UNLESS AMERICA HAS A REAL SPIRITUAL REVIVAL, YOU WILL SEE GOD'S WRATH DESTROY IT!

• The reason why is shown in Romans Chapter 1; How is shown in every newspaper and magazine
• The book of Romans is God's Word through Paul to explain God's plan of salvation for all men
• With systematic logic the only way of salvation is unfolded- one step at a time - read it for yourself

HOW DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF?  ROMANS 1:17-20

Men today with all their scientific knowledge are ignorant of moral and spiritual truth!

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED - V. 17 - AND WE SHOULD NOT BE INTIMIDATED INTO IGNORING IT.

• "In the Gospel a righteousness which comes from God is revealed" - not Man's rights -
• A great theme of literature has been to justify the ways of God with man - we need opposite!
• Men as so wrapped up in their own lusts and enjoyments that they refuse to see God at all

THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED - V. 18: IN ORDER TO GET MEN'S ATTENTION TO SAVE THEM, GOD SHOWS WRATH

• "God's anger from heaven is being uncovered" -- When men won't listen to rain, flood comes
• But even God's wrath is to drive men to safety if possible - if not, it destroys them - fatal
• "Those who through their wickedness suppress the truth" - 18b - hide the medicine and love disease

GODS REVELATION LEAVES MANKIND WITHOUT EXCUSE - V. 19-20b - SO MEN MAKE UP EXCUSES - THIN IN LIGHT

• Here is the answer to  - what about the heathen?  And the sincere?  And other religions?
• The laws of nature cannot be repealed, nor appealed, nor ignored.  Nature enforces them - death!
• The time lag between cause and effect, sin and punishment, varies, but spiritual law is sure!

The man that has enough sense to com in out of the rain is without spiritual excuse!

HOW DO MEN DESERVE GOD'S WRATH?  ROMANS 1:21-32

We do not blame God of injustice because of natural law - why do so with spiritual law?

MEN START THE JOURNEY TO HELL WITH JUST ONE SMALL STEP - V. 21,23 - ATTITUDES ARE FATAL!

• 21 is so plain, yet the first sin of a man is to try to claim for self some of God's glory
• If you think our generation does not have idols - v. 23 - go to a museum - look at evolution!
• Those who claim the greatest blessing are so quick to backslide one step - what about you?

GOD GIVES US UP ONE STEP AT A TIME TO OUR SIN - WHEN WE WITH OUR SELF-WILL INSIST!  V. 24-31

• This passage is plain- but too many skip over it - too sensitive for God's word - not for sin!
• Our playboy culture exploits people as playthings - burned out passions = death!  Worst sin of all
• As God gives them over, they become filled with great wickedness- v.29, now dormant - alive?

THE GREAT EXTENT OF SINFULNESS IS TO KNOW THE PENALTY, YET RECRUIT OTHERS TO SHARE DEATH - 32

• The greatest tragedy is that misery loves company - any extreme to convert others to sin
• The most wicked corrupters know that sin burns out the human soul, yet pleasure in seduction
• Our young untrained, untested, overprotected young people are no match for professionals!

These things described here KILL - I see some of v.29-31 here!  Flee them as rattlesnakes!

HOW CAN MEN RECEIVE GOD'S SALVATION?  V. 11-16

Paul's age was desperately wicked, so much like ours- men needed salvation, and still do

THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS WAS TO GIVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO THOSE IN ROME - V. 11, 14, 15

• Paul had a message about a Person that could help set the slaves-to-sin free forever!
• This book was a forerunner of a trip to Rome to establish them in Christ Jesus - v.11
• The man who has found freedom owes it to every slave to lend a helping hand for their freedom

THE POWER OF GOD IS SHOWN IN THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST - V. 16

• Only God has the power to save - deliver from sin, heal from sin's hurt, save from death!
• This power is through Jesus Christ- when you know Him - He saves and gives new life-power
• The power of a changed life is given to everyone who will truly believe!  Only believe

THE ONLY WAY TO LIFE, OR TO LIVE THE LIFE, IS BY FAITH - V. 17B

• So many seem to think that becoming a Christian is all there is - keep on being one, too!
• We grow from Faith to Faith - grace upon grace - if you do not grow, you drop down - v.21
• Luther's verse- v. 17b- The just shall live by faith ALONE! - This is the only way

The testimony of untold millions since the days of Rome support what God's word says!

OUR AGE DEMANDS A DECISION OF YOU - FAST AGE - DECIDE BEST: WRATH OR GRACE -

• You now hold the truth - will you hold it and glorify God, or will you rebel and pay the price?
• Come and confess Christ publicly in this local church - if you have not done so!
• For further growth - Baptism, Church Membership, Stewardship - or simply seek God's help for an overbearing problem by coming and praying at the altar! 
• Humble yourself, and God will lift you up.