Stand Strong in the Word
Stand Strong in the Word is a weekly bible study that teaches through the Bible verse by verse in chronological order. For more information, visit www.standstrongministries.org.
Stand Strong in the Word
#312 “They Knew God But Didn’t Honor Him” (Romans 1:21)
In Romans 1:21, the first step in this downward spiral is not ignorance of God but indifference toward Him. They knew God, but they refused to honor or thank Him. Their denial of God led not only to rejection but also caused their thoughts to become empty and their hearts to turn spiritually blind. So today, we’re going to ask a tough question: Why do we run from God when we know Him? Why do we choose to turn away? And how does that decision affect our hearts, minds, and where it leads us?
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What happens when people know God but choose not to honor Him. In Romans 1, verse 21, it shows the downward spiral that starts when we ignore God's glory. In today's episode, we'll talk about what it means to know God yet turn away from Him, and how that choice darkens the heart. Turn to Romans 1 and let's stand strong in the Word together. Well, hey there, my friends, welcome to Stand Strong in the Word. Podcast, jason Domenes, with you as always. Blessed to be with you.
Speaker 1:Guys, as we continue our study here in the book of Romans, we're going to be looking now at verse 21. And if you've been with us for quite some time, you know that on this podcast, we want to dive deep as much as we possibly can into God's word, to grow in our knowledge, our love, our appreciation, and to honor the Lord with everything that he's given us. And sadly, as we've been going through these verses, we see that there are certainly people in this world. There are ungodly, unrighteous people who exchange the truth for a lie. Maybe you were there at one point in your life, maybe you're still there right now and you fell upon this podcast. Whatever the case may be, whatever your story is, my friends, we want you to know that we welcome you here and on this podcast. We teach the infallible, inerrant word of God and we hold fast to it. This is God's word to us. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's word endures forever, and the word that we have here richly blesses us and it restores our soul and it gives us the wisdom and the guidance. And the word that we have here richly blesses us and it restores our soul and it gives us the wisdom and the guidance and the conviction that's illuminated through the power of the Holy Spirit to help us walk faithfully before him. And so, as we now transition in verse 21, let me read you this verse and we'll give proper context into what we have just previously talked about in verse 20.
Speaker 1:Verse 21 says for, although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. Now the Phillips translation really gives us a little bit of a deeper insight than the ESV. It says this they knew all the time that there is a God, and they refused to acknowledge him as such or to thank him for what he is or does. Thus they became fatuous in their argumentations and plunged their silly minds still further into the dark end. Quote so in verse 21 here Paul not only mentions the reason for rejecting God, but also the underlying cause of their moral and their spiritual decline.
Speaker 1:Now let's go back and let's reread verse 18 so we can see this in context. So it says for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who, by their unrighteousness, suppress the truth. For what could be known about God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who, by their unrighteousness, suppress the truth. For what could be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world and the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. And then verse 22 and 23 says they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creepy things. Well, there is certainly a lot here in this passage, and I'm sure many of you who are maybe thinking of a loved one or someone you're trying to witness to, who you know, they know God or they believe in God, but they just reject everything that has to do with Christianity. And when this phrase that Paul uses here says, although they knew God and again, every time we're seeing in English the transliteration here for, for although they knew God, it's always giving you more insight. Or you know, paul's making the case If you go back to verse 18, for the wrath of God, verse 19, for what can be known, verse 24, his invisible attributes, 21, for although they knew God. And so it just keeps building, making the case that again, people are without excuse.
Speaker 1:Because, remember, after demonstrating that God has revealed himself and provided evidence of his existence through creation, what is Paul saying here? He's concluding, okay, based on everything that God has done for us and revealing his truth to us and giving us the ability remember the apprehension, not just the comprehension, to know him. His knowledge is undeniable. Remember the word gnosko was used in this language and it's used again here although they knew, although they knew for certain. And it even implies having a personal experience, not just having perception, like reasoning through some evidence for God. There's a personal experience that's attached to what Paul's saying.
Speaker 1:Although they knew God, notice they didn't honor him. This reminds me of the Huxley brothers, for example, when you had Darwin coming out with some of his insight that he was gathering when he was on the exploration of the Beagle ship and he was at Galapagos Islands and he was talking about natural selection, it gave them an excuse, if you will, to take quote science, even though it wasn't, it was unsubstantiated, it was really actually not even observed, it was in minor stages. But to leap from that to ancestral lineage, you know that we all came from a single cell organism, but it was their way of using that to argue away the need for God. Oh, we evolved over time and so there was no need for a super intelligence, as we talked about last podcast, an original or originator, if you will, originator in terms of the cause who sustains all things. So we don't need a divine explanation. Therefore, we can live however we want in their hedonistic passions.
