Rediscover the source of godliness: Romans 1:18

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For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
No one likes to be called ungodly. (Well, at least most people don't like it; I am sure you, like me, have met some profoundly proud atheists at one time.) But ungodly living is so unbecoming. Most of us don't like to be around arrogant people. We don't like heartlessness. We condemn ruthlessness, senselessness, those who harm the innocent. We rightfully take offense at boastful blasphemers. And let's be honest, who likes to be around drunks all the time?

Of course, you know the truth, don't you? You know you are just like that. Maybe not all the time ... maybe not even most of the time ... maybe rarely ... but we are all like that.
There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. (Romans 3:10-11)
Yes, it's true: We are all like that. Ungodly. Unrighteous. Yes, we all are idolaters, and/or adulterers, and/or thieves, and/or greedy, and/or drunkards, and/or immoral. We are all sinners.

Or I should say, we were all like that ... until God interceded.

  • If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Ungodliness defeated.
  • If you believe and are baptized, you will be saved (Mark 16:16). Ungodliness defeated.
  • If you turn to Jesus, he will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). Unrighteousness defeated.
  • If you believe in Jesus, if you believe in just one miracle that someone said he did (John 10:38), if you will just believe the Word became flesh (John 1:14) , you will live (John 11:25-26). Can't you hear God calling (John 10:1-18)?

Godliness clearly comes from our belief after hearing the word (Romans 10:17). So ... it stands to reason ungodliness comes from unbelief.

Ungodliness is the suppression of truth, as we heard in today's passage (Romans 1:18). For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness ... of men, who ... suppress the truth, who reject Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), who reject the Word (John 1:1), who reject the Word made flesh (John 1:14), who reject Jesus (John 3:18).

Ungodliness is the absence of God. As we hear in Romans 1:21: For although they knew God ... their foolish hearts were darkened. See, God is light, and in him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5). If you are in darkness, you clearly can't be in God. Godliness is the light of the truth; ungodliness is darkness (John 1:5). Yes, ungodliness is the rejection of God (Jude 1:4). Ungodliness is unbelief (1 Cor 2:14).

That brings us to the good news: Christ died for you, the ungodly one (Romans 5:6). Christ fulfilled the law that shows you how ungodly you are (1 Tim 1:9), so that you could recognize your faults and turn to God in repentance ... and believe. In your belief, you will be born again, born as one of God's children (1 John 5:1). God reveals his godliness to you and through you. In your belief, God's godliness overcomes your ungodliness (Gal. 5:22-23). In your belief, God's light eliminates your darkness, the ungodliness of unbelief.

Rediscover godliness and believe (Romans 10:9, Mark 16:16).


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