For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. (CSB)

Have you ever faced something in life where it seemed like God didn't respond the way you thought He should? Or perhaps you've read something in Scripture that left you wrestling with similar feelings? That tension is something you might encounter while reading parts of the book of Romans, starting with today's key verse. In Romans, Paul teaches hard but necessary truths about the nature of sin, the need for salvation, and the sovereignty of God. That's why a key understanding we must carry through reading Romans is this: God is God, and we are not. Paul doesn’t soften the tough truths for anyone; he lays them plainly before the original audience and modern readers, so we are all equally reminded of our need for a Savior.

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To make a little more sense of the key verse, I would back up to verse 18 and read through 20. A few things are worth looking at here. The word Paul uses to describe God's wrath is an abiding, just opposition to evil. This is not human anger or rage that flies off the handle at all who are near it. It's controlled and paralleled by his righteousness. Verse 19 tells us that what can be known about God is made plain among us because God has shown it to us. How did He show it?  Verse 20 explains that God’s invisible attributes, specifically His eternal power and divine nature, are understood in creation through what He has made. This is the idea of natural revelation, and it is supported in other passages such as Eccl. 3:11b, “He has also set eternity in the human heart” (NIV), and Job 12:7-9, which explains that animals and the Earth itself testify to God.   

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Nothing too hard to sit with so far, but then we get to the end of verse 20: “As a result, people are without excuse.” Paul shows that humanity actively suppresses truth, ignoring clear evidence of God's existence in creation. It is a willful act to witness creation with all its intricacies and deny the existence of a Creator. Paul outlines through the end of the chapter how this denial will lead to idolatry and increased sinfulness.  

Verse 20 is really challenging, especially for those who lean more compassionate or are fairness-focused. D.A. Carson explained that we can receive natural revelation because we are made in the image of God, but without some other form of grace (the gospel), we will just reject it. Natural revelation alone can't save us; it reveals a Creator but not the gospel itself. It’s hard enough to wrestle with the idea that “people are without excuse,” considering natural revelation can’t save us anyway. But if we also consider that people means all people, including those who've not heard the gospel, this passage likely prompts the thought: "But would a good God really...?"  

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This brings me back to the original reminder for Romans (and the Bible/life in general if we are honest): God is God, and I am not. God’s idea of good is not always my idea of good. We all have to accept these truths in faith as believers. God is continually active in countless good ways beyond my comprehension.  

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For example, Matthew 7:7-8 (CSB) says: “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” It’s comforting to consider the promise that our good God is always within reach of those who seek Him, even if we can't see how.  

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But Paul doesn't leave us with a lot of hope that we will readily seek the Lord of our own accord. So, what does that mean for the unreached? After all, Romans 10:14 says, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" God desires to reach the unreached through US. Our good God is in pursuit of those knocking, as well as those who are not yet seeking. Instead of focusing on what feels unfair, we can focus on what we can do to reach those who still need the good news of Jesus.

Take some time today to think about your own part in the Great Commission. Here are a few things you can do: 

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Pray for God to burden your heart for the lost and for missionaries, for unreached people groups, and for opportunities to share the gospel with those around you.

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Give. Financial support is essential for spreading the gospel locally and globally. If you aren't tithing yet, start there. If you are, consider additional offerings as God leads. Remember, we don’t give to ACF, we give through ACF. 
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‍Go. Maybe God’s calling you across the office, down the street, out to the bush, or into the world. Take the step in faith!

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