How do we know about God? General Revelation

are we go didn't have time to test it but I hear the gentleman upstairs is awesome and what he does and so sounds like we're coming up just right all right well good morning and thank you for having me here today Dan and I met a few weeks back where I live in Las Vegas and shortly after that meeting I get an email from him asking me would you be able and are you available to preach this particular Sunday while I'm here so the answer was You guys respond? That's a good thing. Okay, I live off the responses. Okay. I also know Lauren and Sherry Crandall we go back a far from a little ways back and our kids were not that big. Well, maybe it's somewhere around there, but they're playing baseball together and California and so we've known each other for a while now, so I am glad to be here today and let me get this started cuz I'm you know what I like doing I like timing myself because then I know when I need to stop anyway men's there.

there we go I am glad to be here today and on behalf of the leadership if you are here and you are visiting I would know who it if you are not because I'm visiting but if you are on behalf leadership thank you for being here and we know that you could be just about anywhere else but you've chosen to be here at Red Hills to worship with us thank you very much my name is Aldi Tris and I have been in Ministry for a while 1989 is when I started fresh out of college and in May of 2019 just a few years back Patrick planning organization actually asked me to consider leading their efforts to plant 10 churches in 10 years starting in 2020. So January 5th of last year with my last sermon at my church that I've been at for 8 years, we're going to model the 10 churches after the church that I was at and well a little thing called covid-19 and I was in or again, we're going to plant in Eugene, Oregon and I don't know if you know what that even is like but they just shut the place down. And so no church opening know nothing we had money to start one church and open one church and start going from there, but it just didn't happen. So in the course of time my wife and I decided you know, we have the house up for sale or no longer attached to the church. Where at where we going to go. And well we decided let's get close to the kids. So that's what we did the house soul. And we move to Las Vegas, which is centrally located to our children. One of our children is a five-minute walk from my house. Anybody want to say Amen?

I'm blessed. I am blessed. I am blessed. We're not too close to one child was on the East Coast but that's his problem, right? Hi, I have been asked to preach on Romans chapter 1 verses 18 through 22 and I have entitled The Sermon the big reveal and on break. I love how you guys have this all set up is the first time I'm here you write so you see the curtains there on the screen what happens when the curtains are pulled back? what is the reveal of whatever's behind them so that's what we're going to be looking at today 11 titled the sermon the great or the big reveal and I want to begin with a story and it's a story about a teacher who had just been hired by a local school district had moved to town taking on the fifth grade class two weeks earlier he moved into town and one big question that he had for himself was how am I going to reveal myself to these 5th graders so that they could know what I needed from them so they could know who I am so they could know how this class is going to happen now here's what I do know Anthony was telling me that this is family weekend and I do see a few children in here so I'm going to ask the children everybody else be quiet or I'm putting them on the spot I know that but here's the question for the children I want you to let me know if what grade you're in it's on the counter to you're just going to shout out what grade you're in so if I was in 5th grade my wife says I sometimes am but if I were I'd shot out 5th grade so here we go one two First grade. I heard that loud and clear loud and proud back there. I like that one more time on the counter to shout out. What grades are in 1/2?

Fourth grade. That's awesome. I'm going to ask you a question here. You guys are first graders and fourth graders and whoever else you are. Have you ever had? Have you ever had a new teacher? Chances are probably yes at the very beginning of the school year. There's a new teacher every time you go to the next class unless you're in a one-room classroom. I've actually done that two years in a row, but you usually have a new teacher go back to the story back to the story on the first day the teacher decided to ask a few questions to get to know the class in to get the class moving in the direction that he wanted the class to go. He had already reviewed some notes from the previous teacher from the previous year. So if you were they should be and what the last modules were that they learn so he looked on his scroll and he saw the name Donald and he goes is Donald here and Donald said yes, I'm here. And he says great Donald. What is your favorite subject? Donald? Just got a smile on his face science. Is my favorite subject? And the teacher said great then Donald's based on what I learn from what you guys were learning last year, but tell me would you Donald what the formula for water is? Donald got a smile on his face. He knew the answer. Well teacher it hijklmno. Teacher a little perplexing like yeah just like that sir. Just left what and the teacher goes. What are you talkin about? Donald and Donald answered? Well last year our teacher told us that the formula for water was H2O hijklmno.

