I’ve been reading Scripture a little differently these days.

Since God has zeroed my soul into focusing on what it means to know God and on Who He is, I am drawn to Scripture that refers to this subject. And I’m honestly surprised at how often it shows up in places I haven’t noticed before.

Romans 1:28-32 is one of those places.

What is the Crazy, Amazing Benefit of the Knowledge of God as Paul described in Romans 1:18-32?

I find it fascinating. This is the question addressed in this blog.

Check out the Scripture first Here

Fascinating- The Knowledge of God

 

We find here the reality that God has revealed the knowledge of Himself to every person on earth through Creation. Not that every person looks at a leaf and automatically has a personal relationship with God. This is not talking about a saving knowledge of Him. It explains that God made the knowledge of Himself clear to each person so that they are without excuse:

“His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and deity, have been clearly seen from the time the world was created.

Yet, it says people suppress the truth.

The Crux of It

The central message of this entire section of Scripture is that if you don’t glorify God and give thanks to Him- if you reject the knowledge of Him, the result is all kinds of sinful, dishonorable action.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened (verse 21)

By simply not choosing to honor and thank God, the result is that our hearts become darkened and we feeling comfortable doing all kinds of things that we shouldn’t.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done

What is the Amazing Gain of Choosing to Retain the Knowledge of God?

Well, look at all these things that characterize the lives of those who don’t do that in verses 29-32:

• Unrighteousness
• Wickedness
• Covetousness
• Malice
• Envy
• Murder
• Strife
• Deceit
• Gossip
• Slander
• Hatred of God
• Insolent
• Arrogant
• Bragging
• Inventing evil
• Disobeying parents
• Senselessness
• Faithlessness
• Lovelessness
• Mercilessness
• Approving of evil
• Encouraging others toward evil

(These translations of the words are taken from Thomas Schreiner’s excellent commentary on Romans)

I find it utterly fascinating that choosing to honor and thank God- choosing to make knowing Him a priority- can save you from a lot of icky, destructive grief that comes from all kinds of idolatry.

Oh, the fascinating protective nature of the knowledge of God!

Let’s Be Honest

Not one person on the face of the earth could be free of all those things listed. The broad-sweeping nature of those terms covers every kind of sin there is.

It is so easy to fall into them. Some are easier for me than you, and vise versa. And it is so, so easy to neglect praising and thanking God.

Paul reminds his readers in Philippians 3:1

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

When we choose to rejoice in God- to think about who He is and all He has done and to honor Him for it and thank Him-

It is a Safeguard for Us.

Wow- that is so cool!

How Has Knowing God Been a Safeguard for You?

Please share in the comments below! And be sure to check out:

• The Key to Both Wisdom and Knowledge
• Life Untasted
• Cultivating Awe
• Dark Energy and the End of the Universe