Chapter 1:18-25
VERSE BY VERSE STUDY ON THE BOOK OF ROMANS
By Pastor Greg Hooker
Read Scripture Text (Note: All Scriptures used are from the KJV.)
Chapter 1:18-25
Chapter 1:18-25
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
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:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
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:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
MAN’S INABILITY TO MAKE HIMSELF RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD
Verse 18
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
All mankind without exception is guilty of sin before God and therefore unable of themselves to make an appeal to God for righteousness. God is holy, we are not. The Father is ‘set apart’ from even the appearance of sin. God cannot look upon us because of our sinful state, neither can He forgive sin based upon our requests or good works.
Who are we to have the audacity to approach such divine holiness and request of the Lord a pardon for our sins? Our sins have separated us from the holy presence of the Almighty, but take heart, that’s where Jesus, our bridge or mediator (lawyer) comes in.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
- 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus bridged the gap between sinful man and a holy God. That’s why He said “I am the way” , the bridge to the Father. If we try crossing that vast chasm any other way we would fall directly into Hell. There is no other way to Heaven except through Jesus.
As a result of our sins, God’s wrath is “revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
Many hold, or possess the truth, but they still do unrighteousness anyway. They fail to "keep back," or "restrain" their sinful pleasures, nor do they receive God’s Son as their mediator, lawyer, or representative before God the Father. They are living each second hoping their heart doesn’t stop just to indulge in iniquities. Whoa unto those who know the Great Gift God has given them, but reject it for the pleasures of sin!
Verse 19
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.”
Even from the beginning of time, the Lord has written in our DNA that there is a Creator God. In fact, I read a recent article in which scientist claim they have now isolated and found that gene. Whether that is so or not, man does have an inner sense there is something way greater and more powerful than he.
As I said above, this has been described in science as the ‘God Gene’. At conception this ‘God Gene’ was encoded in our DNA by our Creator. It’s interesting what the Lord told us in the first chapter of the Bible?
“So God created man in his own image, in the image [God Gene?] of God created he him; male and female created he them.“
- Genesis 1:27
Though man may suppress or deny it, all of us from Adam unto now cannot truthfully deny the existence, power, goodness, and righteousness of a Supreme Being. One only has to look at the overwhelming intricate design of our bodies. That in itself screams that a Superior Being created us.
There is no such thing as a true atheist. Even they deep down cannot explain why, where, or when the universe came into existence. Even if space was completely void of all matter, gases, etc., the question naturally arises, ‘Where did this void, or vacuum come from’? So all men are without excuses. They may hide it and falsely claim a Supreme Being doesn’t exist, but deep down they have that ‘God Gene’ within.
From the visible creation of the heavens and the earth, from the sea and dry land, from plants and animals, from men’s own bodies fearfully and wonderfully made, and especially from their intelligent free will, and immortal minds, God reveals Himself.
Verse 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:”
“For the invisible things of him”
The expression "invisible things" refers to those things which cannot be perceived by the five senses. It does not imply that there are any things pertaining to God which may be seen by the eye, but that there are things which may be known of Him, though not discoverable by the eye. No man can look upon God the Father and live (Exodus 33:20).
We judge of the objects around us by our senses - sight, touch, hearing, etc. Paul affirms that though we cannot judge God’s existence this way, yet there is a way by which we may come to a limited knowledge of Him.
What Paul means “by the invisible things of God”, he specifies at the close of the verse, "his eternal power and Godhead." That is, in and of itself, there is sufficient evidence to convince all people there is a Supreme Being before anything was created.
As Genesis states in the very first verse, “In the beginning God”, or literally “In the beginning God was.” At which point He decides and commences to create. Never forget that God is eternal. He has no beginning or end. Our puny minds cannot begin to grasp the concept of eternity. We just believe it by faith.
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
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:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
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:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
MAN’S INABILITY TO MAKE HIMSELF RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD
Verse 18
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
All mankind without exception is guilty of sin before God and therefore unable of themselves to make an appeal to God for righteousness. God is holy, we are not. The Father is ‘set apart’ from even the appearance of sin. God cannot look upon us because of our sinful state, neither can He forgive sin based upon our requests or good works.
