God Has Shown…Part 2
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Rom 1:18-20)
God has shown much about Himself to a rebellious generation in the Roman Empire. It is not a summary of several generations, for the text says “they are (now) without excuse.” The statement is part of Paul’s declaration to the Roman Christians, that he would like to come to Rome. He would like to preach to the people of Rome because the wrath of God is against all ungodliness (against God) and unrighteousness (against mankind) of men who possess God’s truth and sin against it. How did they learn “what may be known of God?”
The people of Rome have been shown great knowledge about God and have sinned against Him. The Romans could see many things that only God could have made. God communicates to human beings through things He has made. People who see what God has made become responsible to acknowledge His existence and their accountability to Him. God is the great communicator!
Paul is not the first one to tell of God’s teaching through things He has made. King David of Israel wrote: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world….(Psa 19:1-4) Notice the words of communication attributed to the heavens: “declare,” “uttereth speech,” “sheweth knowledge,” “their voice” and “their words.”
Only God knows how many nights David spent the night with his sheep under the canopy of the heavens. It taught him much about God, the creator. David shared that with millions of people when he wrote the experience into a psalm. God teaches the people of the earth when the sun rises and sets and when the stars appear. David ends the six verses with: there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. For those who are too blind to see the stars and the sun, they can certainly feel the heat of the sun. God communicates with the people He made through the heavens when they see the sun, moon and stars God made. There’s a God out there somewhere!
I heard Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. go through his rehearsal of things he enjoyed so much. He said when he looked up in the sky at night and saw the stars, he knew there was a God because he could see the dew drops on His front lawn. And when he walked through a rose garden he knew God had been there and painted the roses.
So, what’s the purpose of God’s showing all the people of the earth His eternal power and Godhead? It’s to show to all the people of the earth that He has taken the initiative in communicating with us and that they need to respond. All the churches and missionaries of the earth can’t reach seven billion people in a lot of years with the Gospel. Reaching all the Muslims with the Gospel by missionaries has been an impossibility. But, they have been seeing the sun rise and set. What we have, are stories of dreams and angels appearing to Muslims. Those converted, become a witness to their own people and oftentimes at the expense of their lives.
The Communist countries were closed to missionaries for many years. Today, North Korea has many Christians in their stinking, freezing prisons. In China, Christianity is growing faster than any place and it’s bothersome to the government. The world’s population continues to explode and especially among the Muslim nations. And they see the sun rise and set. Those who see the sun rise and set are without excuse.
We must remember that salvation is not of us. Salvation is of the Lord. When Jonah was in the belly of the fish he prayed: But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. (Jon 2:9)
“Can those who have never heard be saved before you get there and preach to them?” Those who have never heard, watch the sun rise and set every day. They see God communicating with them. They see God showing them His eternal power and Godhead and they are without excuse…just like the people in the Roman Empire that Paul wrote about.
Question: Does God show a man enough to make him lost but not enough to get him saved? That’s the question. I can’t find a single chapter and verse that addresses that. But I think there are enough verses put together that give a good picture of what we can expect to happen. I don’t believe God will show a man enough to make him lost but not enough to get him saved, if…he wants to be saved.
I’ve talked with many men who know the Gospel as well as I do who are not saved and don’t want to be saved. That’s why we should ask people: 1. Do you need to be saved? 2. Do you want to be saved? 3. Do you know how to be saved? 4. Do you want me to pray with you right now about your being saved?
May I summarize a statement that I have come to believe: “If God shows a man enough to make him lost and without excuse, God will show that man enough for him to be saved if he wants to be saved.” We’ll look at this again, next time. Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MARCH 14, 2017 – TUESDAY
A.M. Deut 23-25 P.M. Mark 14:51-72
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Memory Verse This Month:
Let the words of my mouth, and meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psa 19:14)
Song for Today:
Hallelujah, We Shall Rise! (3:12) – (Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9P5VdY9ZBk
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