The Righteous judge

Last week, While I was out of town, David preached on God’s revelation of himself. You will notice, as we study this amazing letter that many of the sermons will overlap. This is because Paul is building a case. He is giving us foundational information that will build one idea off of the next.

Last week the focuses was that no one has an excuse. God has been revealed through his creation. If there is a God that created all things. Then In this creation we recognize order and design. There are rules by which all of the cosmos operates by,

Then the question becomes what rules and expectations does he have for us as human being a part of his creation.

Today’s passage details what happens to mankind when we choose not to acknowledge God in creation.

Today we are going to look at what seems like bad news...Gods Judgement against man. This Judgement is a result of refusing to recognize God as creator. If you think back to our Genesis study we concluded that the most important verse in all of scripture is found in Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1 CSB

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

A failure to recognize God as creator is a failure to recognize his authority over all things.

So today we are going to examine what happens to the world when we fail to recognize God’s authority. So in one sense it will seem like bad news but in another sense it is good that the scripture gives us answers for why the world is the way it is ....corrupt and wicked and shows us our need for repentence and salvation.

. In the first few verses of chapter one, we see the hope of the gospel. But Paul understands that with out understanding condemnation there is no real reason to value the gospel message.

(possibly show ray comfort video here)

So today we are going to look at God’s response to mans rebellion.

To answer this question we need to read this section in its entirety. So we will begin where you began last week.

Romans 1:18–32 CSB

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. 28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. 32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

Last week we saw that the wrath of God has been clearly revealed. You saw how God has chosen to make himself known through his creation so that no one has any excuse. In other word’s there is enough knowledge of God evident in his design for condemnation of all humanity. But because mankind rejects what is right in front of them we come to verse 24.

In the next few verses we will see one key phrase three times as well as one key word.

“God delivered them over, exchanged”

To the Jewish audience to say something three times was to establish great significance especially when it comes to judgement.

For example in Exodus there was three days of darkness

Exodus 10:22 CSB

22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days.

Jonah was in the belly for three days.

No both of these judgement were significant in foreshadowing the death of Christ. But remember even Christ’s death was also God’s judgment against sin. It was Jesus taking our place in God’s wrath.

So the Jewish reader seeing this statement three times would associate it with complete judgement. These words had great significance.

So then what does this phrase mean?

I. The nature of God’s Judgment

The word “delivered” can mean a few things. Christ who is our “deliverer” set us free.

However, In this context instead of being rescued it has the idea of the opposite. this type of deliverance is like being sentenced to prison. Like a person who has stood trial and has been found guilty and will later be delivered to a prison.

What we see here is that man can get to the point where they push so hard against the things of God that God allows them to follow wholly the desires of their heart. He removes the restraints and lets them sow and reap the fruit of their actions, self destruction for a time.

So because these people chose not to acknowledge God. They chose not to be thankful for His sacrifice. God delivered them over to 3 things.

Sexual impurity, Homosexuality, and a Corrupted mind.

Each one of these has its own physical consequences that result in the same thing, ultimate rejection.

Lets look at the first one, sexual impurity.

Sexual Impurity (Eros Cult)

Romans 1:24–25 CSB

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

To the Jewish mind, impurity was having to do with rejecting the laws of God. So in other words, because these individuals rejected God due to the evil desires of their hearts God let them go.

He removed any moral restraint they had toward this sin. Any restraint that man has toward sin is due to God’s drawing of them.

In this instance, They had made up their mind that the regulations of God were to hard and they wanted to sleep with whomever and not be bound by marriage laws. So God allowed them to become enslaved to it.

The sin became a judgement to itself.

In the Roman world this would have manifested as the Eros Cult.

Eros was the ancient Roman God of Sex and nature better known today as cupid. His mother was said to be Aphrodite. Historians believe she could have been seen a goddes of sensuality and as a mother earth goddess.

Notice what verse 25 says,

Romans 1:25 CSB

25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

We see the reference to serving the fallen gods of old. Instead of Yahweh the true god.

Again what do we see today. We see a sexual ethic that has abandoned the laws of God. Then in our culture we see the rise of paganism, Wicca, witchcraft, druidism and other forms of nature worship. I mean its everywhere.