Speaker 1:Cambridge Bible says, quote when they knew God, that is, a primal, revealed and constantly witnessing the visible creation of the eternal and omnipotent one. So again, the evidence was before them. And this phrase to know God is a phrase capable of many degrees of meaning, from the rational certainty of a supreme personal maker in Lord, up to the holy intimacy of divinely given communion with the father and the son, to which the words of John 17, three refer, refer. So in this passage, all that is necessary to understand is the certainty, however, learned, of the existence of a personal, omnipotent creator. So here Paul is preaching that God's revelation is and he's saying this in point of fact that God's revelation to humanity is difficult to overlook, and that their instincts about his existence, and not only that, but his plans in the world, so God's providential hand for their lives, have triggered them to actually ignore.
Speaker 1:And you're thinking, man, that is just. You know, if many of you are listening, have once lived that way. But you've come to the light and you've been forgiven and you have eternal life. It isn't it shocking Now we're so humble and grateful, by God's grace, to know that we know him. And then, even in our stubbornness, even in our you know rejection of him many of us maybe longer than others I don't know all the stories out there, but I can imagine that many of you listening you lived that way for quite some time and then to finally get to a point now where it's like I've surrendered. I surrendered my life.
Speaker 1:So, when you hear about people who just do not honor the Lord in anything and they don't care because they want to live for themselves, and when you go back to Acts 17, and I love reminding my own family and when I'm preaching that we are here by the grace of God, when Paul said in Acts 17, and beginning in verse 26, that God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, and then Paul goes on to preach that he has determined or he's allotted these periods and these boundaries of our dwelling place, and in that we should seek him, our maker, and I love this phrase that paul says. He says and perhaps fill their way toward him and find him. So see, that's the point is, and this is amazing because paul, as he's preaching that and then he's writing to the romans, he's like even in their perception, even in their conviction. So that's why, filling way, even as they search for meaning in life, they don't want to give credit to God, and that's we're going to be talking about in a minute, about that they, even they knew him, they know he exists and they know that, providentially, he's involved in creation. So he's not this deistic, supreme being that's unknowable and doesn't care, and that's all you kind of know about him. So there are some things you know, even in a deistic perspective, that they know they don't want to honor, they don't want to give thanks to him. And remember, paul said in the end of that passage, in verse 28, he's not far from us. And so when we live and we move in our everyday life and decision-making, in our relationships, in our dreams and obviously in our prayers, god is there, he's moving amongst us, he is present, he is imminent.
Speaker 1:And so this phrase now, when Paul says for although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him. So notice, honoring him in his rightful place as the supreme being, as the creator. This Greek word for did not is in the absolute negative, the word is oik. It means absolutely did not. So in no way shape or form, basically in modern times. Absolutely did not. So in no way shape or form, basically in modern times. So in no way shape or form did they honor God. And the word honor in Greek here is in the eros tense, with full and deliberate intent to not honor. So not only do you go out of your way to suppress the truth.
Speaker 1:In verse 18, at the end of verse 18, because of their ungodliness and their unrighteousness. Because by their unrighteousness they suppress the truth and they reject, even though, even though God has plainly revealed his truth and who he is to them, they're without excuse. So, although they knew God, they're not going to honor him. And that's when we're going to start seeing. They're going to start exchanging. They're going to exchange that glory for something else. They're going to exchange God's order in marriage for something else, and their ungodliness, their passions, their impurity is going to drive them to worship self and not the one who made them.
Speaker 1:So it's important that we understand the way that Paul writes us in the Greek and this absolute negative they are deliberately rejecting, making sure that and I don't I'm not going to in any way of my life, matter of fact, and I've encountered people like this I'm not going to in any way of my life, matter of fact, and I've encountered people like this they're going to go out of their way to be blasphemous because they do not want to surrender themselves to God. So Paul is pointing out that they made a cognitive and active choice not to give thanks to God. Think about that. See, this is why this is so, so, so sad is that you actually have people who they know. They have the head knowledge, they have the personal experience, they internally again, because God, his laws, are written on our hearts.
Speaker 1:So if you encounter somebody who is so vehemently opposed to god existing, or, as we talked about the four horsemen, you know the atheists, who, people who, just who, who like to attack, quote the character or behavior of god, even though they don't believe the being exists, but they're so, you know, descriptive, and they passionately use that as an argument against God. It's because it's their way of trying to not just belittle but point out that they are not going to give their life to the Lord. And, of course, god it says that he desires all men to come to the knowledge of the truth. That's his preferred will, but he can't force them. And this is what Paul's pointing out is that they're cognitively making this decision not to give thanks to the Lord.
