Do You Have Selective Hearing?

3/26/06 | Richard Van Dyke | Romans 1:18-20 |
Series: I Am Not Ashamed

An older couple had an ongoing semi-serious discussion about which one of them was losing their hearing. As time went on this became quite a bone of contention between them. The husband decided he would settle the issue once and for all. While his wife was enjoying a book in the living room, he said in a loud voice, “Dear, would you like a cup of tea?” Upon hearing no response, he progressed to the next room and said again in a firm voice, “Dear, would you like a cup of tea?” Still there was no reply from his wife. Lastly he went into the living room and stood directly behind the chair in which his wife was sitting. In an even louder voice he repeated, “Dear, would you like a cup of tea?” She turned to him with a slightly annoyed expression on her face and replied, “For the third time…yes!”

I don’t think that mankind is deaf, but we certainly have selective hearing. My father-in-law could hear what he wanted to hear and not hear what he didn’t want to hear. In this section of Romans Paul is going to talk about man’s selective hearing in relationship to God.

Up to this point Paul has been expressing his personal feelings about the believers at Rome (v. 8) and his desire to see them (v. 11). He’s shared the theme of the entire book in v. 16 & 17—the truth of the gospel—that the righteous will live by faith. Then he goes into a doctrinal segment as to why the gospel is important that concludes in chapter 3, verse 20—a section that speaks about the condemnation of man, both Jew and Gentile, because of man’s sin and guilt. Later in Romans 3:23 Paul concludes that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, and in 6:23 his conclusion is that the consequence of that condition is death.

Verses 18-20 begin this doctrinal section with the word “For,” although it’s not in the NIV translation. His point is that the gospel is important for all the reasons he’s going to discuss. He’ll discuss sin in the next few chapters to show us that the truth of the gospel is the only thing that will save us from God’s wrath, which is His judgment. The only way we can be made righteous is through the death of Christ and our acceptance of that by faith. It’s the only way our sin can be forgiven.

These verses tell us that God has revealed himself to man from both within and without; and because of man’s response to these revelations, he will be held accountable in the future, and even now experiences the wrath of God. Let’s unpack these thoughts this morning.

I. First, God has revealed himself from within man or internally (v. 19). The phrase, “what may be known” is better translated, “what is knowable.” Obviously no one, not even a Christian or the greatest Bible scholar, knows everything about God. Even if we can list off all of God’s revealed attributes, we will never totally know God in all of his majesty and glory. But some things can be known about God even by the unbeliever, and even more known by the believer who studies the Bible where God’s son Jesus is revealed as a mediator, where his incarnation, death and resurrection can be seen.

What is the “within” or internal source that every man has which will reveal God to him? It’s called the conscience. In the Old Testament the word “heart” corresponds to the New Testament “conscience.” I Samuel 24:5 says, “And afterwards David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s robe.” The New Testament has much to say about the conscience.

Romans 2:14 & 15 tells us that every person, saved or unsaved, has a conscience. The Gentiles did not have the luxury of having the law and yet they knew what was right and what was wrong. The requirements of the law had been written on their hearts, and their consciences either affirmed them, “defending them,” or accused them in what they did. Ogden Nash said, “There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all.” Paul tells Timothy in I Timothy 4 that people have the ability to sear their consciences—that is they have the ability to cauterize and harden their conscience to make it past feeling, or deaden it. We saw this in the heart of Pharoah. Every time he said “no” to Moses’ request to let the people go, God brought a plague and Pharoah hardened his heart even more. How can a serial killer or rapist do what they do without searing their conscience. We saw a simple sample during the hurricanes. People were stealing not just food for survival, but appliances, furniture, and clothes. People took advantage of hurting people with insurance scams and other schemes to get charity money. Dishonest executives bilk investors out of thousands of dollars and yet get a good night’s rest. The only way that happens is to deaden our consciences—to continually say no to what we know is right. People do it so they won’t have to deal with guilt. A conscience interferes with a sinful lifestyle.

The writer of Hebrews in chapter 9, verses 9, 13 and 14 tells us that without the application of the blood of Christ, man will always have a guilty conscience. The Jewish sacrifices could only render a person outwardly or ceremonially clean so that he could participate in the feasts and temple worship, but they couldn’t touch his conscience. Albert Speer was once interviewed about his last book on ABC’s “Good Morning, America.” Speer was the Hitler confidant whose technological genius was credited with keeping Nazi factories humming throughout World War II. In another era he might have been one of the world’s industrial giants. He was the only one of twenty-four war criminals tried in Nuremburg who admitted his guilt. Speer spent twenty years in Spandau prison.

The interviewer referred to a passage in one of Speer’s earlier writings: “You have said the guilt can never be forgiven, or shouldn’t be. Do you still feel that way?” The look of pathos on Speer’s face was wrenching as he responded, “I served a sentence of twenty years, and I could say, “I’m a free man, my conscience has been cleared by serving the whole time as punishment.” But I can’t do that. I still carry the burden of what happened to millions of people during Hitler’s lifetime, and I can’t get rid of it. This new book is part of my atoning, of clearing my conscience.” The interviewer pressed the point. “You really don’t think you’ll be able to clear it totally?” Speer shook his head. “I don’t think it will be possible.”

