In chapter 2 of his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul presents a profound theological truth: God is impartial. This impartiality is not a distant or abstract idea but a necessary foundation for those who seek truth. To know what is true, one must first understand who God is and how He acts.
The pursuit of truth requires two essential forms of knowledge. First, one must observe creation, discerning the marks of divine order and intention. Second, one must understand the corruption of that same creation through sin. Without acknowledging both the goodness of creation and its distortion, one cannot rightly discern what belongs to God and what belongs to man’s fall.
To distinguish the divine from the corrupted, one must know the attributes of God. His perfection, immutability, and simplicity are key. Because God is perfect, He does not change. Because He is simple, He is not made of parts or subject to internal division. These truths lead to a critical understanding: God’s actions and creations are not subject to arbitrary distinction. He does not favor some over others out of preference, but regards all things according to His unchanging nature.
This insight reveals the nature of sin and iniquity. Fixed laws and codified rules often stem not from the divine but from human attempts to manage corruption. They serve a purpose, but can quickly become idols. If Christ calls His followers to live by faith rather than law, it is because faith aligns with the freedom the Holy Spirit gives. That Spirit liberates from the rigid demands of the written code and guides the soul toward life.
Rigidity, when elevated above the Spirit, becomes death. This is the true definition of sin: not merely error or moral failure, but anything that deadens the spirit, halts its movement, and cuts off its search for God. Sin is that which kills the living relationship between the soul and God.
In this light, theology is not a luxury but a necessity. It equips the believer to navigate the boundary between truth and error, divine revelation and human invention. Reason, guided by the Spirit, is the tool by which theology comes alive. It allows the soul to rise above superstitions, reject empty ritualism, and pursue the living God with clarity and conviction.
Faith without understanding is often mistaken for piety, but it risks becoming little more than idolatry. When belief is reduced to blind obedience or sentimental tradition, it ceases to reflect the glory of the God who gave us both spirit and mind. A faith that fears reason has already ceased to trust the Spirit.
This Sunday, consider what it means to seek truth not as a passive recipient but as an active disciple. Use the reason God has given you, not to replace faith, but to strengthen it. The Spirit has not bound you with burdensome laws but has set you free to live truthfully. That truth is found not in rigidity, but in righteousness. Not in codes, but in communion. Amen.
