Biblical Reprobation (Romans 1:24,26,28)

Definition

Reprobate = not enduring proof or trial (standing the test); not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected. Worthless.

{notice that they were already Sodomites before God gave them over to a reprobate mind. The committing of vile acts leads to the end result of reprobation. They are not reprobates and because of that do these things. They did things that didn’t please God which led to reprobation. Not all Sodomites are reprobates, but their acts can lead to a reprobate mind, just like any other sin.}

Reprobate in Light of the Sinner (Romans 1:24,26,28)

Reprobate = a person abandoned to sin, a mind void of judgement.

Ephesians 4:17–19 “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind (vain imaginations Romans 1:21) , Having the understanding darkened (foolish heart was darkened Romans 1:21), being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling (to cease to feel pain or grief, to become callous, insenseible to pain) have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite (crushed, broken-hearted for sin, deeply affected with grief and sorrow for having offended God) spirit.”

People didn’t want God, they went out and done their own thing, and the end result is reprobation.

People don’t have reprobate minds. God gives them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28)

This is perfectly described with Pharoah in Exodus. (Harden/Hardened and Pharoah are mentioned 19 times in Exodus. Every time harden/hardened is mention in Exodus, it refers to Pharoah)

God is longsuffering in giving people over to a reprobate mind. He doesn’t want to do it. He wants to save people. But if people don’t want him, he gives them what they want.

(4:21)

(5:1-3)

God didn’t harden Pharaoh's heart the first time. I believe he was letting Pharoah think it over.

(7:1-4)

God tells Moses that Pharoah will still not listen, so God will harden Pharaoh's heart.

(7:10-14)

Moses and Aaron come back. Pharoah and his magicians (Jannes and Jambres) fights against them. When Pharaoh fights against God’s men, God hardens Pharaoh's heart. (Refuseth to let the people go(14). Refusing God’s word)

(7:22 also 8:15,19)

Pharaoh’s heart is hardened again because didn’t hearken/heed the words of God from the men of God.

Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

God didn’t force Pharaoh to be reprobate, but because of Pharaoh’s rejections of God’s commands, his heart was hardened and God gave him over to a reprobate mind. God was just telling you what he would do to Pharoah because God knew what Pharoah would do. (this destroys the Sodomites theory that God “made them this way.”

Who being past feeling (to cease to feel pain or grief, to become callous, insenseible to pain) have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Rejection of God’s Word and Rebellion of God’s commandments lead to a reprobate mind. (Hardened to the convicting draw of the Holy Spirit to be saved.

Who being past feeling (to cease to feel pain or grief, to become callous, insenseible to pain) have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (This greediness is covetousness. It’s wanting the things of this world more than the eternal life that God gives.)

Reprobate in Light of the Saved

Fallow (untilled/unsown) Deeds and False Doctrine

Those Christians who do nothing for Christ (won’t tear up the ground) are considered reprobate.

Jeremiah 5:31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”

Jeremiah 6:16-30

Because the people love false doctrine, they don’t know how to produce good things in their life for God. (What you believe about God is how you’ll live your life)

*DOING NOTHING FOR GOD IS JUST AS BAD AS BEING A SODOMITE*

What if I never kiss another man, but I don’t love my wife as Christ loved the church?

What if I never get a sex change, but I don’t pray for those in leadership in the church and in government?

What if I never wear that which pertaineth to a woman, but I never tell anyone about Christ?

BOTH HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO VALUE TO THE LIFE LIVED!

You can know tons of Scripture, but what are you doing with it? It’s not about a big rock of knowledge. It’s about the silver in the rock!

At the Judgement seat of Christ, He won’t examine our smarts, He’ll examine our submission. He won’t examine our head, but our heart. He won’t examine our wisdom, but our works. He won’t examine our mental capabilities, but our motives for Christ. DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE. ONLY ONE LIFE WILL SOON BE PAST AND ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST! (1 Corinthians 3:12–15 “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” )

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (that which does not prove itself such as it ought).”

2 Corinthians 13:1–8 KJV 1900

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Paul says a Christian can be reprobate (5). We should prove (test, examine) ourselves. We know that we aren’t reprobates because we work for the truth! (6-8)

Why would you think Christ is in you if you do nothing for Him?

Titus 1:10–16 “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Their doctrine is correct (9-14), but their words don’t match their walk (vs.16). Reprobate isn’t being clueless about doctrine. It’s not putting those doctrines into our daily practical walk with the Lord.

I believe in the virgin birth! I’m gonna tell a white lie.

I believe that Christ is sinless! I’m not going to pay my taxes.

I believe that I’m saved by grace through faith! Want to go have a beer after work?

KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, BUT ALSO DO WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES FOR YOU TO DO AND DON’T DO WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES YOU NOT TO DO!

2 Timothy 3:1-8 (False Doctrine)

J and J served false gods. Moses served real God.

J and J had false religion. Moses had a real relationship.

J and J gave vain service to their gods. Moses gave everything he was to the service of God.

J and J tried to lead others to their side. Moses tried to lead others to God’s side.

THOSE THAT LEAD OTHERS FROM SERVING CHRIST OFFER REPROBATION. THOSE THAT LEAD OTHER TO SERVE CHRIST ARE NOT REPROBATE.

(Vs.6) = Those that are reprobate lead captive silly women away with divers lust.

It is imperative that those that are born again lead others to Christ and not the things of this world!

They have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.

1 Timothy 4:1–4 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:”

You can’t depart from something unless you have been a part of something.

CONSCIENCE SEARED (REPROBATE MIND)

When you drink really hot coffee, you can’t taste or feel your tongue.

When you sear a steak, it gets hard and black.

Giving heed to these “new doctrines” and entertaining the thoughts of these seducing spirits will only lead you down a road where you can’t understand what’s right and what’s wrong.

Hebrews 3:12–14 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”