Who are we to have the audacity to approach such divine holiness and request of the Lord a pardon for our sins? Our sins have separated us from the holy presence of the Almighty, but take heart, that’s where Jesus, our bridge or mediator (lawyer) comes in.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
- 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus bridged the gap between sinful man and a holy God. That’s why He said “I am the way” , the bridge to the Father. If we try crossing that vast chasm any other way we would fall directly into Hell. There is no other way to Heaven except through Jesus.
As a result of our sins, God’s wrath is “revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
Many hold, or possess the truth, but they still do unrighteousness anyway. They fail to "keep back," or "restrain" their sinful pleasures, nor do they receive God’s Son as their mediator, lawyer, or representative before God the Father. They are living each second hoping their heart doesn’t stop just to indulge in iniquities. Whoa unto those who know the Great Gift God has given them, but reject it for the pleasures of sin!
Verse 19
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.”
Even from the beginning of time, the Lord has written in our DNA that there is a Creator God. In fact, I read a recent article in which scientist claim they have now isolated and found that gene. Whether that is so or not, man does have an inner sense there is something way greater and more powerful than he.
As I said above, this has been described in science as the ‘God Gene’. At conception this ‘God Gene’ was encoded in our DNA by our Creator. It’s interesting what the Lord told us in the first chapter of the Bible?
“So God created man in his own image, in the image [God Gene?] of God created he him; male and female created he them.“
- Genesis 1:27
Though man may suppress or deny it, all of us from Adam unto now cannot truthfully deny the existence, power, goodness, and righteousness of a Supreme Being. One only has to look at the overwhelming intricate design of our bodies. That in itself screams that a Superior Being created us.
There is no such thing as a true atheist. Even they deep down cannot explain why, where, or when the universe came into existence. Even if space was completely void of all matter, gases, etc., the question naturally arises, ‘Where did this void, or vacuum come from’? So all men are without excuses. They may hide it and falsely claim a Supreme Being doesn’t exist, but deep down they have that ‘God Gene’ within.
From the visible creation of the heavens and the earth, from the sea and dry land, from plants and animals, from men’s own bodies fearfully and wonderfully made, and especially from their intelligent free will, and immortal minds, God reveals Himself.
Verse 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:”
“For the invisible things of him”
The expression "invisible things" refers to those things which cannot be perceived by the five senses. It does not imply that there are any things pertaining to God which may be seen by the eye, but that there are things which may be known of Him, though not discoverable by the eye. No man can look upon God the Father and live (Exodus 33:20).
We judge of the objects around us by our senses - sight, touch, hearing, etc. Paul affirms that though we cannot judge God’s existence this way, yet there is a way by which we may come to a limited knowledge of Him.
What Paul means “by the invisible things of God”, he specifies at the close of the verse, "his eternal power and Godhead." That is, in and of itself, there is sufficient evidence to convince all people there is a Supreme Being before anything was created.
As Genesis states in the very first verse, “In the beginning God”, or literally “In the beginning God was.” At which point He decides and commences to create. Never forget that God is eternal. He has no beginning or end. Our puny minds cannot begin to grasp the concept of eternity. We just believe it by faith.
QUESTION INSTRUCTIONS: Please read each question and write your answer in the "COMMENT" box below. Be sure to number each answer corresponding to the question asked and be as thorough as possible. The more you put into this study, the more you will commit it to memory. IMPORTANT: Do not refresh or shut your computer down until you are finished with this section and click the "Submit" button or you will loose all your information.
1. What separates us from God and what is a mediator?
2. What has God written into our DNA?
3. Explain the meaning of the God-gene.
4. Write out Genesis 1:27.
5. Explain some ways that God reveals Himself to us apart from the Bible.
6. What did Paul mean by the “invisible things”?
2. What has God written into our DNA?
3. Explain the meaning of the God-gene.
4. Write out Genesis 1:27.
5. Explain some ways that God reveals Himself to us apart from the Bible.
6. What did Paul mean by the “invisible things”?
Verse 21
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God,”
Paul is telling the believers at Rome, everyone without exception is programmed by God to know that He exists and therefore have no excuses. Even the remotest tribes isolated from all civilization have that God gene (image) which communicates with their spirits the existence of a Supreme Being.
