Romans 1:18 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:
Paul shows us here in verses 18-20 that all men are without excuse before God. You might say I did not know. How can I be responsible for what I did not know? Creation is witnessing to the existence of God. All men by the creation of God can see Him and His power. Look at all the religions of the world today. It is natural for man to seek a higher power, a creator and worship that creator. Man can see the existence of God and in doing so has created gods in their own image. The religions of the world are proof that man can know there is a God.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
Our God is a God of revelation. He is not one to reveal Himself to the general world of man. He reveals His arm to whom He will. Even in doing so God is just for His creation speaks of Himself so that all are without excuse before Him. God may not send His Spirit forth unto everyone but His creation clearly reveals His existence. Just because some may choose to not acknowledge Him, that does not give them an excuse when judgment comes. In fact, part of the world’s judgment is to live in His creation separated from a relationship with its creator. Judgment is already upon those who do not belief.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
All are without excuse. Every single one of us were born in sin. We are born sinful creatures. The wrath of God abides on every single person except those for whom Christ has died. God can not look the other way in regard to sin. All are guilty before Him. Even the elect of God needed redemption. The reality is that the wrath of God is revealed. His wrath is real. His wrath is a just wrath. It is from heaven. No unjust thing would come from God. The greatest peril facing man today, or in any day, is the abiding wrath of God. If man does not have a propitiation, then wrath is his end. Without Christ there is no hope for sinners. The fact that this wrath is from heaven shows us that God is content with this wrath. This wrath has purpose. Its purpose is to punish the wicked. It is justice for sinners. Why should that worry all of mankind?
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
All of mankind faces the same end. We all deserve the wrath and condemnation of God. We have all come short. When men see their sin they will try and suppress the wrath of God. They will try and work around His holy justice. They hold the truth in unrighteousness. Man will devise those ways that he can assure he is saved. They suppress the truth that they are sinners under the wrath of God. They will take the truth in scripture and obscure the very truth of God. They will devise ways to work around the truth of salvation in Christ. It is a depravity of the mind. Paul is preaching a salvation that has already occurred by the very shed blood of Christ. Look at religion today, man has devised conditions to accomplish what Christ has already finished. This is the suppression of truth. This is holding the truth in unrighteousness. Man can see God in the very creation that He has created, but he will reject Him out of the rebellion of his heart. Man has suppressed the truth of a sovereign God and made God to be a debtor to man. Man left in his natural state cannot see that salvation has been completed. He will indebt God to himself for the actions that he performs. They prefer a god who is no God. They prefer a god of their own vain imagination. They cannot accept the truth. Their hearts and minds are darkened. They cannot know God.
Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: