from idols. I don't know that if I was John, 
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, if I had a choice 
in the matter, I'd end on that note. I always want people to 
be happy at the end. I always try to, you know, end 
this on a positive note. That positive note, hopefully, 
typically, is the gospel, it's the cross, it's the Lord Jesus, 
it's forgiveness given by Him. John ends on the note of warning. My little children, keep yourselves 
from idols in the context of religion, in the context of theology. There is theological rebellion. That's the worshiping of another 
God, the worshiping of another God, not the true and living 
God, a violation of the first commandment. There is theological 
innovation, worshiping, at least by profession, the true and living 
God, but in a manner not commanded by him. That innovation is idolatry 
as well, and that innovation needs to stop. God never consults 
with His creatures and says to them, I want you to worship me 
in the way that feels the best to you. That's Baalism. Baalism was all about the feeling. Baalism was all about the experience. Baalism was all about the sensuality. Baalism was conducted through 
fornication oftentimes. Baal was worshiped from the waist 
down. God says, no, you worship the 
true and living God in the way that the true and living God 
commands. This is a place where we don't 
want innovation. This is the place where we don't 
want creativity. One wonders if Nadab and Abihu 
thought they were being innovative, thought they were being creative, 
and they offer up profane fire to the Lord. And what does the 
Lord do? He killed them. He sent fire down, not to consume 
their profane fire, but rather to consume them. After nine chapters, 
Leviticus 1-9, on how they were to approach God through worship. Nine chapters. Most Christians 
don't, well, some Christians don't even get through that. 
It's tedious. They don't want to read. Sacrifice 
after sacrifice. after sacrifice. But God is detailing 
that the way to God for Israel is through a bloody knife and 
a smoking altar. And yet, Nadab and Abihu wanted 
to be innovative. They wanted to be creative. They 
offer up profane fire and God kills them. You see, we're not 
supposed to be innovators in the worship of God. Well, people 
will be bored. Well, you know what? There's 
more to worship than people not or being bored. It's about the 
glory of God. You get that, right? The worship 
of God is first and foremost for God. It's not about what 
we get. It's not about what we receive. 
Now, there's corollaries. God's good. God's kind. And when 
he's worshipped and glorified in spirit and truth, he blesses 
his people. There's that peace, that joy, that emotional response 
that we have to God. It's a wonderful thing. But that's 
not the primary emphasis in Christian worship. It doesn't matter what 
they're doing over there, what they're doing over there, how 
good their band is, or what they have for kids. or what they have 
in terms of razzmatazz. That's not the point in the worship 
of God. God is spirit, and those who 
worship must worship in spirit and truth. That's the imperative 
set forth by our Lord Jesus Christ. And then there's a theological 
utilitarianism. You see this in Ahaz, for instance, 
king of Judah. He saw that the Syrians, or when 
he saw that the Syrians had bested him in battle, he thought, well, 
I'll go ahead and worship the Syrian gods because if they bested 
me and I give them devotion and worship, well, then they'll help 
me next time. That's a theological utilitarianism. That's doing what we want to 
do in order to try to get the result that we're after. And 
Ahaz does that. But interestingly, in the passage 
in 2 Chronicles 28, it tells us that God gave the victory 
to the Syrians. And here Ahaz says, well, it 
must have been their gods who all worshiped their gods, and 
so on. Now, the response by the believer 
to all of this, what should we learn? First of all, we need 
to know the truth. We need to know the truth. We cannot properly 
worship God if we do not know God. It's very important that 
we not only read our Bibles and pray, but we come to sermons 
and we listen and we pay attention and we grow in the grace and 
in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If 
John says, my little children, keep yourselves from idols, we 
know that this is a susceptibility for the people of God. John wouldn't 
give us this prohibition. He wouldn't give us this warning 
if there was never a danger for the people of God to falling 
into idolatry. My little children, keep yourselves 
from idols. Do that by knowing the truth as it is in Jesus. 
We need to be cautious with reference to various things. There is an 
idol of false religion. There is an idol of false religion. 
You see it obviously in the really bad false religions, but you 
see it even closer to home. There is a defectiveness with 
reference to an understanding of theology proper today. Who 
is God? That's most important for us 
to understand. It's most important for us to 
get our minds wrapped around what the confession means when 
it says he's without body, parts and passions. Don't say, well, 
that's way out there. I can't think through that. You 
most certainly can, and you must. You don't want to be susceptible 
to a God who has a body, who has parts, and who has passions. 