The congregation at Rome also new the basics of what was right and wrong and that the true source of their sins was a corrupt and evil heart. Yet they refused and did not glorify or honor God as such.
Sinners are not willing or have a desire to give honor to God, as God. They are not pleased with His perfections and holiness, therefore their minds become fixed on other objects and their hearts give free indulgence to their own sinful desires. A willingness to honor God as God - to reverence, love, and obey Him, would effectually restrain people from sin if they would allow it.
“Neither were thankful”
Because their hearts were full of sin, they fix their affections on other things, like worshiping the sun, moon, and stars. In ancient times all the way to modern-day, man has rejected God and instead erected idols of stone, wood, and clay. They worshiped the created more than the Creator and became vain, or foolish in their imaginations. Anything that takes the rightful place of God in our lives is an idol. That would include everything.
“But became vain”
To "became vain," means to be elated, to be self-conceited, or to seek praise from others. The meaning here seems to be, they became foolish, and frivolous in their thoughts and reasonings. They acted foolishly and employed themselves in useless and meaningless questions, which led their carnal minds further and further from the truth of God. They became philosophers knowing not the truth. Blind leaders of the blind groping about into all sorts of heathernistic pagan practices of Devils and Demons. When you willfully reject the Lord, you open a ‘Pandora's Box’ for the Devil to enslave your very soul.
“Imaginations”
This implies they were unwilling to honor God, therefore they commenced to speculations and far-fetched guesses which resulted in all forms of vain and foolish opinions about the meaning of life. This included idolatry and the various rites of pagan worship. Many of the conjectures and inquiries of the ancients were among the most futile and senseless thoughts for which the mind can conceive. Our libraries are filled with these foolish ideas. All because they suppressed the God-given-gene which could lead them to know God.
“And their foolish heart”
The word "heart" is used to denote the mind, soul, or the understanding. We apply it to denote affections.
The word "foolish" means literally that which is without ‘understanding and void of knowledge’ (Matthew 15:16).
“was darkened”
In other words, their hearts were rendered obscure to the extent they could not perceive and comprehend the truth. The more a person rejects truth, the harder the heart becomes and the more distance is established between them and their Maker. That’s why it’s imperative to teach about God to our young children while their hearts are soft and can more easily receive the truth.
To sum up this verse:
(1) The people had the knowledge of God encoded within them, thus they were without excuse.
(2) Yet they refused to honor God when they knew Him, and were opposed to His character and government, thus following and inventing all sorts of paganistic ideas.
(3) As a result they were ungrateful and became foolish and vain in their imaginations.
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God,”
Paul is telling the believers at Rome, everyone without exception is programmed by God to know that He exists and therefore have no excuses. Even the remotest tribes isolated from all civilization have that God gene (image) which communicates with their spirits the existence of a Supreme Being.
The congregation at Rome also new the basics of what was right and wrong and that the true source of their sins was a corrupt and evil heart. Yet they refused and did not glorify or honor God as such.
Sinners are not willing or have a desire to give honor to God, as God. They are not pleased with His perfections and holiness, therefore their minds become fixed on other objects and their hearts give free indulgence to their own sinful desires. A willingness to honor God as God - to reverence, love, and obey Him, would effectually restrain people from sin if they would allow it.
“Neither were thankful”
Because their hearts were full of sin, they fix their affections on other things, like worshiping the sun, moon, and stars. In ancient times all the way to modern-day, man has rejected God and instead erected idols of stone, wood, and clay. They worshiped the created more than the Creator and became vain, or foolish in their imaginations. Anything that takes the rightful place of God in our lives is an idol. That would include everything.
“But became vain”
To "became vain," means to be elated, to be self-conceited, or to seek praise from others. The meaning here seems to be, they became foolish, and frivolous in their thoughts and reasonings. They acted foolishly and employed themselves in useless and meaningless questions, which led their carnal minds further and further from the truth of God. They became philosophers knowing not the truth. Blind leaders of the blind groping about into all sorts of heathernistic pagan practices of Devils and Demons. When you willfully reject the Lord, you open a ‘Pandora's Box’ for the Devil to enslave your very soul.
