Romans 1:18 states, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” This verse speaks to the tendency of humankind to reject the truth about God and His righteousness, instead embracing ungodliness and unrighteousness. The act of suppressing the truth is an act of willful rebellion against what God has clearly revealed about Himself and His standards.
To “suppress” something means to consciously and intentionally restrain, inhibit, or prevent something from being revealed, expressed, or actualized. When people suppress the truth, they are actively working to hinder the truth about God from being known and embraced. This suppression can take many forms:
- Rejecting or ignoring God’s existence despite the clear evidence in creation (Romans 1:19-20)
- Exchanging the truth about God for false beliefs and idols (Romans 1:23)
- Denying the clear truth of God’s power and nature (Romans 1:28)
- Claiming to be wise without acknowledging God (Romans 1:22)
- Engaging in all kinds of unrighteous acts while denying accountability to God (Romans 1:28-32)
The suppression of truth leads to a downward spiral of ungodliness because denying what is clearly known about God leads to futile speculations and darkens the heart to further truth (Romans 1:21). As people reject the truth about God, they open themselves up to all kinds of sinful desires and behaviors. Suppressing the truth allows people to justify unrighteousness.
At the core, suppressing the truth stems from a refusal to honor God or give thanks to Him (Romans 1:21). People suppress the truth because they do not want to submit their lives to the authority and standards of a holy God. They desire independence from the Creator who has the right to dictate what is good and evil, right and wrong. So out of a proud, selfish heart, people actively work to shut out the truth of God so they can live how they please.
Suppressing the truth leads to a futile existence because people exchange God’s truth for a lie (Romans 1:25). No matter how vigorously people work to restrain God’s truth in unrighteousness, they still know God’s righteousness deep down. This universal knowledge leaves them without excuse (Romans 1:20). So their unrighteousness is not due to lack of knowledge but rather an intentional rejection of that knowledge for selfish motives. A heart aimed at suppressing God’s truth is a heart bent on unrighteousness.
Why people suppress the truth
People suppress the truth about God for several key reasons:
- Sinful pride: People want to be their own god and live life on their own terms. Submitting to the righteousness of God wounds human pride (Romans 1:22-23).
- Love of sin: Obeying God’s laws means giving up sinful lifestyles and pursuits people enjoy. So it is suppressed to avoid accountability (John 3:19-21).
- Rejection of authority: Humanity innately rebels against authority, and God’s authority is the ultimate authority people want to reject (Luke 19:14).
- Worldly wisdom: The world’s system downplays absolute truth and moral standards, so people adopt worldly thinking to justify suppression of truth (1 Corinthians 1:20-25).
At the foundation, the suppression of truth stems from a corrupt heart condition that is alienated from the life of God (Ephesians 4:18). Fallen humanity with innate sinful tendencies will always gravitate toward suppressing spiritual truth because people desire sin more than righteousness (John 3:19-21).
Forms of suppressing the truth
The suppression of truth about God takes many forms, including:
- Denial of God’s existence: Claiming God does not exist is an outright rejection of ultimate Truth (Psalm 14:1).
- Distorting doctrine: Changing biblical truths to align with human philosophies suppresses sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
- Downplaying/ignoring sin: Acting like sin is not serious or real suppresses conviction of sin (Isaiah 30:10).
- Emphasizing human wisdom: Setting aside God’s revelation for worldly philosophies rests on human wisdom rather than God’s (1 Corinthians 3:19).
- Judging morality: When people determine right and wrong for themselves, they suppress God’s objective truth (Isaiah 5:20).
- Pursuing false religions: Following man-made religions denies biblical truths and buys into what feels comfortable rather than facing hard truths (2 Timothy 4:3).
Anytime people explain away the realities God has plainly revealed in creation, conscience, and Scripture, the suppression of truth is at work. The conscience convicts the unbeliever of God’s truth inwardly, while creation and Scripture provide external revelation of God’s nature and standards.
