Without Excuse

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

Paul, as we have seen in earlier entries, starts his systematic presentation of the gospel by highlighting the problem facing the human race. The problem is expressed in verse 18 - "the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven."

God's wrath - his intense personal anger against sin - is revealed because men and women are actively suppressing the truth about God that has been revealed through the created universe. In this sense, because of God's self-disclosure, people are "without excuse".

Paul now elaborates on this truth. In what way have people rejected the facts of God that are revealed in creation?

The word "for" in this verse gives us the clue. It means, "I'm about to explain what I've just said." The way in which people are without excuse is that they do not thank God or glorify him as God.

To "glorify" means to "acknowledge by worshipping". The truth Paul is stating is that although God has revealed things about himself through the created universe - particularly his power and nature - people's response to this revelation is not to fall down in worship and wonder to the God of creation. The very opposite! People routinely look at the wonder of nature - which we are only beginning to understand and explore - and say "that's cool", without a thought to the God whose glory is revealed in that sunset, mountain range, coral reef or stellar cloud.

In addition to this lack of acknowledgement of the God revealed in creation, people also respond through ingratitude. They do not "give thanks" to God.

Ask yourself if this is not true. Do you frequently thank God for your life, health and opportunities? Do the people you know habitually thank God for the rain, the sunshine, the ocean currents, winds and tides and the enormous supply of food provided by God on planet earth?

I didn't think so.

As a race, we are "without excuse".

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21