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Romans 1:21 - Knowing God But Refusing To Honor Him And Give Thanks.

Romans 1:21 (NIV) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:21 (NLT) Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

WORD STUDY

Knew God:

Man is conscious of God's existence, power, and divine nature through general revelation (vv. 19, 20). [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003]

They knew God through the revelation of conscience and nature. [SDA Bible Commentary]

Didn't Glorify Or Honor God:

Man's chief end is to glorify God (Lev. 10:3; 1 Chr. 16:24-29; Ps. 148; Rom. 15:5, 6) and Scripture constantly demands it (Ps. 29:1, 2; 1 Cor. 10:31; Rev. 4:11). To glorify Him is to honor Him, to acknowledge His attributes, and to praise Him for His perfections (Ex. 34:5-7). It is to recognize His glory and extol Him for it. Failing to give Him glory is man's greatest affront to his Creator (Acts 12:22, 23). [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003]

The unwillingness to honor God as the divine Creator was the real source of the darkened minds and abominable practices of the Gentiles. To glorify God means to reverence, love, and obey Him. [SDA Bible Commentary]

Refusing To Give Thanks To God:

They refused to acknowledge that every good thing they enjoyed came from God. [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003]

Unwillingness to give thanks to God for His love and goodness toward men is one of the causes of corruption and idolatry. Ingratitude hardens the heart and leads men to forget the Being to whom they are unwilling to express thankfulness. [SDA Bible Commentary]

CONTEXT AND OVERVIEW

Men know God from creation and conscience (vv. 19-20) but refuse to honor Him as God. They live for the creature, not the Creator, and make themselves into gods (v. 25; Gen. 3:4-5). So, God gave them up (vv. 24,26,28) and let them suffer the consequences. The greatest judgment God can inflict on us is to let us have our own way. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Rom. 1:18-32]

INTRODUCTION

How could intelligent people turn to idolatry? Idolatry begins when people reject what they know about God. Instead of looking to him as the Creator and sustainer of life, they see themselves as the center of the universe. They soon invent "gods" that are convenient projections of their own selfish plans and decrees. These gods may be wooden figures, but they may also be goals or things we pursue such as money, power, or comfort. They may even be misrepresentations of God himself - making God in our image, instead of the reverse. The common denominator is this - idolaters worship the things God made rather than God himself. Is there anything you feel you can't live without? Is there any priority greater than God? Do you have a dream you would sacrifice everything to realize? Does God take first place? Do you worship God or idols of your own making? [Life Application SB]

Paul clearly portrays the inevitable downward spiral into sin. First, people reject God; next, they make up their own ideas of what a god should be and do; then they fall into sin - sexual sin, greed, hatred, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip. Finally, they grow to hate God and encourage others to do so. God does not cause this steady progression toward evil. Rather, when people reject him, he allows them to live as they choose. God gives them over or permits them to experience the natural consequences of their sin. Once caught in the downward spiral, no one can pull himself or herself out. Sinners must trust Christ alone to put them on the path of escape. [Life Application SB]

COMMENTARY PEARL

In Our Own Image
   There is something wrong in our lives when we need an image or an icon to worship God. We must understand that God forbids this (see Exodus 20:3-5). He doesn't want us to relate to Him that way.
   We must also understand that sometimes people can become idols in our lives. Maybe someone was instrumental in bringing us to Christ or we have great admiration for a certain pastor or leader. But is that person becoming an idol? Are they taking the place of God in our lives?
   Of course, God will use people to impact us spiritually. But every person will, at some point, fail to measure up to all the expectations we have. And because we sometimes make idols out of others, our faith is shattered when we discover they are human like we are.
   In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about seed that grew up quickly. But because it had no root, it quickly withered (see Mark 4:16-17). This represents people who don't get a good foundation spiritually. They don't build their faith on Jesus Christ and His Word.
   Something or someone became an idol in their lives, and that idol failed to measure up to their ideal. So they give up, because the foundation they built on was faulty. We need to build our foundation on Jesus Christ.
   Idols also can be ourselves. Romans 1:21 tells us, "Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused" (NLT).
   The first creature that people substitute for God is themselves. Ultimately, all idolatry comes down to people worshipping themselves. They want to be in control.
   Humanity is incurably religious. There is something in us that wants to worship, but if we can make a god in our image and thus call our own shots, then we are happy. That's because, for all practical purposes, we have formed a god in our own image. We have put ourselves in the place of the one true God.
   Idolatry can be living for our senses and appetites as well. The apostle Paul wrote, "There are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth" (Philippians 3:18-19 NLT).
   Jesus also warned about pursuing empty lifestyles. He asked, "Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25 NLT). For many people, the answer is no.
   Is there one thing that you would absolutely refuse to give up if God were to ask it of you? Is there one thing that would cause you to say, "Take anything but this, Lord"? If so, then that thing, that pursuit, that passion just may be an idol in your life. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]

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