Romans 1 is one of the clearest passages in the New Testament that teaches that all mankind, even though they know God, has rejected and sinned against Him and turned to idols.

In the apostle Paul’s first major section in Romans, he gives extensive treatment to explaining the sinfulness of mankind and their willing rejection of God and His goodness. But why does Paul spend so much time explaining the bad news about the depravity and wickedness of mankind? It is because understanding man’s sinfulness is the first part of embracing the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Romans 1, the apostle Paul explains that although the immoral pagan knows God, they have willingly rejected Him—a truly shocking response. But in doing so, man has determined to harden his heart against the God of the Bible and worship several replacements or substitutes—Paul calls them idols.

False religions are pervasive in our world today. But according to Romans 1, false religions are embraced by those who have rejected the one true God of the Bible, those who have exchanged the truth of God for lies. In Romans 1, the apostle Paul gives several insights into false religions to help people understand that false religions lead people away from the true God and intentionally try to diminish His honor and glory.

Romans 1 is one of the clearest passages in Scripture that describes how God views the sinfulness of mankind. It is crucial to understand that God doesn’t grade on a curve—every sin that has ever been committed, no matter if it is great or small, has been seen by God and has personally offended Him.

Throughout Romans 1, the apostle Paul has emphasized that mankind, rather than honoring and praising the God of creation, is determined to willingly reject and oppose Him. Such a shocking response is common to all of humanity; no one is excluded. But the Bible provides a solution to this very problem—the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The wrath of God is a doctrine found in Scripture that is often rejected or downplayed by the unbelieving world and even those who profess to be Christians. But the apostle Paul makes it clear in Romans 1 that the wrath of God is a biblical doctrine that should be understood and embraced. In fact, to not understand the wrath of God is to seriously misunderstand His essential being or who He is.

Romans 1 is a profound paragraph that teaches that God's righteous wrath is being revealed or poured out against every immoral, unbelieving pagan—this is true of all of human history and even today. But it is crucial to understand that the immoral pagan who rejects God isn’t without excuse, because they know God and His law, even if they have never read the Scripture

At the heart of Paul’s teaching, beginning in Romans 1:18, is that God’s wrath is being revealed against the immoral pagan who has willingly rejected Him. Even though this biblical truth is difficult to comprehend, it plays a crucial role in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because although man deserves God’s eternal wrath and punishment, He has provided a way for man to be forgiven of his sins and to be justified before him.