Speaker 1:And so the fundamental sin is that, though they have the knowledge of God, they choose to take that knowledge, suppress it and do something completely contrary to what those actions should be Meaning. When you have common sense and you come to the proper conclusion, reasonably, that this is how you again use something in a utility form that's made to do something and you use it the way in which it's intended to get a outcome right that's measured and makes sense and it's productive and it's fulfilling in its purpose. But if you take that instead and you use it entirely against its utility form, this is what Paul's talking about. Form this is what Paul's talking about, and that's when you see people who get very nasty and the more nasty they are.
Speaker 1:I go back to Romans one in Ephesians four. I know that if you have rejected God, you're in your sin and eventually the God of this age will, you know, continue to take advantage of that and blind you. But when people are so adamant about this, this is when I really take a different approach with them and challenging them on a on a relational, personal level, because most of the time that's what it's about and that's what they're trying to suppress. They don don't want to honor, they don't want to give thanks to God as God. That's his rightful place, right, that's who he is. God is God and there's none like him, and they don't want to worship him. In that CEB Cranfield stresses that this Greek term hoist theon as God, points to the inadequacy of only partially acknowledging God's sovereignty.
Speaker 1:Humans are required to recognize God's complete authority and they neglect to do that. Instead, remember it's in gratitude towards their creator. And Psalm 50, verses 22 and 23, says mark this, then, you who forget God least, I tear you apart and there'll be none to deliver. The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me, to the one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of God. Blackwell states that not giving thanks indicates the loss of presence of the immortal God. So when you reject him, when you don't offer thanksgiving, when you don't glorify him, there will be consequences. And so Blackwell saying that this phrase of giving thanks is when they don't is, there's just this lack of not appreciation, there's just a there's this lack of awe of God's immortal presence in their lives.
Speaker 1:Benson Commentary says Did not esteem him, pay homage to him or worship and serve him in a manner worthy of him, inconsistent with those apprehensions they had or might have had of him. And what's the end result? When you reject God, when you don't follow what he has set forth for his creation, what happens when you don't honor him? You become futile in your thinking. Remember this term futile is become empty or become useless. And here he attaches it to their thinking, and here he attaches it to their thinking. So their reason, their creativity, their imagination. It becomes empty, becomes fueled with something other than God's presence.
Speaker 1:Think up foolish ideas of what God was like, which goes back to what I've been telling you about, for example, the four horsemen, the atheists. How they concoct these things about God, like the God delusion. A classic case of Richard Dawkins, which I think even now, years later, with many of his colleagues coming to know Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, he's now referring himself as a cultural Christian. He's even kind of pushing back on some of the jargon or some of the language that he has used, very graphic, blasphemous language about God. But that's what happens. They begin to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. You know, and you can see this also in 2 timothy, chapter four, where paul was alluding to the futility of the ungodly, the unrighteous people who reject the lord as god.
Speaker 1:Second timothy four says for the time is coming when people will endure sound teaching. Not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. I can't tell you how many times when you go to a podcast or YouTube video of somebody who's just talking myths and one in particular I was watching recently. I've done some responses to him and also addressed him in some of my book and hijacking Jesus. But Dr Richard Carrier, who doesn't believe that Jesus ever existed, he thinks he was just made up over centuries into the Galilean and then, of course, the deification of Jesus, which I staunchly disagree with.
Speaker 1:But you hear this man and in the way that he elaborates on the, the mythological aspects or the you know mytho-historical narrative of even the characters that are in the new testament, the gospel writers, you know the apostles, etc. But it's not just their thinking that becomes empty, but notice, their hearts become darkened, they become foolish. So the natural and spiritual inclination to follow God has become obscured and it becomes darkened by sin and their hearts are no longer again. They're not focusing on worshiping the Lord, but rather worshiping or turning to and promoting wickedness and corrupt behavior. So, my friends, when you and I see that on full display, when you're seeing those pride parades and you're seeing just the sexuality and you see promiscuity and you see people who are arguing in favor of something that is detestable to the Lord. This is the verse.
Speaker 1:I want you guys to think about what Paul's saying here. Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. Now, one thing I do want to make mention, because what you're seeing a lot sometimes in these settings are individuals who have the rainbow stuff and they're living proudly and out loud about their sexuality, or they're thinking they're genderless or gender. You know their gender is fluid, they're in same-sex marriage, whatever the case may be, but you'll hear oftentimes say oh, I believe in God, oh, jesus loves me, jesus loves his little children, and I'm one of them. And you're thinking, well, does that apply, then, to what Paul's saying here? For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God.