“Imaginations”
This implies they were unwilling to honor God, therefore they commenced to speculations and far-fetched guesses which resulted in all forms of vain and foolish opinions about the meaning of life. This included idolatry and the various rites of pagan worship. Many of the conjectures and inquiries of the ancients were among the most futile and senseless thoughts for which the mind can conceive. Our libraries are filled with these foolish ideas. All because they suppressed the God-given-gene which could lead them to know God.
“And their foolish heart”
The word "heart" is used to denote the mind, soul, or the understanding. We apply it to denote affections.
The word "foolish" means literally that which is without ‘understanding and void of knowledge’ (Matthew 15:16).
“was darkened”
In other words, their hearts were rendered obscure to the extent they could not perceive and comprehend the truth. The more a person rejects truth, the harder the heart becomes and the more distance is established between them and their Maker. That’s why it’s imperative to teach about God to our young children while their hearts are soft and can more easily receive the truth.
To sum up this verse:
(1) The people had the knowledge of God encoded within them, thus they were without excuse.
(2) Yet they refused to honor God when they knew Him, and were opposed to His character and government, thus following and inventing all sorts of paganistic ideas.
(3) As a result they were ungrateful and became foolish and vain in their imaginations.
QUESTION INSTRUCTIONS: Please read each question and write your answer in the "COMMENT" box below. Be sure to number each answer corresponding to the question asked and be as thorough as possible. The more you put into this study, the more you will commit it to memory. IMPORTANT: Do not refresh or shut your computer down until you are finished with this section and click the "Submit" button or you will loose all your information.
7. What happens to the minds of people who will not acknowledge God? Give me your thoughts about it.
8. Explain this statement: ‘They worshiped the created more than the Creator and became vain in their imaginations.’ Give some examples.
9. What did Paul mean when he told the Romans they had “become vain?”
10. What did Paul mean when he said their hearts “was darkened”?
8. Explain this statement: ‘They worshiped the created more than the Creator and became vain in their imaginations.’ Give some examples.
9. What did Paul mean when he told the Romans they had “become vain?”
10. What did Paul mean when he said their hearts “was darkened”?
FALSE WISDOM LEADS INDIVIDUALS TO BECOMING FOOLS
Verse 22
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
“Professing themselves to be wise”
This was the common boast of the philosophers. With pompous and exaggeration they flaunted themselves before others not knowing they were “professing themselves wise and becoming fools.” The very word by which they chose to be called by (philosophers) literally means "lovers of wisdom” yet tragically,
“they became fools,” (idiots and laughing stock before the people and God).
It must be noted that sinners of all kinds are frequently spoken of as fools in the Scriptures. In the sense it is thus used, the word is applied to them as void of understanding or moral sense, as idolaters, and as wicked (Psalm 14:1; Proverbs 26:4; Proverbs 1:17, Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 14:8-9).
Verse 22
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
“Professing themselves to be wise”
This was the common boast of the philosophers. With pompous and exaggeration they flaunted themselves before others not knowing they were “professing themselves wise and becoming fools.” The very word by which they chose to be called by (philosophers) literally means "lovers of wisdom” yet tragically,
“they became fools,” (idiots and laughing stock before the people and God).
It must be noted that sinners of all kinds are frequently spoken of as fools in the Scriptures. In the sense it is thus used, the word is applied to them as void of understanding or moral sense, as idolaters, and as wicked (Psalm 14:1; Proverbs 26:4; Proverbs 1:17, Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 14:8-9).
GODS JUDGEMENT ON THE WICKED
Verse 23
“And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”
“And changed”
They willfully traded God and “changed” or replaced the Creator for the worship of idols made by their own hands. They forsook Him with no remorse, replacing Him for objects of stone, wood, and clay. That, my friends, is a “foolish” person!
NOTE: Does this sound familiar? Without even giving it consideration, we do the same thing Paul is condemning the Roman church of doing. I want you to pay close attention to what I’m about to say, ‘Anything that we allow in our lives that takes our attention off of God our Savior, becomes an idol’. Here’s a few examples,
1) Staying home from church so we can watch a sports venue is idol worship.
2) Trading our prayer and Bible study to give our time to go fishing is idol worship.
