18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

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.

22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools

— Romans 1:18-22

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

— 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

— 1 Thessalonians 5:3

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

When people do not admit the reality of God’s wrath, they excuse sin and suppress plain truth for which they are accountable to God. An insufficient understanding or outright refusal to believe in God’s righteous wrath against sin leaves people blind to sin’s consequences and without reason or urgency to seek the Savior God sent to receive His wrath in their place. Skewed and self-oriented attempts to define reality leave people facing eternal peril.

When we believe that our sin deserves God’s wrath, we love God more and more for sending Jesus to bear His wrath in our place. The reality of God’s wrath compels us to joyfully declare the righteousness Jesus offers sinners by faith. Have you accepted Jesus’s substitutionary death in taking on God’s wrath on your behalf? If so, how does your life express your gratitude for God’s gift of eternal protection from His wrath through the atoning sacrifice of His Son? (Inspired by BSF’s Study of Romans)