16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:16–20 (KJV)

Is God, a righteous God? Is God, a just God? Is God fair to let a person die and go to Hell who has never even once heard the name of Jesus? Can a righteous, good, loving, and holy God let a man die and go to Hell who never once heard the name of Jesus?

The Revelation Factor

Creation testifies to the fact of God. (Psalm 19) Creation is the outward, objective witness. Conscience is the inward, subjective witness.

Augustine said, “the soul of man is restless until it finds its rest in God.” All of us have God-consciousness. (John 1:9)

The Refusal Factor

 “Because, when they knew God” means that they know by creation and conscience that God exists. When God gives you light, when creation and conscience speak to the heart of any pagan or any individual anywhere on the face of this earth, when God gives him some light,

  • if he does not glorify God,
  • if he does not believe in God,
  • if he does not trust God,

He does not remain standing still; he begins to regress and he loses even the light that he has. His foolish heart will be darkened. 

In the Bible, the opposite of truth is not error; it is sin. He refuses truth because of the sin that is in his heart. (Romans 1:18) Why does a man not believe in God? Because to believe in God means that he must adjust his lifestyle!

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2 Thessalonians 2:9–11 (KJV)

To be continued…