3) Spending more time reading secular literature than reading our Bibles is idol worship.
You see, when we fail to place God above other things is to say that ‘things’ are more important than He. Please don’t misconstrue my meaning, it’s perfectly fine to do all these other activities, but we must do so in priority and moderation, not leaving the most important things of God on the bottom of our list.
“the glory of the incorruptible”
To put it another way, they took the majesty, honor, and glory of a loving God and degraded Him to the worship of creation. They ignored the grace and goodness of the Lord, bowing their knees and hearts to reptiles, beasts of the field, and other creeping things.
While all these things decay and are sweep away by the winds of time, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (1 Timothy 1:17).
Verse 23
“And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”
“And changed”
They willfully traded God and “changed” or replaced the Creator for the worship of idols made by their own hands. They forsook Him with no remorse, replacing Him for objects of stone, wood, and clay. That, my friends, is a “foolish” person!
NOTE: Does this sound familiar? Without even giving it consideration, we do the same thing Paul is condemning the Roman church of doing. I want you to pay close attention to what I’m about to say, ‘Anything that we allow in our lives that takes our attention off of God our Savior, becomes an idol’. Here’s a few examples,
1) Staying home from church so we can watch a sports venue is idol worship.
2) Trading our prayer and Bible study to give our time to go fishing is idol worship.
3) Spending more time reading secular literature than reading our Bibles is idol worship.
You see, when we fail to place God above other things is to say that ‘things’ are more important than He. Please don’t misconstrue my meaning, it’s perfectly fine to do all these other activities, but we must do so in priority and moderation, not leaving the most important things of God on the bottom of our list.
“the glory of the incorruptible”
To put it another way, they took the majesty, honor, and glory of a loving God and degraded Him to the worship of creation. They ignored the grace and goodness of the Lord, bowing their knees and hearts to reptiles, beasts of the field, and other creeping things.
While all these things decay and are sweep away by the winds of time, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (1 Timothy 1:17).
QUESTION INSTRUCTIONS: Please read each question and write your answer in the "COMMENT" box below. Be sure to number each answer corresponding to the question asked and be as thorough as possible. The more you put into this study, the more you will commit it to memory. IMPORTANT: Do not refresh or shut your computer down until you are finished with this section and click the "Submit" button or you will loose all your information.
11. What did Paul say about the philosophers?
12. Give some examples of idols we have in our lives.
13. What did Paul mean by “the glory of the incorruptible”
12. Give some examples of idols we have in our lives.
13. What did Paul mean by “the glory of the incorruptible”
GOD’S SOLUTION FOR THEIR DISOBEDIENCE
Verse 24
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:”
“Wherefore”
That is, they were unwilling to retain Him in their knowledge, but rather chose to worship idols which resulted in an outward expression of gross and shameless acts of total depravity and because of that,
“God gave them up”
He literally abandoned and allowed them free will to sin. He ceased to restrain their evil and suffered them to act out their ungodliness, which were manifested shamelessly in their lives. Sometimes it’s necessary for the Lord to leave us to our own sordid desires to see just how devastating rebellion and sin can be. Some say ‘sin never pays’, but believe you me, it pays plenty!
“To uncleanness”
Meaning gross impurity and moral defilement, particularly to those impurities which he proceeds to specify in the proceeding verses.
“Through the lusts of their own hearts”
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Man cannot tame his unruly heart. It is so evil that the flesh cannot control it but one way, through the transforming grace and power of God.
The Creator simply left these people who would not retain knowledge of God in their hearts, to practice evil and depraved passions and desires of the flesh (Romans 1:26-27).
What a frighting thought! God abandoned, ceased to restrain, and let them wallow in their mud pit of degradation. That word “abandoned” alone should put hysterical fear in every heart.
There comes a time in a hardened sinners life when the Spirit of God says ‘enough’ and abandons them, leaving them to their own devises. It’s important to understand that God’s grace is still sufficient to save their souls, but that the Spirit of God no longer makes as much effort to convict them because they continually and willfully won’t listen and consistently reject the Lord.
“To uncleanness”
The Lord let them fill their carnal bellies with their impurities and moral defilements. Specifically the sins mention in the proceeding verses.
