Today we’re looking at (Romans 1:18–25) which talks about how humanity pushes away the truth and replaces God with other things…with “idols.” Paul begins by explaining that God’s wrath is not random rage—it’s His holy and just response to human sin. Similarly, if you throw a rock in the water, there’s a splash and a ripple effect.

Paul argues that God is clearly seen and continually being revealed through creation. The truth has always been made plain. In other words, the problem isn’t lack of evidence…we see it…we know it; rather it’s that people choose different than God. 

Instead of worshiping the Creator, we worship other things. This “exchange” of truth for a lie marks the beginning of humanity’s moral and spiritual decline.  People end up with futile thinking and darker hearts. And this is not just in the past, it happens right here in our day as well. In our culture, people often replace God with things like autonomy, success, relationships, or pleasure. 

The essence of sin is not about breaking rules—it’s rejecting God Himself.

Key Takeaways:

1. God reveals Himself clearly in nature; ignorance is not the issue—suppression is.
2. Idolatry is about placing anything above God.
3. The root of sin is exchanging the truth of God for a lie.
4. Our culture is full of modern idols—status, sexuality, self, etc.
5. This is the starting point of Paul’s argument: all people stand guilty before God.  We are in need of a Savior.