Exchanging the Truth for a Lie

-

 

“The Wrath of God Revealed” – Romans 1:18-32

Dear Friends, in the second half of Romans chapter 1, Paul paints a sobering and honest picture of the human condition when we turn away from God. He begins with a powerful statement: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18 ESV).

Paul explains that God has clearly revealed Himself to all people through creation. The beauty and order of the world around us declare God’s eternal power and divine nature, so that no one has any excuse for not acknowledging Him. Yet humanity has chosen to suppress this truth. Instead of worshipping the Creator, people have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of created things — idols of every kind.

As a result, God “gave them up” to the desires of their hearts. This is not God actively forcing people to sin, but rather Him withdrawing His restraining hand and allowing the natural consequences of their rebellion to take their course. Paul then gives a sobering list of the sins that flow from this rejection of God: sexual immorality, greed, envy, murder, deceit, gossip, slander, pride, and more. It is a dark portrait of a society that has turned its back on its Creator.

This passage is not comfortable reading, but it is vital. It shows us the seriousness of sin and the reality of God’s righteous anger against all that is evil. Yet it also sets the stage for the glorious good news that follows in the rest of Romans — that while we are all guilty and without excuse, God has provided a way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.


Pause & Pray: Read Romans 1:18-32 slowly and thoughtfully. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through these sobering words. Then pray:

“Lord, thank You for the clear revelation of Yourself in creation and in Your Word. Forgive me for the times I have suppressed the truth or failed to give You the glory You deserve. Help me to live with a clear conscience and a heart that honours You in every area of life. Thank You that although Your wrath is real, Your mercy and grace are greater still through Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Verse to Remember: “For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:21 ESV)

Question to Consider: In what ways might we sometimes suppress the truth about God in our daily lives or compromise with the attitudes of the world around us? How can we live more honourably before Him this week?

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bible Study Recap – 2 Thessalonians 2

-
Image
Led by Shaun Fereday, Prison Chaplain (Sessional) & Leader @SFGH Church  (Transcribed from Tuesday's Bible Study Group) This week marked the first time we’ve begun transcribing our Tuesday night Bible studies. We’ve been recording sermons for a while and putting them online, but the Tuesday teaching has always stayed within the walls of the chapel. That means people like Stacey and Donnna (who can’t always come because of child care commitments), or Liam (who lives further away) often miss out. It also struck me that it would be a real blessing if we could build a written library of what we’re learning together. Something new members, like Jamie, could dip into when they want to catch up on what we’ve already covered—whether it’s repentance, salvation, or other key topics. So tonight, with a little help from what Joehana my wife affectionately calls my “old man’s dongle” (a small AI recorder), we began doing just that. The device listens, transcribes what’s said, and gives me...
Read more

The Baptism Testimony of Alfie

-
Image
Alfie Cox Alfie has had a strong faith from an early age, eventually getting baptised at South Featherstone Gospel Hall at the tender age of eight on 6th April 2025. And what a day it was with all the worship music being chosen by Alfie himself, a full immersion baptism (it's a good job he can swim - lol), and Alfie's personal Testimony about his faith in Jesus Christ, which he gave to a packed Chapel. What a brave young man. And the whole proceedings were recorded for others as a witness to his faith, which he allowed us to post on our Church YouTube channel.  You can click on the link below to watch the whole thing and I'd encourage you to do so as it's well worth viewing. Then ask yourself the following two questions.  1. Do I believe in Jesus Christ? 2. If the answer is yes and you've never been baptized then ask yourself - why not! As the very first post on our new Youth Circle Page, there could be no better tribute to Jesus Christ than Alfie's own words f...
Read more

Worship in Action...

-
Image
The Joy of Live Music in Worship There’s something truly powerful about live music in worship. It’s more than notes, chords, and melodies—it’s a way of drawing hearts together, lifting voices in unity, and directing all our praise to the Lord. This week at our Family Service , we were blessed once again to see the Worship Team expanding for the second week in a row . Donna, our faithful pianist, was joined by Danny and Cameron on guitar , and Emily on vocals . What a joy it was to hear them blend together in worship, each offering their gifts to the Lord and to His people. Moments like these remind us that worship isn’t just performance—it’s participation. Every instrument, every voice, every strum and chord helps lead us deeper into the presence of God. As Psalm 150 says: “Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resoun...
Read more

Artwork with a Story

-
Image
A Lost Sheep, A Loving Shepherd 🐑✝️ This past Sunday at our Family Service, we were given a real treat. Brian Preston shared his testimony (which you can watch on our YouTube channel ), and alongside it, he used a set of hand-drawn illustrations that carried both spiritual weight and a touch of nostalgia. These weren’t just any drawings—they were lovingly created by Sandra, Brian’s wife, more than 40 years ago when she was working with children. The artwork is big and bold, all drawn on A3 sheets of paper, and they brought Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3–7) vividly to life. The story, of course, is simple yet profound: a shepherd leaves his 99 sheep to go after the one that’s wandered off. It’s a picture of God’s relentless love for each of us—that none are too lost, too far gone, or too insignificant to be pursued by Him. What made these illustrations so captivating wasn’t just their age or their size, but their heart. You could see the sheep lost in the wilderness, the...
Read more