Lesson 3 (Romans 1:18-32)

The Consequences of Unbelief

In the past 37 years I have been on a self imposed bent to take as many with me into the kingdom of God as I can possible take. Of course that is just another way of saying I am determined to preach the gospel to any who will listen. I know I don’t literally take anyone with me into the kingdom of God. Being the firm believer in divine election and predestination that I am, I know I only speak the words of the gospel to those whom God has effectually called and He does the rest, but my point is this: countless times I have heard the suggestion that a just God would not send people who have not heard the gospel into eternal hell. The biblical evidence, as found in Romans, indicates He does not cast them into eternal hell for their failure to respond to a gospel they have not heard. Romans 1:18-32 tells us He casts them into hell because they rejected the truth that they have been given about Him.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. . . .for they exchanged the truth of God for a lie. . . ”

Then, of course, II Corinthians 4:3, 4 explains why many of those who do hear

the gospel reject it,

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

1. Against what is God’s wrath revealed from heaven? 1:18a



2. Why? 1:18b, 19



3. What two invisible attributes of God have been revealed since the creation of the world? 1:20a

a. His . . .

b. and . . .

4. How have these attributes been understood? 1:20b



5. Use verses 18-20, to paraphrase why man has no excuse for failing to subject himself to the authority of God.





6. Based on these verses alone, how would you respond to the suggestion by someone from the rain forests of South America who refused to believe a just God would send his parents to hell because they have never heard the gospel?





Now take time to list the reasons God finally gives this group over in the lusts of their hearts (v1:24), to degrading passions (1:26), and to a depraved mind (1:28) found in verses 21-32. If I counted correctly, there are no less than twenty-three acts described to justify God’s wrath in just five sentences. And lest any of us are tempted to think we were any better than the worst on this list, let us be reminded we were all lost and on our way to the fires of eternal hell before God intervened and regenerated our dead souls. The longer I walk with Christ, the easier it is for me to forget what a disgusting character I was before Jesus snatched me from the blazing furnace of hellfire and brimstone. And what I’m most likely to forget is that it is only because of His grace, mercy, and His power to keep me in that grace and mercy that I don’t return to the pig sty from which He snatched me.







Verse 32 of Romans 1 makes an ominous statement about those who are bound for hell, in spite of their knowledge of God ordinance. It tells us this group not only knows the ordinance of God, and that those who practice these evil things are worthy of death, but that they also do them and give “hearty” approval to everyone else who does them. This is the quintessential image of the proverbial “misery loves company,” idea. I Corinthians 15:33 advises us, “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Close lesson 3 discussing how we, as born-again believers, can reach those who have gotten themselves trapped in a lifestyle that could doom them to spending years in prison, living on welfare, or, worse case scenario, and early trip to the grave. Then close in prayer, asking God to make us better prepared to