The development of man’s religious life was just returning entirely to an earlier state and becoming much worse and worse without progress, devolving consistent downward fall without rising upward.

God has given the heathen, pagan idolatrous who reject God enough information and sufficient knowledge about Himself to make them guilty and not just innocent in their rejection of God. Actually, they suppress the truth and openly hate God. Thus, God legitimately and is perfectly just in pouring out His wrath on everyone and He perfectly just in giving people up.

PROPOSITION: GOD IS PERFECTLY JUST IN POURING OUT HIS WRATH AND GIVING PEOPLE UP BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND REJECTION OF HIM.

In verse 18 Paul talks about the wrath of God that is against all ungodliness and injustice (or translated unrighteousness in NASB; ESV; NKJV), and Paul said these people hold back (or translated suppress in NASB; ESV; NKJV) the truth. In spite that God plainly manifested unto them the knowledge about Him (v.19), these unrighteous and ungodly people who suppress or hold back the truth are without excuse (v.20), they deserve the wrath of God.

Notice carefully in verse 21 begins with a subordinate conjunction “because” or “for” which gives us reasons: First, reason on why God is legitimate and perfectly just in pouring out the wrath of God on these ungodly, pagan, heathen people. Secondly, reason on why these people are without excuse when they face God because they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. No matter who are they or where they are, these ungodly and unrighteous people deserved the wrath of God.

Seven reasons why unrighteous people who suppress the truth deserve God’s wrath:

I – THOSE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS KNEW ABOUT GOD - v.21a

Romans 1:21a “Because that, when they knew God,”

Roma 1:21a “sapagkat kahit kilala nila ang Diyos,

They deserve the wrath of God because these ungodly and unrighteous people have knowledge of God.

Bear in mind that ungodly and unrighteous heathen pagan people are well informed of the knowledge about God. In fact, if we go back to verse 19 it says, “because that which is known of God is manifest to them; for God has showed it unto them.”

Look at the participle in verse 21 “knew God”. No matter who are they, and no matter how ungodly or unrighteous people are, God informed every human and give understanding about God. Now look at the connection of the tense of the participle “knew God” with the aorist verb “glorified him not” or translated “did not honor Him” in NASB; ESV clearly indicates that the knowledge of these unrighteous people about God comes first before these people had refused to honor or glorified God.

The word “knew” it does not mean here they have a personal relationship with God. It is not about having relationship with God or being saved spiritually or being born again. The word “knew” used here means they have this inborn knowledge of God because of God’s creation (verse 20) and through intuition. The phrase “when they knew God”, also means that while these people are still retaining some real knowledge about God, before they sank down into that ungodly, unrighteous heathen state.

II – THOSE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND KNEW GOD DID NOT GLORIFIED GOD – v.21b

Romans 1:21b “they glorified him not as God,”

Roma 1:21b “siya ay hindi nila niluwalhati bilang Diyos,”

They deserve the wrath of God because these ungodly and unrighteous people who have knowledge of God, glorified not God.

The word “glorified” or “honor” in NASB; ESV, means to magnify in your mind or to hold a high opinion about something. God made every human to realize that He is God, therefore He should be worshipped by every human as the true and living God, not as a creature but a sovereign creator. In spite that knowledge about God’s eternal power, glory, and divine nature that God has put within every human, still man not moved progressively in his opinion about God. Man wants to elevate to or honor himself because man in nature does not like to elevate or honor God, man does not want to depend on God for anything. Man hates the greatness and sovereignty of God, so he does not want to glorify Him as God.

III – THOSE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND KNEW GOD ARE UNGRATEFUL TO GOD – v. 21c

Romans 1:21c “neither were thankful;”

Roma 1:21c “ni pinasalamatan man,”

They deserve the wrath of God because these ungodly and unrighteous people who have knowledge of God, are unthankful.

These heathen people, neither yielded the adoration due to God, they were not thankful nor rendered their gratitude which God beneficence demanded.

During the days of the Apostle Paul, most people of Rome performed all kinds of thanksgiving to all kinds of deities they considered god, but just a few of them were willing to give thanks to the true and living God of heaven, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who is the Creator of all things, the Sovereign God. Likewise, people of today’s world are unthankful to God, and one of the great sins of our day is the sin of ingratitude.

All good the things we enjoy, all the provisions, all the protections and even the preservation of our lives come from God who knows more than we know our need, from God can give us more than we ask or think. The life we enjoy, the health we possessed, the food that we taste and sustains us, the shelter we lived for, the jobs where we earned and support us, friends we long for, dear family we loved, the church place we gather together for fellowship and worship, the air we breadth, the rest and sleep that our body need, finances that we use for payment and purchase, the education that we earned, and the eternal salvation that we received as free gift are all come from God who own us by creation and by redemption.

