Meditations—points to ponder

Paul describes in Romans 1 the progressive departure from God 

that leads to life as we know and see all around us. 

Human beings have always known (and still do) that there is a God 

and have had some degree of understanding of Who He is and what He is like …

Romans 1:19–20 (ESV) — 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

The first Commandment deals with this inclination away from God …

Exodus 20:2–3 (ESV) — 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

In a world apart from God the power of denial is absolutely essential 

if life is to proceed. The will or spirit, psychologically cannot, sustain itself 

for any length of time against what it clearly acknowledges to be the case. 

Therefore it must deny and evade the truth and delude itself.

Paul’s inspired insight into the root of human evil, 

'there is no fear of God before their eyes', 

must never be forgotten by anyone who wishes to understand spiritual formation.

Dallas Willard Renovation of the Heart—putting on the character of Christ p9-10

Romans 3:18 (NRSV) — 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”