How Bad Is It?

Let’s get to know this man, Paul.

You can read his backstory in Acts 22, 24-26. Here in his letter to the Romans, he tells them of the revolutionary change that has taken place in his life and how he is not ashamed to take the gospel—God’s dynamite—to everyone in the world, regardless of racial or religious barriers. God offers to save anyone who believes in the name of Jesus Christ. That faith in Christ is the only way to come to God. (See also Philippians 3:9 and Habakkuk 2:4.)

This invitation into the life and grace of God is important to get on the table right now because in the next section of Romans, we’ll discover how God, in His perfect righteousness, deals with our sin.

As a sinner, you either know the righteousness of God or His wrath, His anger against sin. God hates all ungodliness—anything that denies His character and shows man’s neglect and rebellion against God. He has shown us who He is, and we’ve looked the other way.

Our universe tells us two things about God: His person and His power. Since He created the world, these two invisible things can be seen. Just look around—creation is a clear light of revelation, revealing God’s unchangeable power and existence. (See Psalm 8:3, 19:1, and Acts 14:17.)

Mankind is not getting any better, contrary to what evolutionists say. The pull is downward, away from God, physically, morally, intellectually, or spiritually. We began by ignoring Him and spiraled into foolishness. Instead of glorifying Him, we’ve made Him into a cartoon.

The only practical thing for us to do is return to Him, the living and true God.

Because mankind has revolted against God, He hands them over to what they want. This spiral is specifically measurable by our perversion of sex. Gross immorality and passions of dishonor, disgrace, and depravity all speak of godlessness, regardless of today’s public opinion.

No one can be a child of God and live in the thick mire of our contemporary perversion and permissiveness. But if anyone comes to Christ, He will lead them out of this sin.

All this revelation about God does not meet with public support. Mankind has heard from God but flagrantly flaunts His Word by defying His judgment against such sins. And it’s not as if they don’t know better. Mankind knows perfectly well; they’re just stiffening their necks against God.

The book of Romans reveals the tragic helplessness of the human race. No other book of the Bible looks so fearlessly at the spiral of human sin. And we’re not done yet.

But before you let this debauchery depress you too much, know that the best, most wonderful news you ever heard is coming. But before that redemption can be appreciated in all its fullness, you need to be convinced that we’re lost without the Lord.

Stay with us.

Next: Would God ever ask me to pay for my own salvation?