Romans 1 Paul calls himself a "called apostle" - invited/ appointed - to apostleship, a commissioned messenger of the gospel of God.  The Gospel -  the declaration of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; promised beforehand by the prophets in the Scriptures; descendent of David; resurrected by power;  the " power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.." 

Paul writes to those who are also " the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are beloved of God.. called as saints;"   He writes to those in Rome specifically, and to us also, for we who believe in Jesus are invited and included among those whom God calls His "beloved".

The gospel is powerful, Paul says, because "in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.." .  Paul says he is eager to preach this good news in Rome.  He is eager to encourage the believers and to see others come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul knows all too well the great need of the gospel in Rome, as we know the great need of the gospel in our current culture;  " For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." ( v18)

 Paul spells it out for us, so we have no doubt what he is calling "ungodliness and unrighteousness".  Although God has revealed Himself since creation - in His power and divine nature and put within man the knowledge of Himself; man has:

Refused to honor God as God ( v21)
Refused to give thanks to God
Become " futile in their speculations" ( empty thinking)
Become "darkened" in their hearts
Professed to be wise, but are in actuality foolish( v22)
Exchanged "the glory of the incorruptible God" for worthless idols (v23)
Exchanged the "truth of God" for lies ( v25)
Served the creature instead of the Creator.
Stopped acknowledging  God altogether. ( v28)
Practiced things "worthy of death" (v32)

The wrath of God - the passionate indignation and anger of God reaches forth to bring punishment upon those who choose this ungodliness and unrighteousness - doing those things and encouraging others to do the same.  Paul explains the consequences of such choices:

God gives them over "in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them". ( v24)
God gives the over to " degrading passions" ( v26) - women are degraded, becoming sex objects, mistreated and dishonored.  Men " abandoned the natural function of the woman" - becoming indecent  ( v27).
God "gives them over" to depraved minds  - worthless, reprobate,  - to do "those things which are not proper" ( v28)
"... being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;" ( v29-31)

Unconstrained lust, passion, and wickedness - sound familiar?  Turn on the tv.  Pick up a book or magazine. Read the newspaper.   Is there anyone left in our society ( besides Christians) that think our hearts can be pure and our bodies honorable?

Father in heaven, have mercy on us!  Our nation is guilty!  We are deserving of Your wrath.  Turn our hearts back to Truth, O Lord! May we acknowledge You and honor You, giving thanks to You and serving You with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies.  Cleanse our thinking and establish us in Your Truth once again.  Forgive us Lord and deliver us from the evil one and from the evil in our own hearts.  Thank You for the Good News of Jesus Christ Who died and rose again that we might have salvation.  Let the Gospel be proclaimed once again. In the Mighty Name of our Savior we pray. Amen.