Suppressing general revelation
General revelation refers to the knowledge of God’s existence and character people can derive from creation or inward conscience. Truths like God’s power, divine nature, and standards for morality can be known inwardly and through observation of the natural world (Romans 1:19-20). However, people actively suppress their response to general revelation by:
- Denying design necessitates a Designer when observing incredible complexity
- Attributing beauty and intricacy of nature to chance rather than God’s craftsmanship
- Ignoring or explaining away the conscience’s understanding of objective morality
- Pursuing false man-made religions rather than truth about God
- Engaging in futile speculation and philosophies that shut out truth (Romans 1:21-22)
Creation clearly displays God’s “invisible attributes” like His “eternal power and divine nature” (Romans 1:20). But people live contrary to this knowledge by denying God’s existence and refusing to honor Him. They actively repress the spiritual truth creation was meant to convey.
Suppressing special revelation
Special revelation refers to God’s direct words spoken in Scripture. Despite God going to great lengths to communicate spiritual truth to humanity, people actively work to suppress specific revelations in God’s Word by:
- Rejecting Scripture’s divine inspiration and authority
- Distorting the meaning of biblical texts
- Disobeying clear biblical commands
- Ignoring passages that confront personal sin
- Emphasizing certain attributes/actions of God while minimizing others
- Picking and choosing what to believe or obey from Scripture
The Bible expresses God’s revelation of truth about salvation, human nature, morality, judgment, and how to live in step with God’s purposes. Yet people frequently dismiss passages they dislike as archaic and explain away convicting verses.
Jesus confronted the Pharisees for actively suppressing biblical application by rejecting the command to honor parents (Mark 7:9-13). Despite having access to Scripture, they suppressed its truth through man-made religious traditions.
Results of suppressing the truth
Suppressing the truth in unrighteousness never leads to positive results. Outcomes include:
- Futile thinking: Minds are darkened and understanding is impaired when denying God’s truth (Romans 1:21, Ephesians 4:17-18).
- Moral decay: Morality unravels when people deny accountability to a divine moral lawgiver (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
- Idolatry: Rejecting truth leads people to create and worship false gods or pursue human philosophies (Romans 1:22-23).
- Confusion: Suppressing truth breeds mass uncertainty, confusion, and lack of purpose (Romans 1:28-32).
- Judgment: God’s wrath is stirred against those who reject truth and embrace unrighteousness (Romans 1:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).
Attempts to restrain God’s truth ultimately fail. Actions to suppress truth display prideful human arrogance and never restrict the advance of God’s kingdom purposes (Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 14:27). In the end, every knee will bow before the Lord when His full glory is revealed (Philippians 2:10-11).
How to respond to truth suppressors
When confronting those who actively restrain God’s truth, believers should:
- Pray for eyes to be opened to receive truth (2 Corinthians 4:4)
- Lovingly point to evidence in creation and conscience (Acts 14:15-17)
- Appeal to the inward sense of morality all people possess (Romans 2:14-15)
- Patiently reason and provide evidence for God’s existence and nature (Isaiah 1:18)
- Gently correct doctrinal distortions with Scripture
- Preach the gospel of salvation which liberates from futile thinking (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
- Call people to repent and yield to Christ’s lordship
Christians must avoid antagonism or judgment which pushes people away. But full reliance on persuasive words alone will not transform a rebellious heart. Only the life-giving gospel message coupled with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit can free people from the bondage of suppressing God’s truth (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5).
Freedom from suppressing truth
People imprisoned by unrighteousness can find freedom by:
- Confessing prideful hearts and repenting of sin (1 John 1:9)
- Humbly yielding life fully to the lordship of Christ (James 4:7-10)
- Receiving Christ’s redemption from the slavery of sin (Romans 6:22)
- Pursuing renewal of mind and transformation of desires (Romans 12:2)
- Committing to know, obey, and delight in God’s truth (Psalm 119:10, John 8:31-32)
- Asking God’s Spirit to guide into all truth (John 16:13)
As believers, we must model lives that uphold God’s truth rather than restrain it. Christians can avoid compromising truth by maturing in discernment, standing firm upon Scripture, and filtering every philosophy and thought through the lens of God’s Word (Hebrews 5:14, 2 Corinthians 10:5-6).
May we all humbly surrender hearts to exalt in the truth of our righteous and loving Creator and King.