What is the meaning of Romans 1:20? For since the creation of the world • From the very first moment of history—“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1)—God has been revealing Himself. • Creation itself launches the testimony; nothing predates it, so no one can claim to have missed the start. • Jesus points to this same timeline when He says, “From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female’ ” (Mark 10:6). • The wording ties God’s self-disclosure to a literal, historic creation, ruling out any notion that divine revelation is a late or purely spiritual add-on. God’s invisible qualities • Though God is spirit (John 4:24) and cannot be seen with physical eyes (1 Timothy 1:17), His attributes are not hidden. • Psalm 19:1-2 illustrates: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” • Creation functions like a billboard, putting what is unseen on full display. His eternal power and divine nature • Eternal power: The sheer scale and order of the universe shout omnipotence—“He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name” (Psalm 147:4-5). • Divine nature: Beauty, complexity, moral order, and purpose reveal more than raw force; they unveil personality, intelligence, and holiness (Jeremiah 10:12-13). • The phrase gathers every perfection of God—love, justice, wisdom—into a single, undeniable portrait. Have been clearly seen • Clarity is the hallmark; revelation is not fuzzy, partial, or esoteric. • Acts 14:17 affirms, “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons.” • Even the most ordinary person recognizes cause and effect, design and Designer. • The visibility of these truths bridges every language, culture, and era. Being understood from His workmanship • “Workmanship” points to all God has fashioned—galaxies, oceans, DNA, human conscience. • Job 12:7-10 urges, “Ask the beasts, and they will instruct you… In His hand is the life of every creature.” • Observation leads naturally to comprehension: design implies Designer; order implies Ordainer. • This understanding is not merely intellectual; it stirs awe, gratitude, and accountability. So that men are without excuse • Because revelation is universal, rejection is willful. • Jesus echoes this principle: “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22). • The justice of God is upheld—He judges on the basis of light given. • Refusal to honor and thank the Creator (Romans 1:21) is what leaves humanity culpable. summary Romans 1:20 teaches that from the very dawn of creation, God has made His power and character unmistakably evident through everything He has made. This revelation is clear, constant, and sufficient to hold every person accountable. Creation itself testifies to a living, omnipotent, holy God, leaving no room for excuses when He calls each soul to acknowledge, worship, and obey Him. |
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