One of the most interesting things about the overturn of Roe v. Wade is the number of women who are now threatening to get married, and remain abstinent until marriage, as if this is some brand new way to punish "sexist" men for the fact they may not be able to kill their children for much longer. In other words, their almost instinctive response to being told "God says you shall not murder, so you shall not murder" is "Ok, if I have to do that part God's way, I'll do the rest of it God's way, too".
In Romans 1-2, we are introduced to the very heart of man. After an introduction and a promise to, by the will of God, personally visit Rome, Paul begins to briefly explain the Gospel: "So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”" (Romans 1:15-17).
The simplicity of this is staggering. Straight away, Paul explains that the Gospel is salvation for all who believe. Through this, we see God's righteousness, as those who receive salvation live according to their faith. Not that they do so perfectly, of course, as Paul later explains that we are still human, and so we all fall short, further showing us the need to be saved by faith.
But if belief is the only criteria, why do people put up so much resistance? Paul continues: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things." (v18-23).
From this, we see that the reason people don't believe is that, in their unrighteousness, they simply don't want to. In His wisdom, God has provided more than enough evidence for us. Creation declares its Creator, so loudly that even atheists, like Richard Dawkins, say things like “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose...”. In their denial of God, these same people often claim to be wise, yet they become fools.
Our age of technology has reinvented this concept and put it on display for the world to see. I wouldn't advise going on TikTok, but even if you avoid the app itself, it's now repeated on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube. Basically anywhere social media exists, there you will find short, 30-60 second videos of unbelievers in a vulgar display of just how much they hate Christianity. They brag of science, yet they don't know the basics of reproduction. They boast of history, yet they forget things that happen within their very lifetime. They criticise scripture, yet they know less about it than I know about football. And that's not limited to silly little teenagers. Teachers, celebrities, politicians, people from all categories congregate there to boast of their wisdom while showing themselves foolish.
All of this is just a new way of expressing a truth that is thousands of years old: As sinners, men are naturally hostile to God. It has never been a head issue, but a heart issue. But Paul doesn't stop at basically saying "they're sinners, so they reject God". He also goes on to say that their rejection of God pushes them further into sin:
"Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." (v24-31).
You see, then, that when people reject God, God, in a sense, rejects them. Not that He will not accept their repentance, but that He will, as the father in the parable, give His prodigal children their inheritance, allow them to spend it as they want, and if... when... they come to ruin, on their heads be it.
Notice the primary nature of this reprobation. It is sexual in nature, first and foremost. A culture that rejects God becomes so sexually immoral, it even celebrates homosexuality. It's interesting, while many Christians believe the Western world is due God's judgement, the U.S. in particular, it turns out we are already in the midst of it. We rejected God, and so now we see this sexual immorality, this hatred, this violence, this total breakdown of family values, and yes, this cold-blooded murder. It's all a result of God becoming just as distant as we have asked Him to be.
But Paul continues: "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things." (Romans 2:1-2). Remember how I said Paul talks about how we all fall short? Christians are not immune from sin. We cannot look at unbelievers and act as if somehow, we are above them; we were them! And it's not like we convert and boom, we're Jesus. But in confessing this, we confess that we deserve what they deserve. Paul is not here saying "you shall not judge", as some mistakenly believe, but that when you judge, remember where you came from, and also where you are.
And so Paul does not stop there, but continues to say "And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God." (v3-11).
Here, the character of God is contrasted with the character of man. We constantly violate His laws in the very way chapter 1 describes, yet even when He gives us up to that, His goodness is revealed to us, leading us to repent. Repentance is an often misunderstood concept. Particularly in our Liberal world, we tend to think of it as just living our lives with God in the background. Like a child who takes a bath only to play in the mud again, we think of it as saying sorry for sin, only to return to it. And in a sense, that's true. Scripture refutes the idea of sinless perfectionism. But repentance is a change of attitude towards sin. It is, as Paul goes on to say in later chapters I don't plan to discuss in this article, "death to sin". We no longer present our bodies to sin in order to obey its lusts, but to God in order to obey Him. As my old pastor said, repentance is about being done with sin, even if sin is not done with us.
But God's judgements are not as simple as "you've repented, so I'll reward you". No, Paul tells us there is no partiality with God. He's going to judge everyone. Jew, Gentile, Christian, atheist, it doesn't matter; God has His sights on you. He goes on to say "For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel." (v12-16).
Even the sinful heart of unbelievers, even if they have no knowledge of God's religion, knows, and to some extent lives by, the law of God! And so we come full circle to the new imagining of marriage by abortionists. Marriage isn't new. It's been God's ideal for 6,000 years. Even when there was no sin to speak of, there was marriage. One man, one woman, being together as one flesh. And it was no punishment. Adam did not want Eve for just a night of pleasure. Had Eve gotten pregnant in the garden, she would have rejoiced, as indeed she did when Cain was born, though of course for different reasons.
If you're an unbeliever, and you've read this far, let's be honest here: You know. The scriptures we have barely begun to unpack here have spoken to you. You know there is a God. You know you have offended Him. You know His way is better. That's why you even have the cheek to claim you are "good without God".
But here's something else you should know: He loves you. As we have seen, there is no partiality with God. He will judge you, as He judges all people, but He loves you, just as He loves Christians. He sees your sin, and He must deal with it, for He is a just God. He cannot just pardon the guilty. But by grace, He seeks to pardon the guilty. You, me, everyone, God seeks to pardon us. So what did He do? He sent Jesus. Unlike any man before or since, Jesus never sinned. He never ate a forbidden fruit, never slept around, never harmed a child, never lied, never blasphemed. Jesus lived a perfect life.
How perfect, therefore, was His death? Though knowing no sin Himself, scripture tells us He became sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Effectively, because Jesus, being innocent, died as a guilty man, you, who are guilty, may have eternal life as an innocent.
In God's unfathomable mercy, no matter what sin you commit, scripture tells us "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). So what are you waiting for? Confess! For my friend, let's be honest: You know.