Pillar 1 - Foundational Truths - Digging Deeper

General Revelation and Human Accountability: A Review of Romans 1:18-32

The claim that all people are "without excuse" before God is either the most sobering statement in Scripture or a profound injustice — this page examines the argument Paul builds in Romans 1, and why its conclusion is inescapable.

Digging Deeper

Without Excuse

The knowledge of God through nature is not obscure.  Whether you gaze at the night sky “counting” stars, peruse in awe the Hubble photos of distant galaxies, consider the complexities embedded in the double-helix of a single DNA strand or simply witness the miracle of birth, the existence of God is irrefutable.

John Calvin wrote that God’s essence is incomprehensible, but on each of His works His glory is engraved in characters so bright and distinct that none, however dull and illiterate, can plead ignorance as their excuse. 

Modern science tells us that the universe shows powerful evidence of divine design by what is called “fine tuning”.  Simply stated, it means that the slightest variance in many of nature’s laws would make life as we know it impossible.  If gravity was just a tiny bit stronger or weaker, stars like our sun could not form.  If the power that holds an atom together was changed ever so slightly, life would not exist.  The universe is uniquely fine-tuned for what life requires.

This revelation in nature removes the intellectual excuse for unbelief.  Even though natural revelation does not reveal everything, it nonetheless provides external evidence of the power, wisdom, and kindness of God’s existence.  This same natural revelation also is planted in our conscience, giving mankind the ability to perceive it, comprehend it and to receive its awe and beauty.

The lack of evidence is not the problem.  Instead, the problem is the willful suppression or disregard of this truth, exchanged for wickedness and moral darkness.   Because it is willful, in the face of clear evidence otherwise, you become culpable.    Romans 1:20 describes it as follows: “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.”

Here the irrationality of exchanging truth for lies is exposed.   The Apostle Paul goes on to describe that those who suppress this truth, without faith in Christ, become futile in their thinking.  Their hearts become darkened and God gives them over to their sinful nature and the lusts of their hearts.  Their exchange of the truth for a lie engages them in worshiping the creature instead of the Creator.

This progression shows us that unbelief is not neutral.  It is a moral choice, not an intellectual one.  It is an unwillingness to submit to the implications of what creation reveals.  The universe is intentional and has purpose, specifically created for conscious beings to know and worship their Creator.  We are made in His image to use our moral and spiritual capacity to grow our relationship with our Creator and to allow Him to fulfill His purpose through us.  The universality of this truth removes any excuse for unbelief.   Similarly, it establishes the justice of God’s judgement.

You are without excuse to acknowledge God because His glory is shown all around you.  While you know of God through natural revelation, you do need special revelation for salvation.  The Law was given for physical witness to the moral law written on the heart so you clearly would know your transgressions against God and come to understand you are a sinner in need of salvation.  God’s plan for salvation through Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is revealed in Scripture.  Those who reject Christ reject truth … and will be held accountable.