Trying not to laugh too much. The teacher think Donald asked him to sit down and looked at another student and ask her her name Maria said the fifth grader and the teacher the teacher that asks Maria. What was her favorite subject geography said Maria. Well, Maria said the teacher, can you do me a favor go to the map right over there? And find North America. So she stood up went to the map and she pointed to North America here. It is teacher and he said well done. Good job Maria and as she started to go back to her. Seat, he decided to ask the entire class the following question now class who found America? And all together and very loudly at the same time they all shouted. Maria

I think they were pulling his leg a little I do now while the teacher did feel that it was important for the children to get to know him as fast as they could so they can know how he taught me all of that. So his big question was how do I reveal myself to them? So here's what we're going to do throughout the storm and we're going to be talking about reveal and for you who are in school elementary-age children. I want you to listen closely because I'm going to give you the answer to this question. The teacher was trying to figure out how best can I do this? I'm going to give you the answer to what the teacher ends up doing. Are you all on board with that? Just raise your hand if you heard what I said because at the end, here's a great thing. You got a prize at the ends. Who wants the prize. Oh, yeah, that was quick. Damn. I like that. Okay at the end. What you can do is with the answer to the question and I'm going to tell you the answer you can go to Anthony and he has a surprise for you at the end. All right, whatever when church is all over don't come to me. I have nothing. Okay. All right.

All right. Romans chapter 1 verse 18 go and find your way there and as you're finding your way there, let me Begin by going backwards 2 verse 17 because there we find one of the big vein theme for the Book of Romans and it's just been introduced by Paul. The righteousness of God hears what it says for the right light for in the gospel. The righteousness of God is what's that word? Reveal the righteousness that is by Faith from fare from first to last just as it is written. The righteous will live by faith by the reason I bring up verse number 17. It's simply this the word reveals the word reveal call has just begun speaking about how God is revealing himself these things that God is revealing to us. And inverse 16 anybody know what he reveals the power. The didymus power the explosive power of God is revealed in verse 17. The righteousness is reveal the word he's using here for revealed. Is a simple word that I can't say unless BibleGateway told me how to say it Apocalypto. That's it. It's a verb so it's so the word means reveal but it's active. So it's the state of reviewing here in this passage as in hi my name is and in the course of the next few minutes the next few hours the next few days weeks, whatever. I plan to reveal myself more and more to you. All for the purpose cuz there's a purpose behind this so that you can get to know me. Revealed or as in the case of the teacher in the story for our children today. The first two weeks he's trying to figure out how do I reveal myself to them?

By the way, that wasn't the answer children. Okay, you'll get the answer later. Why is this word important? Because it begins Verse 18 the idea of revealed begins in verse 18 as well. So Paul talks about the power God being revealed. He talks about the righteousness of God being revealed and then in verse 18 he moved on to something else that is being revealed by God. and that brings us to our text now our text is placed inside the section of scripture that covers Verse 18 all the way to chapter 3 verse 20 And in that section of scripture Paul's just presenting overwhelming evidence of Mankind's sinfulness with the hope that the reader you and I and everybody who comes after us will read this and realize how desperately we need this righteousness that only God can provide to us that God is revealing to us. the Paul begins verse 18 with these words

The wrath of God is being what? Apocalypto we can look at this and say I God and revealing my wrath. From Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people and the word they're translated people comes from the word anthropos and it's a masculine noun and right here some women may think they can just kind of breathing sigh of relief because 552 times in Scripture. That word is actually translated man.

the wrath of God has been poured out on man and the wise are like see honey I knew it the sorry ladies context matters an anthropos actually means mankind or Humanity right here so as we read verse 18th the wrath of God is being revealed in Apocalypto I goddamn revealing my wrath from Heaven against the godlessness and wickedness of people or Humanity who suppress the truth by their wickedness

right here I need a pause because

many people look at this they read this and in their mind they get this image of a vindictive God being wrathful I've had conversations trying to defend that this is not what we were seeing here this is. We do not serve a God who is vindictive and pours out his wrath out of his anger like that no Instead as Christians we must let scripture interpret scripture about God in scripture what we're told him anything, but think about this. For God so loved the world that he gave.

for God so loved the world that he gave that we serve a God who loves and we serve a God who loves to give. Good things that a burst 17 the one I just mentioned.

It points out that God is The Giver of righteousness As you move through this book of Romans. You will see how God wants to credit that righteousness to you. Even though I don't deserve it.

But you may deserve it. I don't.

