“For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18 HCSB).
Why would human beings attempt to suppress the truth, as we’re told here in Romans 1:18? We can address that question with another question: what is the essential, foundational truth that is inherent to any human being? Well, the foundational truth about any member of the human race is that he or she exists. While there may be many things that are true about someone, the primary, fundamental truth about any human being is that he or she is.
With this in mind, we can ask a follow-up question: “What is ‘the truth’ about God?” The answer to that question is the same as it is for anyone else: God exists, or He “is.” To illustrate this concept, we can refer to an exchange between God and Moses, the famous Old Testament leader…
“Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:13-14 NIV).
This reference to “I AM” is important, for it identifies God as a self-existent, eternal Being. However, God’s existence differs from that of every human person, for there was never a time when God did not exist. As the uncreated, eternal, first cause of every finite thing there is, only God alone can say, “I AM.”
This reality has led to many creative forms of suppression among those who are uncomfortable with the reality of God’s existence. For instance, the term “Mother Nature” is a common way of referring to creation in a manner that eliminates the idea of a Creator. We might also refer to “luck,” “fate,” “chance,” or “karma” in an effort to camouflage or dismiss any consideration of God and His sovereignty over the affairs of life.
Of course, some may challenge these assertions with the following objection: “We don’t know God exists. Therefore, we are incapable of suppressing that purported truth.” The Apostle Paul dismisses that objection in the following verse from our text: “What can be known about God is clear to them because he has made it clear to them” (Romans 1:19 GW).
Here begins a portion of the book of Romans that features one of the most penetrating assessments of the human condition in all Scripture. We’ll begin our consideration of those verses next.
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The word “suppress” refers to the act of holding something down. A common analogy for understanding this word is that of a sailor who is determined to pilot his or her boat against a strong current of water. To accomplish this, the sailor must work to “suppress” or counteract the natural flow of water by forcing the rudder to take the boat in the direction he or she wishes to go instead of the direction of the current.
That brings us to this reference to “godlessness,” a term that means “without reverence for God.” A godless person is someone who lives as if God did not exist, or exhibits irreverence for Him in thought, word, or deed. Much like a warning lamp that signals the presence of a fault condition, godlessness signals a defect in one’s vertical relationship with his or her Creator.
Scholars and commentators have wrestled with the precise meaning of the term “faith to faith” here in Romans 1:17. For instance, this portion of Scripture may relate to God’s faithfulness in respect to our faith, or it may refer to ever-increasing degrees of faith.
While many accept the premise that everyone possesses a moral compass, there are just as many who would undoubtedly view “right” and “wrong” as a matter of personal preference. However, a compass that aligns with our preferences may not provide an accurate reading. Therefore, the question of where that compass points is far more significant.