Glorifying God "as God" and giving Him "thanks" (v. 21), are our primary duties to God in view of who He is. When people reject truth, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to recognize and receive truth.

No other creatures of God on the face of this earth that should be most thankful to God than human beings, but instead that human whom God loves, cares, provides, redeems and died for, doubted God, denied God, and cursed God. They are not thankful to God; they committed the sin of ingratitude. The sinfulness of ungratefulness.

IV - THOSE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND KNEW GOD HAVE VAIN THOUGHTS - v.21d

Romans 1:21d “but became vain in their imaginations,”

Roma 1:21d “ kundi naging walang kabuluhan sa kanilang mga pangangatuwiran”

They deserve the wrath of God because these ungodly and unrighteous people who have knowledge of God have vain or foolish thoughts.

The phrase “but became vain”, can be compared to Jeremiah 2:5 “Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?”

The Greek words for “vain in their imaginations” or translated “futile speculations” in NASB or “futile in their thinking” in ESV, is emataiothesan means to become vain or foolish, be perverted. From mataios; to render foolish. It literally means moronic or foolish reasonings, thoughts, notions or speculations regarding God (compare: Matthew 15:19; Luke 2:35; I Corinthians 3:20). Through His grace, God put within every human being, the knowledge about Himself and about the great work of God, however some people make this wonderful knowledge into a foolish or moronic concepts or vain imaginations.

On December 4, 1995, Time Magazine published an article that presented they said “New Exciting Theory of Evolution,” It is as foolish thoughts or vain imaginations if you will read what is written in it.

First: The earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago; Second: the first evidence of life was a blue/green algae 3.5 billion years ago; Third: the first official cell with a nucleus was 2 billion years ago; Fourth: the first multi-celled algae was 1.7 billion years ago; Fifth: there was Cambrian explosion that caused an amoeba to form 543 million years ago; Sixth: the amoeba became a tadpole who jumped in and out of water for many years; Seventh: Finally through exposure to the sun, the amoeba who became a tadpole, progressed into an animal that could climb a tree; Eight: then eventually it became a human being. That is stupid, foolish thoughts, lies that has ever been published, and this is being taught at lots of school’s institution. Nations leaders and government officials take God of school and universities, removed prayers out of school, the reality of creation out of schools and they take the Holy Bible out of schools, with the intention of teaching the foolish thoughts, moronic views, of vain imaginations. The bible is God’s Word, God is the Author of the Bible that contained all the answers to life’s questions.

It is legitimate that God has every right and just to perfectly pour out His wrath on this evil, insulting, mocking world that has done so much against the justice, against the power, against the wisdom of God.

Not only the unrighteous, ungodly, suppress of truth deserves the wrath of God but also deserve to be totally abandoned by God and be seriously judged by Him.

V – THOSE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND KNEW GOD, ARE DARK IN THEIR HEARTS – v.21e

Romans 1:21e “and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Roma 1:21-23 “at ang mga puso nilang walang katuturan ay nagdilim.”

They deserve the wrath of God because these ungodly and unrighteous people who have knowledge of God have a heart that was darkened.

The word “foolish” means senseless, stupid, without understanding or without discernment.

The “heart” here is their whole inner man.

The word “darkened” it described how instructively is the downward progress of the human soul here traced. It can also refer to the mind without light. The hearts of those people who suppress and attack the truth of God although they may look spiritual, they may look religious and righteous in their appearance but their mind is darkened as it was fully directed by their downward heart.

Whenever human wisdom sets itself against God, the result is soon seen in human foolishness.

The precious light of truth that God has given them was out of their sight because of their heart that is darkened. These people assumed they reached some level of mental high degree but the truth is they are at the very lowest level of mental senselessness.

Man is not improving physically, morally, intellectually, or spiritually. The pull is downward.

No one is excuse, no one can give an alibi when they face God in His throne, and no one can dare to complain to say that they don’t know that God existed and real, that God is true, all powerful and just and holy. Why? Because God has placed in every human heart the knowledge about Him and once a heart is in a very lowest level and they strongly suppresses God’s truth, it is legitimate that God will perfectly pour His wrath for these people who deserve the abandonment and wrath of God.

VI – THOSE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND KNEW GOD BECAME FOOLS – v.22

Romans 1:22 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”

Roma 1:22 “Sa pag-aangking marurunong, sila'y naging mga hangal.”

