Romans 1:16-19 (NKJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Two Observations:
1. God is revealing His righteousness through the Gospel of Christ from faith to faith. We are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes Christ. This is why we are eager to preach the Gospel of Christ. We declare the Scriptures of God because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God/Christ, (Romans 10:17, NKJV & NASB).
2. God is revealing His wrath from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. When the Holy Spirit guided the Apostle Paul to write this Epistle to the Christians in Rome during the first century God was revealing His Gospel and wrath. He is still doing this today. As men suppress the truth of God, He then reveals His wrath. Why does He do this? Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. We are created in the image of God. We have a desire to know our Creator. Men who do not want to know God suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18-32 show us the downward spiral of a culture that does not retain God in their knowledge. God gives them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting, (Romans 1:28, see verses 24 & 26). So let us exalt Christ and His Word because it is the power of God unto salvation.
