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.
Introduction
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.
Sermon Outline Announced
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.
The Revelation of God's Wrath
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.
Reason for God's Wrath Manifested
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.
General Revelation in Psalm 19
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.
The Descent into Idolatry
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.
Gentile Guilt and Old Testament Backdrop
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.
The Consequent Practice of Idolaters
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.
The Vice List of Romans 1
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.
The Judgment of God upon Idolaters
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.
Application: Forms of Idolatry Today
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.
The Believer's Response to Idolatry
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.
The Gospel as Antidote to Idolatry
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.
Closing Prayer
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.