He's The Giver. a good things so as Christians we need to acknowledge that this is not a vindictive God yes wrath come

but God gives those who believe this righteousness because of what Jesus did on the cross we just need to believe and follow be there no doubt God is constantly trying to reveal his plan which says that he is going all out to bring Salvation to anyone who would believe Hi, God Reveals His Wrath. There's two ways in Scripture that God Reveals His wrath first one. I can go to the next slide. There we go in directly and the second one is directly now. Let's take an example of the indirect one. Indirectly we see the wrath of God is poured out on us through natural consequences because we violate okay. Let me just say this cuz I know you guys are perfect. Right because I violate his Universal moral law. So what does that look like? What's an example of that what we have children in here? So I decided to use this example could use a bunch of them. But this one Mom Dad. You are in the marketplace. You're literally shopping for food and you run into a friend or Mom Dad. You're doing business somewhere out in the community o and your children happen to be with you. And in the course of doing business or in the course of just meeting up with your friends by chance. You tell a lie. The person you're doing business with or to the person who is your friend. And the child your child hears it.

Natural consequences, you may not feel the natural consequences immediately. But you may find yourself seeking out a pastor like myself 5 6 7 years from now trying to figure out why is my son or daughter lying? I have taught them. Well how to lie. That would be the answer to that is the first one indirectly the second one directly God his wrath is poured out directly. the flood the flood and I can just imagine the people running to the ark as God has already sealed it up and Moses is inside.

And there's a pounding on the door. What is in blah blah blah blah blah? Open the door blah blah blah blah blah.

I know it's like I tried to warn you. That's directly God intervening about this idea here though. God's Wrath being poured out again a loving God.

Here's what I like about this. It shows us this idea that our God is not a distant God. easy fact here and unfortunately In this passage we see that his wrath he's here. We'd rather have his love. But at least here in the passage we could see that God. Our God is not a distant. God one last thing about Verse 18 that we need a move. It says this who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

This is a sad statement pause actually declaring that there are people who actually know we know they know God and they know God's way but they resist and some even opposed God truth. By continuing to live in their sin. Hi verse 19 next lie. There we go. Since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. I don't even have to say anything. I mean God has revealed himself plainly. two people because that's such a simple verse. I want to kind of go sideways here just a second and I'm going to give you an answer to a question. I'm going to ask. And I like doing that because I like to ask questions that people can answer back to write and no one gets the wrong answer that way. How do you like that. So here's the answer the life of Jesus on the screen now, you can't get it wrong. So what's the question? I'm going to give you the question and the answer is what? There we go to the question is in what one big way has God revealed himself to us?

the life of Jesus said no because the text doesn't really deal with the life of Jesus as much as it's Jesus always our King, but we're talking about being God revealing himself to us. One of the greatest ways he has revealed himself to us. It's through the life of Jesus.

the Old Testament foretold of Jesus the New Testament reveal Jesus verse number 20 For since the creation of the world. Invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen. So since the creation of you and me the world the moon the stars the sun since all of that has been created. Paul says God's eternal power and divine nature can be clearly seen.

So he mentioned these to the eternal power people when they say is God really, you know. And I asked I asked them this question who else can create and sustain life from Nothing. By the way. Is there anybody here who can do that? No one I'm waiting for someone to say I can't cuz I wanna I wanna Island in the Sun with a house on it. Someday someday only God can I'll wait for the mansion that he's making in heaven.

His eternal power is clearly seen by the creation that he is made. I've been fortunate Lauren has been kind of tracking me around the area Here song that says that I am and sub Bryce Canyon area. Who can deny God's finger at work? Secondly, he talks about God's divine nature that which is God's character can also be identify can also be seen in nature be the verse the verse this verse speaks. The clarity the God's eternal power and divine nature can can be seen. They're there for us to witness.

but too many don't see why I think there's two reasons. Why one is we blind ourselves. In life through life, we blind ourselves. We find this toy. That's fun. It's shiny and we want to play with the toy instead of seek God's Eternal Joy. We blind ourselves.

The second reason is the spirit of the age blinds us. Satan is minion. Blind sus let's move on. the rest of the verse

back, let me just first number 20 for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made so that people are without. What's that word?

excuse and right here is the hard truth. There is no excuse. God's creation cries out that he exists

Have you ever bumped into someone who has 1001 reasons why or 1,001 excuses why they didn't do what they were supposed to do or couldn't get done what they were trying to get done.

There is no excuse when it comes to. Looking at creation. and saying boy someone made that

you may ask how and I won't have an answer. I don't know. He's Divine. He's all-powerful. someone created it and his name is I'll go with Jesus or God.

I like how the MacArthur Study Bible notes put it. when it comes to this one section Right here a verse 20. I want to put it to you quote god holds all men responsible for the refusal to acknowledge what he has shown them of himself in his creation. Even those who have never had an opportunity to hear the gospel have received a clear witness about the existence and character of God. If the person will respond to the Revelation, he has been given even if it is solely natural Revelation the creation around us. God will provide some means for that person to hear the gospel. Amen verse 21 For although they knew God because he has revealed himself.