“To dishonor their own bodies between themselves:”
As in Pauls day, the world has grown into a cesspool of filth. All sorts of sexual depravity is taking place in secret places unseen by the masses - from kings, presidents, elites, all the way down to the common man.
Thank the Lord, one day He is going to say ‘I’ve had enough, it’s time to put a permanent end to this debauchery.’ They have become obese with their wickedness. Their hearts are as black as coal and hardened like diamond. They have made their beds of iniquities and it’s time to lie in them. Their final destination is the Lake of Fire.
Verse 24
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:”
“Wherefore”
That is, they were unwilling to retain Him in their knowledge, but rather chose to worship idols which resulted in an outward expression of gross and shameless acts of total depravity and because of that,
“God gave them up”
He literally abandoned and allowed them free will to sin. He ceased to restrain their evil and suffered them to act out their ungodliness, which were manifested shamelessly in their lives. Sometimes it’s necessary for the Lord to leave us to our own sordid desires to see just how devastating rebellion and sin can be. Some say ‘sin never pays’, but believe you me, it pays plenty!
“To uncleanness”
Meaning gross impurity and moral defilement, particularly to those impurities which he proceeds to specify in the proceeding verses.
“Through the lusts of their own hearts”
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Man cannot tame his unruly heart. It is so evil that the flesh cannot control it but one way, through the transforming grace and power of God.
The Creator simply left these people who would not retain knowledge of God in their hearts, to practice evil and depraved passions and desires of the flesh (Romans 1:26-27).
What a frighting thought! God abandoned, ceased to restrain, and let them wallow in their mud pit of degradation. That word “abandoned” alone should put hysterical fear in every heart.
There comes a time in a hardened sinners life when the Spirit of God says ‘enough’ and abandons them, leaving them to their own devises. It’s important to understand that God’s grace is still sufficient to save their souls, but that the Spirit of God no longer makes as much effort to convict them because they continually and willfully won’t listen and consistently reject the Lord.
“To uncleanness”
The Lord let them fill their carnal bellies with their impurities and moral defilements. Specifically the sins mention in the proceeding verses.
“To dishonor their own bodies between themselves:”
As in Pauls day, the world has grown into a cesspool of filth. All sorts of sexual depravity is taking place in secret places unseen by the masses - from kings, presidents, elites, all the way down to the common man.
Thank the Lord, one day He is going to say ‘I’ve had enough, it’s time to put a permanent end to this debauchery.’ They have become obese with their wickedness. Their hearts are as black as coal and hardened like diamond. They have made their beds of iniquities and it’s time to lie in them. Their final destination is the Lake of Fire.
Verse 25
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever”
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie”
The Apostle tells the church at Rome, ‘You folks have literally changed the truth of God into a big lie! That’s exactly what Satan does!’ Your minds have been re-wired, short circuited, and fried to a black gooey mess. You are living a monstrous lie of damning consequences because you have rejected the Almighty.
“and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.”
Having nothing to do with God, some of the church folks took to “created things” to worship - the sun, moon, and the planets. There were very few objects the Romans didn’t worship at one time or the other, even animals and the dead.
“Amen”
This is a Hebrew word denoting strong affirmation. ‘So let it be’. A word of agreement of something just proclaimed.
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever”
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie”
The Apostle tells the church at Rome, ‘You folks have literally changed the truth of God into a big lie! That’s exactly what Satan does!’ Your minds have been re-wired, short circuited, and fried to a black gooey mess. You are living a monstrous lie of damning consequences because you have rejected the Almighty.
“and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.”
Having nothing to do with God, some of the church folks took to “created things” to worship - the sun, moon, and the planets. There were very few objects the Romans didn’t worship at one time or the other, even animals and the dead.
“Amen”
This is a Hebrew word denoting strong affirmation. ‘So let it be’. A word of agreement of something just proclaimed.
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13. Explain what it means when it says “God gave them up.”
14. There comes a time in a hardened sinners life when the Spirit of God says ‘enough’ What does Paul mean by that?
15. Give some examples of “created things” .
14. There comes a time in a hardened sinners life when the Spirit of God says ‘enough’ What does Paul mean by that?
15. Give some examples of “created things” .