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Scripture led Paul, in Rom. 1:, to speak of "the incorruptible God" in a context of
idolatry and personal degradation (verses 23-25).
When dealing with Rom. 1: we drew attention to the close parallel that exists between
the histories of the Gentile and of Israel. It is so important to realize this that we repeat
the following quotations:--
Gentile (Rom. 1:).
Israel (Psa. 106:).
"They changed the glory of the
"They made a calf in Horeb, and
incorruptible God into an image . . . . . man
worshipped the molten image. Thus they
. . . . .birds, beasts and creeping things"
changed their glory into the similitude of
(23).
an ox that eateth grass" (19, 20).
"They did not like to retain God in their
"They forget God their Saviour" (21).
knowledge" (28).
"Wherefore God also gave them up" (24).
"Therefore He said that He would
destroy them" (23).
"Uncleanness . . . . . . . vile affections"
"They joined themselves also unto
(24-27).
Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the
dead" (28).
"Inventors of evil things" (30).
"They provoked Him to anger with their
inventions" (29).
Rom. 1: 18-32 has much in common with II Thess. 2: 1-12 and II Tim. 3: 1-8, and
the link with Gen. 6: shows that we have the same evil at work in the patriarchal age
with Israel as at the end of this dispensation. In like manner we have in II Pet. 2:
"destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them", and soon "lascivious
ways". Then follows the sin of the angels, and of Sodom and Gomorrah, a reference to
the brute beasts that perish in their own corruption, eyes full of adultery, the way of
Balaam, and finally servants of corruption, likened to dogs and sows. Here we have the
degeneration that sets in upon departure from the truth.
It is because of the close affinity between the glory of the incorruptible God, and the
blessing of man, that we find in the covenant of the ten commandments, written by the
finger of God, that which preserves not only pure worship, but pure family life. As
surely as man corrupts the worship of God, so surely will he corrupt himself, and in
seeking to "worship God in spirit and truth" he is at the same time pursuing his own
truest interests. The Millennium itself is characterized by the "knowledge of the Lord".
In the tenth verse of our chapter we have the repudiation of Israel: "Now therefore let
Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I
will make of thee a great nation" (Exod. 32: 10). This leads us back to Gen. 12:
where the Lord made the promise to Abraham.
Promise versus Law.
Moses makes no reference to this suggestion, but throws himself and his people upon
the grace of God. He will not even repeat the Lord's word with reference to himself, "thy
people, which thou broughtest out", but boldly says: "Lord, why doth Thy wrath wax hot
against Thy people, which Thou has brought forth out of the land of Egypt?" (verse 11).