For thirty-five years Speer had accepted complete responsibility for his crime. His writings were filled with contrition and warnings to others to avoid his moral sin. He desperately sought a way to make amends for his sin. All to no avail.

Anne Graham Lotz wrote, “ God has built into each of us an alarm system to warn us of the unwanted entry of sin into our lives. The alarm system is called guilt. In our pleasure-seeking, anything-goes, feel-good society, guilt is anathema. We run from it.”

So man is keenly aware, through his conscience, that there are universal standards of conduct, attitudes and actions that are right and wrong, that someone established those standards, and man is guilty of not meeting them and there are consequences for that guilt and they’re probably not pleasant. So man tries to avoid thinking about them. Man is inwardly or internally aware of God.

II. Secondly, God has revealed himself from outside of man, externally—v. 20, God has created everything that exists from nothing for our enjoyment. We observe the stars and marvel at their number, we gaze at majestic mountains, wide oceans, and we see a small seed produce a giant tree, we are awed at the intricacies of insects, and are amazed at the miracle of human birth.

David wrote in Psalm 19:1-4 and earlier in Psalm 8:3-4. At any given time, there are an average of 1,800 storms in operation in the world. The energy needed to generate those storms amounts to the incredible figure of 1,300,000,000 horsepower. By comparison, a large earth-moving machine has 420 horsepower and requires a hundred gallons of fuel a day to operate.

The U. S. Natural Museum has determined that there are at least 10 million species of insects, including some 2,500 varieties of ants. There are about 5 billion birds in the United States, among which some species are able to fly 500 miles non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico. Mallard ducks can fly 60 miles an hour, eagles 100 miles an hour, and falcons can dive at speeds of 180 miles an hour.

The phrase “has been made” is one Greek word, poeima, from which we got poem. In other words, all of God’s creation is his work of art. It’s a poem about himself. Paul says that this creation reveals two things about God:

(1) His eternal power—we only need to look at the destruction created by a hurricane to understand the incredible power found in nature—the nature that God created—and to be reminded that the power that exists is an eternal power; it existed long before creation; it has existed from eternity past and belongs to an eternal being. The current debate in schools and science is not creation versus evolution, but intelligent design versus evolution. Intelligent design simply says that as we look at the universe and our planet and man in particular, there is much evidence for design—not random chance. If there is design then there must be a designer, whether we give him a name like God or not. Science doesn’t want to admit this, but it’s what their own research constantly proves. Nature shows us a designer with incredible power.

(2) Creation also reveals God’s divine nature. His divine nature refers to the totality of his character—that there is a divine being who exists and has supremacy over all of his creation. Paul spoke to this truth when he addressed the philosophers at Athens in Acts 17:22-28. Abraham Lincoln said, “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”

So God has clearly revealed himself from both within man in his conscience and from outside man in creation. What is man’s response to this revelation?

III. Man has a distinct and universal response to revealed truth—v. 18b—he suppresses the truth. Another translation says “hinder the truth from taking hold in their hearts and from governing their conduct.” In

II Thess. 2:6-7 there is the concept of the Holy Spirit holding back the lawless one from all he wants to do; he hinders or restrains him. The picture is of a tyrant who imprisons innocent people. Man takes the truth that he knows and locks it up so that he can do what he wants without the sense of guilt. The Jewish leaders did this with the truth.

In Matt. 23:1-4 Jesus says the Pharisees told the people what they had to do but didn’t practice what they preached themselves. In Mark 7:9-13 Jesus tells the Pharisees and teachers of the law that they used a manmade tradition that they liked to nullify a biblical teaching that they didn’t like. In Matt. 2:3-5 the religious leaders knew where Jesus was to be born but they never went to find him themselves after the wisemen came, and they never told anyone else that he had come.

In John 9, after Jesus healed a blind man, the Pharisees refused to believe the obvious miracle and even asked his parents whether he was really their son and had he really been born blind. After a series of questionings, the healed man finally unmasks their suppression of the obvious truth in v. 25-34.

In John 12:10 the religious leaders even plotted to kill Lazarus so that they could cover up the truth of his resurrection.

So man knows the truth because it’s been revealed to him both internally and externally, but he chooses to suppress it and to cover it up so he can live as he pleases. However, there are always consequences for the choices we make.

IV. This passage tells us that there are two consequences to man’s suppression of revealed truth.

(1) A man will be without an excuse—v. 20b. The Bible talks about two types of revelation—general or natural revelation and special or saving revelation. While general revelation is sufficient to make man aware of God’s eternal power and divine attributes, it is not enough to save him; but it is enough to condemn him because he doesn’t live up to it or act upon it. (Matt. 5:45) Special revelation is that which the Holy Spirit gives to the man or woman who is searching (Jeremiah 29:13; Isaiah 55:6-7). Special revelation is the Good News, the Gospel, revealed to a seeking sinner. It’s the truth of John 1:1-3 coupled with John 1:14.

