Lesson 2: Man's Need of Salvation (Rom 1:18-3:20)
Topic 2: Gentiles Condemned (Continued)

General Revelation of God (Rom 1:19-20)

Objective 3 - At the end of this topic, you will be able to describe the general revelation of God, two sources through which people receive it, and its importance in the judgment.

In these verses, was Paul talking about the history of the human race? Or was he talking about the Gentiles of his day? Apparently he was talking about both. As a result of his knowledge of the Law, Paul was undoubtedly thinking about how man deliberately turned away from the original revelation of God until the world became so corrupt that God sent the flood. The human race made a fresh start with a new revelation of God, but most of Noah's descendants rejected the truth and chose the downward path of sin. At the same time, Paul was also describing the Gentile world of his day and pointing out that they too had had a revelation of God but had rejected it.

Question 7
Which of the following verses in the first chapter of Romans tell us that the Gentiles had been given some kind of revelation of God?
  Romans 1:7-8
  Romans 1:16-17
  Romans 1:19-20
  Romans 1:24-25

Romans 1:19-20 makes it clear that the Gentiles have received enough of a revelation of God that they are without excuse for rejecting Him. Now read these other verses that show that they had some knowledge of God and understood that they were doing wrong when they deliberately turned away from it: Romans 1:21-23, 25, 28, 32.

Question 8
What things did the Gentiles know about God according to Romans 1:20, 23, 25, 32? (Select all that apply.)
  His Son, Jesus
  His Holy Spirit
  His glory
  His righteous judgment
  His eternal power and divine nature
  His truth

Paul is writing here about people who did not have the Scriptures and had not heard the gospel message. Would they be condemned? This is an important question because we face it today.

Question 9
This passage clearly shows that the revelation God gave to the Gentiles told them about redemption.
  True
  False

Two sources of knowledge about God have been given to the whole human race: conscience and nature. Some of the invisible things of God are "manifest" in us by the inner voice of God speaking to the conscience (see Rom 2:14-15). Others are revealed to our reason through the wonders of God's creation in the natural world (see Rom 1:19-20). This knowledge of God that is given to all men everywhere is called the general revelation of God. Creation tells us that a higher power made us and the world that we live in. If this is so, we should try to find Him. We should do what He wants us to do. He speaks to our conscience and lets us know right from wrong. If we accept His revelation, we will obey Him to the best of our ability.

Unfortunately, the response of men to this general revelation of God has been rejection. There is evidence of an inward impulse to "push away the truth." This impulse is sin in the human heart.