This morning as I was reading J.I. Packer's Concise Theology, I was struck by the following quote which comes from his section, Guilt: The Effect of General Revelation:
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 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. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore, God gave them up. . ." (Romans 1:18-24a ESV)
Man does all he can to suppress the revelation that speaks loudly and clearly that "Yes, Elizabeth (and everyone else), there IS a God!" (see Psalm 19:1-5) Humanity also takes the revelation of God and exchanges it for a lie ... the lie being, "There is no Creator. WE can become our own god!" And why does man do this? Packer hits upon it when he uses the word "escape." Man wants to put out of his mind any thought of a future reckoning before an Almighty, Creator God. And so he supresses God's truth and exchanges it for a package of lies.
But there is hope for humanity. And it does not lay on this path that Paul describes in Romans 1. Rather man's hope is, as Packer rightfully points out, only and solely in the gospel (good news) of Christ. And if you want a brief explanation of that gospel, click right here!
Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj
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