Speaker 1:So, yes, it's not just speaking to the atheist who says they're an atheist and don't believe there's a God, which, again, I have a hard time really truly believing that that person believes, right, that there's no God. Even I'm talking in terms of, you know, epistemic knowledge. But this is also referencing people who believe in God and they're not rejecting God's existence, it's just what they frame God to be, and their futility of thinking and their hearts are darkened, you know, and they're foolish, it says, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Darkened, you know, and they're foolish, it says, and their foolish hearts were darkened. So let's keep that in mind.
Speaker 1:Of what Paul's saying here is that they're not truly honoring the Lord for who he is in their life. And so you see a lot of the people who believe there's a God. But when you press them further about you know, theologically breaking that down, with what does that mean? You then quickly realize that people believe in many different divine forces that they can't really explain, or that God is a queer, like God is queer. You see statements like that.
Speaker 1:So that's what Paul's pointing out here, because, remember, to glorify him as God is to regard with proper reverence. So they're not properly giving the reverence to God's perfections, to his laws, to what he has set forth, as the Barnes commentary talks about, that they're not venerating his name, his power, his holiness, his presence, et cetera, and so, as they were not inclined to do this, they were given over to their vain and wicked desires. They were given over to their vain and wicked desires. So, yes, the more wicked people become and you see how they can even have a very distorted spiritualistic view of God, but it's not grounded in truth. The commentary goes on to say that they're not pleased with his perfections.
Speaker 1:So when someone studies the Bible, let's say, and they come to the conclusion well, if this God is real, the God of Israel, I can't worship a God like that. That makes no sense whatsoever. If God were to exist, he'd be more like this. And that's when you realize these false versions that people are basically coming up with or doctoring up in their own mind. You you know. So they can continue to enhance their own enlightenment or their own spirituality.
Speaker 1:That's the point is, they're not acknowledging who God is, based on his revelation to us. Instead, what happens is we're not pleased, for whatever reason, and again this goes back to the ungodliness and the unrighteousness of a person whose hearts are darkened and as a result of that, they get fixated on things that are not honoring the Lord because they've devoted their hearts. They turn their heart to certain indulgences, to fulfill certain gratifications, certain sinful desires. But when you generally see a willingness to honor God as God, toere him, to love him, to obey him. That is what it's about and what Paul's saying here as he ends this section, before we start looking at claiming to be wise.
Speaker 1:Because now what happens is we're going to see a shift in the next episode, as we dive into verse 22, that, after he's laid out, god's wrath has been revealed and they've suppressed the truth. And of course, these are ungodly, unrighteous individuals. They knew god and yet, despite that, they don't honor him and they're futile in their thinking and their hearts are darkened. Then we're going to see how they start claiming to be wise and so, in that darkness, in that rejection of God as God and not honoring him, what sinful man produces, what they try to erect, what they try to build on their own, and that's when you see, in verse 23, we'll start touching on their exchanging who God is for what, for idols. And that goes all the way back to what we've been discussing about the futility of their thinking, their foolishness, their fools. That's all talking about their emptiness and their vanity.
Speaker 1:So a lot to chew on, certainly, my friends, but as we close this episode, let us pray for the people in our lives, who we know are living ungodly and unrighteous lives that we know are suppressing the truth, and so we continue to pray, lord. I pray for that loved one who is rejecting you as God and they're choosing not to honor you with their life. I pray, lord, that you would continue to work in them, use me as I pray for them, but that I could speak truth in some way, that I'd be brave, that I would be courageous, and that I would speak the truth in love. My friends, that is what God has called us to do as we honor him as our maker, as our savior. So thank you, guys, for tuning in.
Speaker 1:As always, you can check out stanstrongministriesorg and let me encourage you, guys, that if this ministry has been a blessing to you and also checking out all the books and articles and videos that we also produce through Stan Strong Ministries but if it's a blessing, it's helping you, you know, reinforce biblical truth and giving you wise thinking and bold living in your life Will you prayerfully consider becoming a Stand Strong supporter? We are a tax-exempt, nonprofit ministry where we exist to come alongside families in the church, equip parents, leaders and young people, but we cannot do this work without your continual prayer and support. So you can go to StandStrongMinistriesorg, click on, donate, and everything that you give is going to help fuel ministries, just like this podcast and all the other projects that we are currently involved doing to equip the body of believers. So can't tell you guys how thankful and grateful I am for your support and love, the fact that you guys join me every single week as we study God's word together. Until next time, keep standing strong in the word of God.