How does Romans 1:19 reveal God's nature to all people? “for what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” What does this single sentence tell us about God’s self-disclosure to every human being? Let’s trace the flow. Truth Already in Front of Us • “Plain” means obvious, unmistakable, right in the open. • God is not playing hide-and-seek; He has placed evidence of Himself in everyone’s line of sight. • The verse insists this is true for “them”—all people, everywhere, at all times. God Takes the Initiative • “God has made it plain.” The responsibility for revelation rests on Him, not on human discovery. • Revelation, then, is an act of grace. He wants to be known and has acted so we can know. • This squares with Jesus’ words: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). Channels of Universal Revelation 1. Creation – Psalm 19:1-4: “The heavens declare the glory of God… their voice has gone out into all the earth.” – Acts 14:17: “Yet He has not left Himself without testimony…” – The order, beauty, and power we observe point to a Creator who is orderly, beautiful, and powerful. 2. Conscience – Romans 2:14-15: Gentiles “show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.” – An innate moral compass hints at a moral Lawgiver. 3. Continuing Providence – Acts 17:24-27: God sustains life “so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him.” – Daily mercies—rain, food, breath—remind us of His kindness and care. What We Learn About God’s Nature • He is personal: He communicates intentionally. • He is knowable: He makes Himself “plain,” not cryptic. • He is sovereign: He controls the means and scope of revelation. • He is righteous: Conscience reflects His moral character. • He is powerful: Creation broadcasts His “eternal power and divine nature” (Romans 1:20). Why Everyone Is Accountable • Because revelation is universal, ignorance is not innocence (Romans 1:20). • Suppression of truth is a moral choice, not a lack of information (Romans 1:18). • The clear witness of creation and conscience leaves mankind “without excuse.” Living in the Light We’ve Been Given • Recognize the daily evidences of His presence—sunrise, conscience, provision—and respond with gratitude. • Use the clarity of general revelation as a springboard to share the fuller message of Christ (special revelation). • Marvel: the God who fills the galaxies also cares enough to write His moral law on every heart. Romans 1:19 assures us that God has not left humanity groping in the dark. He has already turned on the light; our call is to see it, embrace it, and point others to its Source. |
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