The Revelation of the Wrath of God Pt. 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We are still dealing with the theme of God’s divine wrath against sin.
This morning, we began with “The Revealed Wrath”, and “The Reviled Wickedness” ...
God has revealed Himself to us through our conscience, through creation…And the problem is that man has rejected God!
It’s not that man doesn’t know God, it’s that he has willfully rejected Him!
Because man has rejected God, he is wicked...
The Bible tells us that men are unthankful, ungodly, unwise, unclean, and unbelieving!
In these remaining verses, we find the results of man’s rebellion against God told in clear, precise language.
I would like to call you attention to three terms that are used in our text this evening. I closed this morning’s message with them...
They are: “God also gave them up”, v. 24; “God gave them up”, v. 26; and “God gave them over”, v. 28.
These phrases tell us that there is a limit to the patience and longsuffering of God. As we study these verses, it will become apparent that when man makes his choice to abandon God, God will also choose to abandon man! That is a sobering thought!
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, And your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of the Lord:
30 They would none of my counsel: They despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
Because of The Reviled Wickedness we learned about this morning, the Bible says,
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
It’s here in these verses, we find:
The Reprobate Will
The Reprobate Will
Man left to himself is on a downward spiral and when God withdraws himself, that downward plunge only accelerates.
Because man has chosen his sin over God, man is given over, v. 26, to vile affections.
The depths to which man can sink are represented here. These next 2 verses describe the absolute bottom of the pit of iniquity. The basic idea here is that this is where societies always end up when they choose their ways over God’s ways. It has been the case in every major society throughout history, and we are seeing the same trend in America tonight.
The word “affections” is the Greek word meaning “passionate desire; uncontrolled sexual passion, lustful desire, evil craving” but it also carries the idea of judgment and trauma. This word also means “a calamity, mishap, evil, affliction; a feeling in which the mind suffers.”
Those who are bent upon perversion are given up or given over to the destructiveness of that perversion. Sin takes a toll on a person’s life for sure. There is a high price tag for sinful living.
When a sinner gets his own way, it is not a blessing, but a curse because of the consequences of his sinfulness.
Paul uses homosexuality as an example of God giving mankind over to uncleanness and lust.
Perversion is the twisted, distorted expression of that which is God-given and natural. Homosexuality is inversion which means it is neither God-given or natural.
Verse 26 indicates that homosexuals do that which is “against nature.” This means “it is contrary to or to go beyond that which God has designed.” The word “nature” means “growth by reproduction; that which God considered wholesome and healthy.”
Those involved in this sin “burned in their lust.” This word “burn” is the Greek word meaning “to burn out, rage, or inflame with lust.”
They work that which is “unseemly” which means “deformed, disfigured, shameful, unfit to be heard of, indecent, morally offensive.” They will receive the recompense of their error. This is the natural result of their sin which pays them back for what they have done.
When men and women forsake the Author of nature, they inevitably forsake the order of nature too.
The word “leaving” in verse 27, concerning the relationship with a woman, means “to abandon, leave behind, or reject.” Those involved in homosexuality have totally rejected God’s design and plan for sexual fulfillment.
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Something very interesting I found in studying is that Paul doesn’t even use the normal Greek words for men and women here…He uses the words for male and female…What’s the significance of that?
He is using categories that describe sexuality outside of human terms, why? Because the type of sexual sin he is describing is outside of human dignity.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
A reprobate mind is one that is unable to discern evil.
Those folks who have a reprobate mind do those things which are “not convenient” which means they do things that are not proper, decent, or fitting. Paul is not talking about what is inconvenient, but that which is improper. These folks did not want to retain God in their knowledge.
Their attitude was, “God, leave me alone!” He did.
Wuest writes, “The human race put God to the test for the purpose of approving Him should He meet the specifications which it laid down for a God who would be to its liking, and finding that He did not meet those specifications, it refused to approve Him as the God to be worshipped, or have Him in its knowledge.”
Mankind’s rebellion against God is not only displayed in our actions, but in our thinking.
We are genuinely “spiritually insane” in our rebellion against God.
The Apostle gives us a list of sins in verses 29-31. These are not meant to be an exhaustive list of possible sins, but it is a mere representation of the sins of which man is capable of committing. Let’s look at them:
1. Unrighteousness, Fornication and Wickedness—These three categories of sin encompass all those listed below and every other form of sin imaginable! They are all represented in these words.
2. Covetousness—Appetite for the things of other.
3. Maliciousness—ill-will and vengeance.
4. Envy—It is the spirit that wants not only the things that another person has, but begrudges the fact that the person has them. It is the spirit that wants not only the things to be taken away from the person, but wants him to suffer through the loss of them.
5. Murder—Obvious!
6. Debate—A spirit given to fighting!
7. Deceit—Pure old lying.
8. Malignity—A spirit so filled with evil, envy and hatred that it loves nothing better than the destruction of another human being!
9. Whisperers—A gossip who seeks to harm another’s reputation.
10. Backbiters—While the one above is done in secret, this one is done in the open. It is the same spirit.
11. Haters of God—This is a person who hates the standards and restrictions imposed by God. His goal is to be the god of his own life.
12. Despiteful—A life of defiance that dares God or other men to get in its way. This kind of person is determined to have his own way at all costs.
13. Proud—Self-exaltation.
14. Boasters—This is a bragger. A person who brags about what he has or what he has done, even if it isn’t necessarily true.
15. Inventors of Evil Things—This is a person who is tired of sin as usual and seeks new forms of pleasure and excitement.
16. Disobedient to Parents—Obvious! Watch a rebellious child! He or she is open to all kinds of sinful activity!
17. Without Understanding—This is a person who refuses to learn by experience. They have rejected the truth and have closed their eyes and minds to it!
18. Covenant Breakers—Untrustworthy! Refers to people who will not keep their word! You simply cannot depend on them!
19. Without Natural Affection—abnormal affection and love, heartless, without human emotion or love, a lack of feeling for others, abuse of normal affection and love. Others become little more than pawns for a man’s own use and benefit, pleasure and purposes, excitement and stimulation. Abnormal affection, sex and perversion prevail.
20. Implacable—A person who is unwilling to make peace or come to an agreement.
21. Unmerciful—It is an absence of consideration or feelings for others. What matters is one’s own pleasure and rights, not the pleasure and rights of others.
This describes the world in which we live!
Verse 32 tells us man knows in his heart where his sin will lead, but he chooses to sin against his own conscience and go on in his sinful activity.
He pursues his sin with everything in his power. And, to make matters worse, he passes his sinful behavior on to others by encouraging them to follow in his footsteps.
They also delight in all those who live the same lifestyle. These people encourage one another in their sins while both plunge headlong toward Hell!
Hey!
Where does all this violence, immorality, cruelty and degradation come from?
It happens when men abandon the true knowledge of God, and the state of society reflects God’s judgment upon them for this.
Men have pleasure in unrighteousness, in all these wicked things. The term “have pleasure” means “think well with or to consent with them.” It carries the idea of “hearty approval.” Man has a hearty approval for sinful deeds.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I don’t know about y’all, but I find this image in Romans 1 troubling.
It is a harsh, but true reality that those who reject God will ultimately be rejected by God. When they seer their conscience, they close the door to God’s activity in their lives.
Even though God is a God of love, mercy, grace and longsuffering, He is still a God of holiness, justice, judgment and wrath.
As I said this morning…There is a price to pay for rejecting Him.