20 For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

— Romans 1:20-21

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

— Romans 3:19-22

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Because visibility removes excuses, no excuse exists for humanity’s failure to believe, worship, and thank God. The reasonable responses to God’s visibility in creation alone should convict people’s heart for unbelieving the existence of God. Nevertheless, every generation offers excuses for suppressing the truth God reveals. Excuses perpetuate unbelief, unrepentance, and failure to realize that nothing matters more than seeking God and His plans for His creation.

Romans 3:19 describes what will happen to excuses when people face judgment: “Every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” Humanity is justly under God’s wrath due to sin. God Himself provides the sole, unmerited remedy in the person and work of Jesus Christ to be received through faith alone. Because of God’s abounding grace and love, He faithfully moves people from general to special revelation as they respond to Him. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers all who believe God’s singular, gracious solution to His deserved wrath.