The Lie - Romans 1:16-2:4

Paul’s audience, the Roman house churches, were experiencing tension along several cultural and spiritual fault lines. There was the racial issue - Jews vs. Gentiles. There was also the “Strong” vs. “Weak” divide addressed in chapters 14-15. Romans 1 addresses issues that the “weak” could get behind (God’s wrath against pagan behavior). But then Paul flips the whole argument on its head in Romans 2 to show that everyone, even the “elect”, are equally broken and in need of the grace of God. The great lie that all people buy into, whether Jew or Gentile, weak or strong, is the lie of idolatry - exchanging love of God for love of something created.