Yes - the things God made make His eternal power and Godhead clearly visible, so people can recognize that a Creator exists and have no excuse.
Romans 1:19-20 says what may be known of God is manifest, and the invisible things of Him are clearly seen through creation. Les Feldick explains that even pagans who never heard Scripture can look at the starry sky and realize there is a Creator to deal with (Clip 3). The Athenians even had an altar to an unknown God, and Paul identified Him as the Lord of heaven and earth (Clips 1-2).
Romans 1:19-20 — States that what may be known of God is made plain through creation, leaving everyone without excuse.
Acts 17:23-27 — Paul identifies the 'unknown God' as the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth, who is near to every person.
Romans 1:19-20 (KJV) says: "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." This plainly says creation makes God's attributes visible. Acts 17:24,27 (KJV) records Paul's sermon at Athens: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; ... That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." Scripture shows that God made everything and is near to everyone.
Les Feldick teaches that Romans 1 makes clear that God speaks to pagans and to those who have never heard the Word of God through the effect of nature. They can look into the very starry expanse and realize there is a Creator to deal with (Clip 3). He ties this to the truth that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people (Clip 3). In Athens, Les explains, the culture was pagan and intellectual, filled with temples to gods and goddesses, yet the people had an altar 'to the unknown God' - showing an inkling that something beyond their idols existed (Clips 1,5,7). Paul then declared that this God is the one who made the world and is Lord of heaven and earth, and that He is not far from anyone (Clip 2). Les also points out that the whole then-known world was steeped in paganism, and only Israel was given the knowledge of the one true God (Clip 4). He uses this to show that creation leaves humanity without excuse, especially since people suppress the truth rather than welcome it (Clip 0).
Romans 1:20 says God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and Godhead - are clearly seen in the created world, leaving all without excuse. Les Feldick applies this directly: pagan Gentiles who had never heard the Word of God could look at the starry expanse and realize there is a Creator to deal with. He calls this one way God speaks to every human being through the effect of nature (Clip 3).
Athens was a city of philosophy and idolatry, with temples to gods and goddesses on every hand. Les notes that the Athenians were 'too superstitious' and had an altar inscribed 'to the unknown God' - evidence that they had an inkling of a God they did not know (Clips 1,5). Paul then declared that this God is the One who made the world and everything in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, and that He is not far from anyone (Clip 2).
Les teaches that the whole then-known world was steeped in paganism, and only Israel was given the knowledge of the one true God (Clip 4). Yet Romans 1 shows that the truth of God was manifest through what He made, and ungodly people 'hold the truth in unrighteousness' - Paul's expression that, as Les explains, literally pictures trampling the truth underfoot (Clip 0). Because creation testifies to a Creator, those who reject it have no excuse (Rom 1:20).
Truth Trampled Underfoot
Les explains that the Greek wording behind 'hold the truth in unrighteousness' pictures people trampling the truth underfoot, which is why God holds them accountable.
Athens' Altar to the Unknown God
Les describes how Paul saw the Athenians' idolatrous worship and found an altar inscribed 'to the unknown God,' showing they had no knowledge of the true God.
Paul Reveals the Creator
Les says the Athenians had an inkling of an unknown God, and Paul revealed Him as the Lord of heaven and earth, the Creator who is not far from anyone.
Nature Points to a Creator
Les teaches that God speaks through nature, so even pagans who never heard the Word should look at the starry sky and realize there is a Creator to deal with.
Paganism Before Paul
Les explains that before God called Abram, the whole known world was steeped in paganism and only Israel came to know the one true God.
Athens Was Intellectual but Pagan
Les notes that the Athenians were gullible and religious but pagan, and Paul called them 'too superstitious' before pointing to the altar to the unknown God.
Should You Eat Meat Offered to Idols? 1 Corinthians 8 Explained
Yet from the human side I just can't comprehend that the One who created the universe, that the One who created man and brought him up out of the dust and breathed into him the breath of life, that that same One went to that Roman cross and suffered at the hands of mankind so that He could have me and you in eternity. That's beyond me.
They Did Not Know the True God
Les says the world sacrificed to demons instead of God because they did not know who God was, and he connects this to intellectual, pagan Athens.
Romans 1:19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Paul states that knowledge of God is not hidden; it is made manifest to people.
Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
This is the key verse: creation reveals God's eternal power and Godhead, leaving all without excuse.
Acts 17:23: For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Paul points to the Athenians' own altar to show they had some inkling of a God they did not know.
Acts 17:24: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Paul identifies this unknown God as the Creator who made the world and everything in it.
Acts 17:27: That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
The unknown God is near to every person, so people are expected to seek and find Him.
Titus 2:11: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Les connects God's revelation in nature with the truth that His grace has appeared to all people.
Scripture says creation reveals God's eternal power and Godhead (Rom 1:20). Les Feldick says people can look at the starry expanse and realize there is a Creator to deal with. But in Athens, the same people needed Paul to tell them the identity of this God.
Because the created world makes God's existence visible. Romans 1:20 says they are without excuse, and Les Feldick points out that nature itself is one way God speaks even to pagans (Clip 3).
Paul said God made the world and everything in it, that He is Lord of heaven and earth, and that He is not far from every one of us. Les says the Athenians had an inkling but no knowledge of the true God until Paul revealed Him (Clips 1-2).
Watch the Teaching: Why God Holds Everyone Without Excuse — Romans 1:18-21