A radio news series about honesty in America talked about excuses. The commentator said that people use three types of excuses when guilty of wrongdoing. The first is outright denial—a rejection of any involvement. Sometimes this is done even though the person is obviously guilty. The second is the “It’s not my fault” excuse. The person looks around for someone he can blame. Often it is a loved one—a husband or wife or parent. Sometimes it’s the boss. A third form of excuse is the “I did it, but” approach. In this instance the person blames circumstances for his shortcoming. Either he’s been struggling with some illness or the assignment wasn’t clear or the car’s been giving him trouble.

And the Lord said unto Noah: “Where is the ark which I commanded thee to build?” And Noah said unto the Lord: “Verily, I have had three carpenters off ill. The gopherwood supplier hath let me down—yea, even though the gopherwood hath been on order for nigh upon twelve months. What can I do, O Lord?” And the Lord said unto Noah: “I want that ark finished even after seven days and seven nights.” And Noah said: “It will be so.”

And it was not so. And the Lord said unto Noah: “What seemeth to be the trouble this time?” And Noah said unto the Lord: “Mine subcontractor hath gone bankrupt. The pitch which Thou commandest me to put on the outside and on the inside of the ark hath not arrived. The plumber hath gone on strike. Shem, my son who helpeth me on the ark side of the business, hath formed a pop group with his brothers Ham and Japheth. Lord, I am undone.” And the Lord grew angry and said: “And what about the animals, the male and females of every sort that I ordered to come unto thee to keep their seed alive upon the face of the earth?” And Noah said: “They have been delivered unto the wrong address but should arrive on Friday.” And the Lord said: “How about the unicorns, and the fowls of the air by sevens?” And Noah wrung his hands and wept saying: “Lord, unicorns are a discontinued line; thou canst not get them for love nor money. And fowls of the air are sold only in half-dozens. Lord, Lord, Thou knowest how it is.” And the Lord in His wisdom said: “Noah, my son, I knowest. Why else dost thou think I have caused a flood to descend upon the earth?”

The following are actual quotes from accident reports submitted to various insurance companies by hapless policyholders: “Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have. I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way. The guy was all over the road; I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him. I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment. As I reached an intersection, a hedge sprang up, obstructing my vision. The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.”

A farmer asked his neighbor if he might borrow a rope. “Sorry,” said the neighbor, “I’m using the rope to tie up my milk.” “Milk?” exclaimed the first farmer. “Rope can’t tie up milk.” “I know,” replied the neighbor, “but when a man doesn’t want to do something, one reason is as good as another.”

When a person who has been given even general or natural revelation but refuses to act upon it stands before God, he won’t be able to offer any of the excuses we normally try to give.

(2) The second consequence is the wrath of God talked about in v. 18a. How do we understand God’s wrath? The word for wrath refers to a settled, determined indignation, not to the emotional, often uncontrolled anger to which we are prone. In other words, God’s wrath is not tainted by sin but is always and completely righteous.

This idea of wrath certainly goes against the thinking of unredeemed man who wants to give only one character trait to God—love. You hear people say that “God is love and a loving God would never send people to hell.” Some people believe that there’s nothing after death so they don’t worry about a judgment or God’s wrath. Even Christians want to emphasize the abundant life and health and wealth living, but righteous anger is the only response that a holy God can have toward evil. Holiness cannot tolerate unholiness. We see his wrath in the flood, the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel, the destruction of Pharoah in the Red Sea, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, and the punishment of the Jews by captivity, just to name a few. We know that God’s wrath will ultimately send Satan and his wicked spirits and all unsaved people to a place called hell forever (Revelation 20:10-15).

Verse 18 tells us, however, that not only will this wrath be revealed, but it is being revealed, or better rendering is “constantly revealed.” The way it’s being revealed is described in v. 21-32 which Pastor Jeff will deal with next week. The essence of this wrath is in the phrases “God gave them over” to idolatry and degrading human behavior (1:24,26,28). In other words, God gives man what he wants.

God’s wrath is being revealed against the godlessness and wickedness of men, the godlessness referring to the attacks against God’s majesty and the wickedness referring to the attacks against their fellowman described in the rest of this passage.

In summary, Paul is telling us that God’s wrath against godlessness and wickedness will be and is being revealed, and the only way for man to avoid the wrath described in v. 21-32 and Rev. 20 is by accepting the Gospel that he describes in v. 16-17. Otherwise, man will be justly condemned because God reveals himself to all people, but rather than responding in faith they suppress the truth and will have no excuse when they stand before God’s judgment. It’s not God’s desire that anyone perish, but God won’t interfere with man’s freedom to choose, either. Paul reminds us however that we will not suffer God’s wrath (Romans 5:8-10; I Thessalonians 5:9).

People want to be selective in what they think about God and hear about God. Most of you this morning will be saved from the wrath of God because you’ve heard the gospel and responded in faith. If you have never responded in faith, now is the time. You’ve heard the truth; what will you do with it?

As a believer, however, do we tend to choose the character traits about God that we like and ignore the ones that make us uncomfortable. Do we suppress the truth or do we seek to know the God of the Bible and seek to obey the whole counsel of God, from Genesis to Revelation?