Romans: Idolatry Meets the Wrath of God

Idolatry exchanges the glory of God for corruption of the world. (v.23)

We exchange a perfect, complete God for idols that will never satisfy.

Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.Jeremiah 2:11

There are no other gods, only our God.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.Acts 17:29

All other gods are idolatry and an attempt to worship something other than the one true God.

The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.Psalm 135:15-18

Idolatry is the setting aside of God to worship the things He has made. (v.25)

Worshipping creation, rather than the Creator is a diversionary tactic of the enemy.

Idolatry results in the darkening of the human heart. (v.21)

Terrible things happen in the darkness of the human heart.

God’s wrath is seen in His handing over the idolator to the uncleanness of their lust. (v.24)

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.Psalm 81:11-12

For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye. The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.Hosea 4:16-19

Sin itself is punishment. Sin degrades man, debases the image of God, strips man of his dignity, robs his peace of mind, plagues him with a guilty conscience and destroys all relationships, all the while estranging man from God.

This is more than God simply letting the sinner pursue their sin unrestrained. God is the active initiator of His wrath, therefore he hands them over to their sin as their new slave master.

And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?Numbers 11:18-20

God’s wrath is seen by His active punishment and in addition to willful His absence.

God was absent during the crucifixion of Jesus as His wrath was poured out upon His Son.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?Matthew 27:46

Hell will be merciless due to torment and suffering, but there will be no rest due to the absence of God.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.Revelation 20:12-15

In this downward slide toward wrath, there is always hope in Jesus.

God often allows men to go deeper and deeper into sin in order to drive them to despair and to show them their need of Him. He often punishes men in order to heal and restore.

And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.Isaiah 19:22

As long as there is the breath of life, there is hope.