06-11-2023 The Role of Virtue (Romans 1:20)

The Role of Virtue Romans 1:20 Romans 1:18-25 18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. Points:  • God's truth is evident (vs. 19). • God's attributes have been clearly seen since the beginning (vs. 20). • God's truth and life (attributes) were exchanged for idols (vs. 22). • The truth of God was exchanged for a lie (vs. 25) and worshipped the created. Bearing witness to Jesus as Lord is the central calling of the Church. John 13:34-35 34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 17:20-23 20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. What would my life be like if I fully embraced God's divine attributes and allowed His truth to shine through me? The Transcendentals: • Goodness • Beauty • Truth Goodness • Goodness is that which works for the benefit of another. • Human goodness has one important characteristic: love. • To love is to will the good of another. • Sin is the failure to love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Beauty  • "Beauty is goodness made manifest to the senses." –Dallas Willard • Beauty, when seen, pleases. Goodness, when experienced, benefits. To love is to will the good of another, but it is also an act of beauty. All good things are also beautiful. Beauty, goodness, and truth point to something else–God. God is the creator of all things, so when we experience beauty, we need to thank God. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 What would my life be like if I fully embraced God's goodness and beauty and allowed His truth to shine through me?