God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

Romans 1

18 a For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and b unrighteousness of men, who 1 suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because c what may be known of God is 2 manifest 3 in them, for d God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world e His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and 4 Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but f became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 g Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the h incorruptible i God into an image made like 5 corruptible man - and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 j Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, k to dishonor their bodies l among themselves, 25 who exchanged m the truth of God n for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to o vile passions. For even their 6 women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the 7 men, leaving the natural use of the 8 woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things p which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, 9 sexual immorality, wickedness, 10 covetousness, 11 maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 12 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, 13 unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, q knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things r are deserving of death, not only do the same but also s approve of those who practice them.

  1. Cross References
    Acts 17:30
    Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 6:13
    And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
    2 Thessalonians 2:10
    And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
    2 Peter 2:13
    And will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you.
    1 John 5:17
    All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 14:17
    "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."
    Acts 17:24
    God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
  4. Cross References
    John 1:9
    That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
  5. Cross References
    Job 12:7 - 9
    But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
    Psalms 19:1 - 6
    The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
    Jeremiah 5:22
    Do you not fear Me?' says the LORD. 'Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.
  6. Cross References
    2 Kings 17:15
    And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them that they should not do like them.
    Jeremiah 2:5
    Thus says the LORD: "What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?
    Ephesians 4:17
    This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.
  7. Cross References
    Jeremiah 10:14
    Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in them.
    1 Corinthians 1:20
    Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
  8. Cross References
    1 Timothy 1:17
    Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
    1 Timothy 6:15
    Which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
    1 Timothy 6:16
    Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:16 - 18
    Lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female.
    Psalms 106:20
    Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass.
    Jeremiah 2:11
    Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.
    Acts 17:29
    Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 81:12
    So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels.
    Acts 7:42
    Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: 'Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
    Ephesians 4:18
    Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
    Ephesians 4:19
    Who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
  11. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 6:18
    Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
  12. Cross References
    Leviticus 18:22
    You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
  13. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:9
    For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
  14. Cross References
    Isaiah 44:20
    He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, " Is there not a lie in my right hand?
    Jeremiah 10:14
    Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in them.
    Jeremiah 13:25
    This is your lot, The portion of your measures from Me," says the LORD, "Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood.
    Jeremiah 16:19
    O LORD, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You From the ends of the earth and say, "Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness and unprofitable things.
  15. Cross References
    Leviticus 18:22
    You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
    Ephesians 5:12
    For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
  16. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:4
    Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
  17. Cross References
    Romans 2:2
    But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
  18. Cross References
    Romans 6:21
    What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 50:18
    When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers.
    Hosea 7:3
    They make a king glad with their wickedness, And princes with their lies.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Next Book Next Book