Notice the phrase “professing themselves” it means “boasting” or “pretending to be” wise, they became fools.

Fools try to have an image as seems they are scholars but in reality, they are moronic. Fools acts to be something contrary on who really, are they.

The word “professing” is in the present tense, which means they continue to impress others that they are wise, smart, skilled, having some good ideas and views concerning spiritual things or scriptural teachings.

R.A. Torrey used to say “Professing themselves to be wise, they became philosophers, that is foolosophers.”

VII – THOSE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND KNEW GOD CHANGE THE GLORY OF GOD – v. 23.

Romans 1:23 “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

Roma 1:23 “at ipinagpalit nila ang kaluwalhatian ng Diyos na hindi nasisira sa mga imaheng kahawig ng tao na nasisira, at ng mga ibon, ng mga hayop na may apat na paa at ng mga gumagapang.”

We should never forget, one very important thing that God will never do and God does not want to share to anyone or to anything His incomparable, unmatchable, unequalled glory. There is none other God like Him for there is no other God besides Him for there is only one God. God is holy, He is the blessed and glorious God, everlasting, self-existent, all powerful. Paul says, “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31). God says “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8).

We can say that it is a shame, embarrassment for a sinful man to assume he can create, plan or formulate something that even levels the Sovereign, Almighty God. People manufacture or fabricate their own God then they worship that perishable, destructible, decayable God they created, so they have foolish reasons that they do not worship and do not honor the true, real, heavenly, big, living and glorious God.

The word “changed” indicates exchanged, “the glory of the uncorruptible God into – or “for” an image made – like to corruptible man.”

The allusion here is doubtless to the Greek worship, and the Apostle Paul may have had in his mind those exquisite chisellings of the human form which lay so profusely beneath and around him as he stood on Mars Hill and the Apostle Paul “beheld their devotions” (Acts 17:29). Paul witnessed how these people had been a deep enough degradation of the living God, there was found a lower deep still and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and to creeping things – referring now to the Egyptian and Oriental worship. We learn that Paul personally saw this stupidity of idolatrous worship of pagans in the Roman Empire. Imagine how blind and foolish their hearts were, for over 400 statues and idols stood in the city of Rome. We can find there the famous temple of Diana in Ephesus. Then the Corinth on the other hand had the famed temple of Aphrodite. Surprisingly the city of Athens was filled with idols, the well-known place of culture and knowledge (Acts 17:1) not only that they had also a statue to the unknown, imagine that to the unknown God (Acts 17:23). Means they knew God wrongfully, falsely and sinfully.

Man’s religious history has been all along a struggle to rise, from the lowest forms of nature worship, suited to the childhood of our race, into that which is more rational and spiritual.

How man degraded the living God by changing His glory:

1. From religious leaders and founders, some make God out of a man. (Example: Joseph Smith of Mormons or Mohammed of Islam or the Pope of Roman Catholicism or Buddha of Buddhism.

2. From a bird some make God out of it.

3. From four-footed animal some make God out of it (Example: Cow, rats – Hinduism)

4. From crawling reptile like a snake, some make God out of it.

5. From big ugly piece of carved wood, some make God out of it (Example: called Buddha)

In the eyes of God, the most civilized and the most educated society in all the world was changed into becoming the most mentally disordered people. It all started when man refused to acknowledge and respond to the knowledge God provided him.

With freedom of religion given to a finite and sinful man it will just lead to religious insanity and unless the knowledge that they have is according to the truth of the Word of God.

There will come a day when this depraved, heathenistic society will experience the pouring of God’s wrath because they deserve it.

On our days, people worship partners in life, fashion, sports, earthly possessions, success in all areas, artists and celebrities, music, money, and even themselves. They also worship creatures rather than the creator like birds, sticks, statues made by man’s hands, the sun, the moon and a tree, and planets. With their proudful spirit they assume within their heart they know better and have much knowledge but the worst evidence is that they suppress the truth of God so they are accountable and guilty to be punished thus deserve God’s wrath and abandonment of God.

There still hope and a chance for any ungodly unrighteous, heathen and idol makers and worshippers to escape the wrath of God and that is through believing on the Savior Jesus Christ who died, buried, risen from the dead. Whosoever, rejected the simple plan of salvation, by grace through in in the finished work of redemption of Jesus Christ, will be punished and deserved the wrath of God.

Only God is worthy of worship. God’s glory is never meant for anyone and for anything. Give God the honor, the glory, worship Him in Spirit and in truth. God deserves worship or that idol worshippers deserves the wrath of God.