Without Excuse
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 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.” – Rom 1:18-20
No one can claim ignorance when it comes to God. Humanity is without excuse because He has revealed Himself clearly in creation, conscience, and His Word.
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. Scripture records His righteous judgments in times past and warns of His wrath to come. Every person is born in Adam, a guilty sinner, destined for judgment and wrath (Rom 3:10, 23; Eph 2:1-5; 1Co 15:22). God’s wrath is His holy and just response to sin, because sin corrupts, destroys, and rebels against the Creator and is worthy of death (Rom 1:32).
Yet even in His wrath, we see His righteousness. God does not judge unjustly or in ignorance. He judges truthfully, according to what has been revealed (Rom 2:2). Before His judgment ever falls, He has made Himself known so that every person stands accountable for how they respond to the truth.
God Has Made Himself Known
God has not left the world in darkness. He has revealed Himself in three undeniable ways:
1. Creation
The world around us testifies to a Creator. The beauty, complexity, and order of nature reveal His eternal power and divine nature (Psa 8:3-4; 19:1-6; Job 37:14-16). The very existence of life and the physical world around us point to a source beyond themselves—God. The invisible attributes of God are clearly seen through the visible creation. The heavens declare His glory, leaving humanity without excuse.
2. Conscience
Within every person is a moral awareness that bears witness to a righteous Lawgiver and to the reality of truth (Rom 2:14-15). The universal understanding that there is right and wrong testifies that there is an objective standard, and that standard must come from somewhere. Even the existence of morality itself proves there is something more than mere physical matter. Deep down, everyone recognizes that we are more than just flesh and bone; our invisible soul and spirit testify to invisible truths such as righteousness, love, justice, and purpose. These are not random chemical processes but evidence of divine design.
Our conscience not only affirms right and wrong but also exposes our own guilt. The proper response is not to excuse or suppress our sin but to ask, “How can I be made right with a holy and righteous God?” The answer is found in the gospel of Christ alone: the power of God unto salvation to all who believe (Rom 1:16-17; 3:19-26).
3. His Word
Above all, God has revealed Himself through His written Word. The Bible declares His righteousness, justice, love, and plan of salvation through Christ. God was under no obligation to reveal Himself to His creation, yet in His grace and love, He chose to do so. His Word exists so that people might seek Him, know Him, and be saved (Acts 17:26-31). The gospel has been made known to the whole world to believe (Rom 16:25-26, Col 1:23) and it has not been hidden: His saints continue to preach it and there are over billions of Bibles in the world declaring it today.
Without Excuse
When people reject God’s revelation, they are left without excuse. It’s like standing before a judge and pleading ignorance of a law that was plainly written and publicly declared. Governments are not required to read aloud every single law in the land to you once you are born in order for you to be righteously judged by it: you’re under the standard whether you like it or not and are held accountable whether you like it or not. God has extended mercy, revealed Himself, and made salvation possible. Those who refuse to believe are without excuse, not because they couldn’t know, but because they chose not to believe.
The Grace of God in the Midst of Judgment
While God’s wrath is real, His grace is even more astounding. The same God who reveals His righteous judgment also reveals His righteousness through the gospel of Christ (Rom 1:16-17). Though we deserve His wrath, He freely offers salvation through faith in His Son’s death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins (1Co 15:1-4).
We are not owed anything from God, yet He gives us everything in Christ. Creation displays His power, conscience testifies to His truth and justice, and His Word and gospel proclaims His love. God has made Himself known, leaving humanity without excuse, but offering every person the opportunity to believe, be saved, and receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
