Today’s devotion comes from Romans 1:18-32. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=NASB
I quote herein only the following verses.
“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 since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” Romans 1:18-23.
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Last night, at my first reading of today’s Scripture, I was focused generally on the wrath of God. I searched for Scriptures that generally pertained to the wrath of God.
But, this morning, I set aside those general wrath Scriptures as I recognized that the intent of today’s Scripture was to to specifically address those “who suppress the truth” and that this truth is not some academic truth, nor even some minor spiritual truth as important as it may be, but it is the truth of the gospel which immediately preceded this Scripture, namely Romans 1:16 which defines the gospel as “the power of God for salvation”.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation …:” Romans 1:16.
In sharp contrast to those who teach the truth of the gospel that it is the power of God for salvation, there are those who suppress the truth of the gospel that it is the power of God for salvation.
Today’s Scripture then proceeds to talk about the power of God.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Verse 20.
Then, today’s Scripture proceeds to talk about honoring God and giving thanks.
“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Verse 21.
As much as the truth of Reformed Doctrine honors God and is generous, that the power of God provides all that we need for salvation from beginning to end (from the beginning of God’s “Unconditional Election” through God’s “Limited Atonement” through God’s “Irresistible Grace” to the end of God’s “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of salvation, more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt), there are those who prefer man’s alleged free-will and prefer honoring man and giving thanks to man. They suppress the truth by teaching a different gospel, or they suppress the truth by hiding, minimizing, obscuring, or balancing the true gospel.
Then, today’s Scripture proceeds to talk about other types of unrighteousness, thereby confirming that today’s Scripture was not generally addressing all types of unrighteousness, but rather it specifically addressed the specific unrighteousness of those “who suppress the truth” of the gospel that it is the power of God for salvation.
“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;” Verses 28-31.
In addition to today’s Scripture, there are other Scriptures that give similar strict and severe warnings to those who suppress the truth of the gospel that it is the power of God for salvation.
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” James 3:1.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” John 5:39-40.
“Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.” 2 Timothy 3:8.
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” Galatians 1:6-9.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 