There are departures with reference to Christology. The doctrine 
of Jesus Christ. Who is Jesus Christ? We know 
that he's man. We know that he's God. But how 
does that work? May I encourage you to read chapter 
8 in our Confession of Faith. It rightly contains the doctrine 
of Christ. and the best results or the best 
insights of the church having reflected upon that issue. And, 
of course, soteriology, the doctrine of salvation. We need to be on 
guard that we do not become those who deny the very grace of God 
and start to exalt, say, for instance, free will, the idol 
of mammon, or money, or possessions, or stuff. Jesus condemns that. Again, we're not told to not 
have anything. We're not told to get rid of 
everything. Paul does not take that tact 
with Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 6. He doesn't say have a Bible 
study with all the rich people and tell them to get rid of all 
their riches. He doesn't do that. He tells them rather how they 
are to conduct themselves as possessors of riches. Don't trust 
in uncertain riches, but in the living God. And then as well, 
the idol of self. I want you to just turn with 
me to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. An intriguing passage with reference 
to the effect of the gospel. Notice in verse 15, and he died 
for all. Now, all there doesn't mean every 
man without exception. The all is conditioned by the 
context, all those whom he died for. And he died for all that 
those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for 
him who died for them and rose again. What's the implication? Prior to our coming to Christ, 
we live for ourselves. We have no thought of God, no 
regard for God, even though he is creator and we are creature. We don't even like to retain 
the knowledge of God in our thoughts. And so we live for ourselves. Everything is oriented to ourselves. But with reference to the cross, 
that those who live should live no longer for themselves. but 
for him who died for them and rose again. Second Timothy chapter 
three can turn there. Excuse me. Second Timothy chapter 
three. Verse one, but know this, that 
in the last days, perilous times will come for men will be lovers 
of themselves. You see, It's not sticks or stones 
or false gods or idols or calves or money that's always the culprit 
when we're looking for idols. It may be the guy or girl that 
you see in the mirror every day. It may be that person you are 
most consumed with, yourself. It may be the unholy trinity 
of me, myself, and I. David Wells says, much of the 
church today, especially that part of it, which is evangelical, 
is in captivity to this idolatry of the self. Now, I don't want 
to go too far on this, but man, selfies, right? You're all going 
to conclude, Butler, never. I have selfies. I had my little 
granddaughter in there yesterday, and I selfied the two of us. 
The angles were such that she ended up looking giant. I mean, 
I said it to my daughter. She said, wow, the angles make 
her look like she's gigantic. So selfies are cool. But selfies 
could also be indicative of a consumption with self. I mean, there's people 
now. I know you've heard this. They've 
made their money, lots of it, by being Instagram influencers. That means they just post pictures 
of themselves, and of their meals, and of their workout plans, and 
of whatever it is that they do, and people follow them and start 
to give them money. I mean, this is incredible. There's a guy, a kid, that apparently, 
my daughter was telling me, that people send him toys. He has 
a YouTube video, and he just reviews these toys on YouTube, 
and he's a multimillionaire. I mean, it's no better time in 
the world to be a lover of self than today. We've got phones 
and cameras and pictures, and we can just plaster it everywhere. Loving self is terrible. It's wretched, and this is what 
Wells says. This is a form of corruption 
far more profound than the list of infractions that typically 
pop into our minds when we hear the word sin. We are trying to 
hold at bay the gnats of small sins while swallowing the camel 
of self. It is idolatry as pervasive and 
as spiritually debilitating as were many of the entanglements 
with pagan religions recounted for us in the Old Testament. 
That this devotion to the self seems not to be like that older 
devotion to a pagan god blinds the church to its own unfaithfulness. The end result, however, is no 
less devastating because the self is no less demanding. It is as powerful an organizing 
center as any god or goddess on the market. The contemporary 
church is whoring after this god as assiduously as the Israelites 
in their darker days. It is baptizing as faith, the 
pride that leads us to think much about ourselves and much 
of ourselves. So not just money, not just idols, 
not just calves, but it could be you. Well, obviously, I want 
to end on that high positive note of the antidote. The antidote 
to idolatry is opened up by Paul in chapter 3. Notice in verse 
21, after summarizing the problem, After corroborating with the 
Old Testament, after making the definitive statement in verse 
20, therefore, by the deeds of the law, no flesh will be justified 
in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Paul 
now shifts direction to say, but now, the righteousness of 
God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the law and 
the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus 
Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference 
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being 
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is 
in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by his 
blood through faith to demonstrate his righteousness. Because in 
his forbearance, God had passed over the sins that were previously 
committed to demonstrate at the present time his righteousness, 
that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has 
faith in Jesus. That's the antidote to the problem 
in chapter 1 verse 18 to chapter 3 verse 20. It is the gospel 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are an idolater here this 
evening, go to Christ. Believe on Him. Lose, by God's 
grace, this devotion to whatever idol it is that you have gone 
a-whoring after. And as the people of God, we 
need to refresh ourselves constantly with the knowledge of our Redeemer, 
with the knowledge of our Savior. And may God, in his grace, aid 
us to keep ourselves from idols. Well, let us pray. Father, we 
thank you for your word, and we thank you for this clear expression 
of the sinfulness of man and the righteousness of God in response. How we thank you for the Book 
of Romans, how we thank you that you have made us inheritors of 
this blessed, blessed gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. It's not that we weren't idolaters, 
it's not that we were religious, it's not that we were good, but 
it's that you are good, you are great and glorious, and you saved 
us. by your grace, through faith 
in Jesus Christ, our Lord. We ask that you would go with 
us now, help us, Father, to be faithful to you in this world, 
and grant us grace to bring glory to your name. And we ask through 
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.