Paul just told us that the righteousness of God was revealed. Now as he presents his argument for the letter, he reminds us that God’s wrath is also revealed from heaven. The relationship between God’s righteousness and his wrath is fundamental. To those who have faith he will reveal his righteousness and to those who are ungodly, who refuse to honor him as God or give thanks to him (Romans 1:21), will receive his wrath.
God has not hidden himself from us. Paul declares in Romans 1:20 that even before we knew him in our hearts, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived … since the creation of the world. God’s creation reveals God himself. There is no question, there is no excuse.
Because of who God is, he could expect honor and thanksgiving, but because of who we are, it is not in our nature to do so. God gives the same blessings to both the unrighteous and the righteous alike. Each person on earth receives rain and sunshine, yet there will be many who never offer gratitude to the one who gives forth those gifts.
Since those people who are unrighteous have chosen to believe lies rather than the truth and worshiped themselves and their own minds rather than the Creator, God … gave them up to their passions. He let them become whatever it was they wanted.
These words do not mean that God has given up on humanity. The Scriptures teach over and over that redemption and transformation can occur. It is God’s patience which allows mankind to live a life without faith. It is his salvation which brings mankind back into righteousness.
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