They neither glorified him. Has God nor gave thanks to him. Which is sad because we were created to worship him but they're thinking they're thinking became futile and their foolish Hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise they became fools and right here Psalms 14-1 just shouts out at me. The fool says in his heart. There is no God. Verse 23 I got to adverse 23 here cuz it goes together with it.

These Foolish darkened Hearts exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Really what he's saying is they made Idols of those things that you may not know this but there is an Audi Tris, unsanctified Bible version also known as a dub out there and it adds to this verse right after he says reptile my version they made Idols of all of these things. But so do we When we make Idols of our money and cars go and Disneyland passes and vacations and my children and anything else that takes the place of God. Yes. That's the Aldi's or something to fight Bible version a dub then if you find it in the book store Burnet How's that? All right. That's the text. Let's real quickly. Take a look at some takeaways three takeaways from Romans chapter 1 verse 18 through 22. First take away. God has a plan pulled every word here points to a plan that God has with prize. How many like a fry? Yo, I was younger man. I I'd do anything for a prize. It might be a little toothpick, but I'll win that prize. I was kind of competitive. There's a product. You know what that price is for God. Oh and the prizes for us? We get the prize. He gets the prize. Steve is playing this planned. This plan that God has is all about us coming to repentance that's his plan. All there's all kinds of other things around it. But his main goal is that we come to repentance the god reveals himself so that we can know God's great love and know God's Great kindness towards us and in God's love and kindness. We arrive at Romans chapter 8 verse 8. I know you're not there yet, but I got to give it to you in that while we were yet sinners Christ. What? Christ died for us Evan Paul in Romans chapter 2 verse for which you're heading towards he continues he continues this idea letting us know that one of the purposes and God revealing himself himself to us is to lead us to repentance listen to Romans chapter 2 verse 4 after he's gotten through all these things that man do that men. Do Humanity does. Okay women Text Humanity does. He leads them right here. Or do you not or do you show contempt and doing all those things playing with the toy rather than seeking his Joy?

Do you show contempt for the riches of his what? For the riches of his forbearance and the riches of his patients not relay not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to do what? repentant So that is God's plan to show you that he loves you. And it's kind towards you so that you can come to repentance. Take away. Never to God reveals himself to us. God has revealed himself to us through his creation. He wants to reveal these things to us his power. He wants to reveal his power. He wants to reveal that there's a righteousness that he wants to give us the credit to us.

Take away number three. Paul lays out the truth

Only Fools say in their heart there is no God. This is actually a code in Romans chapter 1 verse 21. We just read it, but I need to read it again. and what this does what Paul does he takes that idea and songs and moves it forward and his this is what it says but they're thinking

became futile and their Feud their foolish hearts we're darkens the last five words to foolish Hearts were darkened next week whoever's preaching is going to get into what that dark and heart actually looks like and what what those dark and hard you Always out with that is what it looks like, but then it verse 25 Paul says this and I have to get there.

Paul makes it clear that foolish darkened heart. They exchanged God's truth. for lie

That's what they do.

Toy rather than seeking God's joy. So what is the truth while Paul's laid it out that God has created everything and wants to give us good things. That's our god. He's a God who gives

he wants to give things like his righteousness verse 17 and part of what God has given is that he has revealed to us. indirectly and directly has Ralph but also his good way.

As we prepare to close I want to Circle back to the teacher. So if you're in elementary school, here's your win your prize at the end. Okay guys. So what is this feature do his big thing was how do I reveal myself to the students?

Well, he decided to do what God did. He wrote a book. That's what the teacher did by the way the answer to the question that you're going to take to this guy right here right here and nobody knows him. Anyway, okay, if he wrote a book just say a book everybody say a buck. That's easy, right? He wrote a book. Of course. It was only 7 case was really a booklet where he reveals himself what he likes what he expected the children. He wrote a book so they could get to know him. You know God wrote a book. One of the great ways that God reveals himself was through the life of Jesus, but there's another way that he revealed himself. And dust of everyday is through his scripture the book that we have called the Bible.

As the worship team makes the way up here. I want to go to the last slide. There it is.

God the great reveal the curtain pulled back. God is revealing his power verse 16 God is revealing his righteousness verse 17. God is revealing his wrath in this much. Love as he possibly can Verse 18. God God is revealing his invisible qualities. And God is revealing his salvation. I want to pray and I'm not sure what happens after that but I'm going to pray let's go to the Lord in prayer father God we come to you