Peter Barnes | Romans 1:21-23
SERMON NOTES
THE WICKED FOLLY OF IDOLATRY
(Romans 1:21-23)
– context of Rom.1:20. Calvin sees wonder in our fingernails. We have no defence.
1. All people know God in a sense.
– 1:21; see Acts 14:17; that is why the atheist can be so virulent
– that is why we fear death (Heb.2:15)
2. But they do not glorify or thank Him.
– 1:21; we suppress the truth (1:18) which leads to corrupt theology (1:21), corrupt worship (1:22-23), and corrupt morals (1:24-32)
– Psalm 96:3-6 means nothing to them
3. It is futile, foolish, wicked and inexcusable to worship the creation.
– 1:21-23; Ex.32:4; Ps.106:20; Jer.2:11; Isa.44:13-17; 46:5-7
– in Aesop’s Fables, a man bows to an image which is being carried by a donkey. They donkey thinks he is being worshipped.
– Rafaravavy in Madagascar went to a maker of idols to have an idol made. The man used part of the piece of wood to create an idol and the other part to cook his rice – rather like Isaiah 44. This led to her conversion to Christ.
– Colossians 3:5