A huge example of this was the rise of the hippie movement in 70’s. This movement has continued to shape contemporary culture even today. The hippie movement was characterized by free sex and mother earth worship. Do you see the connection?

This is evidence of God’s judgement once again. The obsession with sexual immorality once again has lead to the judgement of God.

When searching the internet for modern example of nature worship and its prevalence this is the list it gave me.

Forms of Contemporary Nature Worship

Nature worship today can take many forms, both religious and secular:

Earth-based Spiritual Practices: Meditation in nature, rituals marking solstices or lunar cycles, honoring elements (earth, air, fire, water).

Eco-Theology: Movements within Christianity and other faiths that frame environmental care as a divine responsibility or mission (e.g., Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’).

Animism: Belief that all things—trees, rivers, stones—have a spirit or consciousness.

New Age and Holistic Practices: Crystal healing, energy work, forest bathing, and spiritual ecology.

These are all very prevalent in our society today. Don’t believe me go to any store that sells books from Barnes and Noble to even 5below and you will find instructional books on these practices.

Sexual impurity and the occult go together. Show me a society that rejects God’s sexual ethic and you will find a society with an increased appetite for the occult, specifically earth worship or paganism.

What then is the result, There bodies were degraded.

Romans Outline

A distorted view of God brings a distorted view of human beings, made in the image of God (

The beauty of marraige and sex has been obscurred and corrupted. In its place a cheap and degrading substitute

So that those live in the prison of impurity will result in the next of the judgements

The next judgement is evidenced by the rise of homosexuality.

Homosexuality

Romans 1:26–27 CSB

26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.

A culture that leaves the moorings of God’s word will undoubtedly be given over to homosexuality. A skewed understanding of human beings. Think Gender confusion and same sex attraction.

There are many today who claim that these behaviors are not condemned in scripture. The truth is that this is not an intellectually honest statement.

Leviticus 18:22 CSB

22 You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.

Leviticus 20:13 CSB

13 If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed a detestable act. They must be put to death; their death is their own fault.

1 Timothy 1:9–10 CSB

9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 CSB

9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.

There is no moral sin mentioned the Old Testament that is now negated in the New Testament.

The gospel doesn’t save us from having to obey God’s commands rather it saves us because we are incapable of perfectly following his commands.

A nation being given over to impure sexual practices and outlined in verse 24 and then Homosexuality in verse 26 is a sign of God’s judgement. The people have become so rebellious that God allows them the freedom to pursue the wickedness and perversion that is in their hearts. A sexually impure nation will fall to homosexual practices.

In fact, the phrase “recieved in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.” means that living this lifestyle will be it’s own punishment.

To be totally consumed with sex not only destroys the body but also the mind.

Suicidal Ideation: According to The Trevor Project's 2023 U.S. National Survey, 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. Houston Chronicle+4The Trevor Project+4ABC News+4

Suicide Attempts: The same survey found that 14% of LGBTQ+ youth attempted suicide in the past year.

Transgender and Nonbinary Youth: These groups reported higher rates, with nearly half seriously considering suicide and a significant portion attempting it. The Trevor Project

Anxiety and Depression: A significant number of LGBTQ+ youth experience mental health issues, with 66% reporting symptoms of anxiety and 53% experiencing depression. Newport Academy

Why do so many of the LGBTQ community seem unstable. It’s because they are. They are sinning against their own bodies.

The world will blame this on lack of acceptance but acceptance is at an all time high and yet these statistics don’t change.

Why? the problem isn’t acceptance its the judgement of God.

Homosexuality destroys the person practicing it both from a physical standpoint, but also a mental health standpoint.

It destroys the mind and because mankind still didn’t acknowledge God his love or his judgement God delivered them over to a corrupted or useless mind

A Corrupted Mind

Romans 1:28–32 CSB

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. 32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

Did you know that the U.S. has one of the highest arrest rates in the free world. In the free world we have the highest amount of our population in prisons.

II. The Purpose of God Judgement.

Now after hearing all this talk about judgement we could be tempted to thing that God is cruel. He is unkind or just angry. But the purpose of his judgement is meant to bring fear.

Now you might be thinking that fear is a bad thing, isn’t it?

I want you to watch this short video.....

When we finally come to an end of ourselves. When we finally say God the things that I have been chasing have brought me no lasting joy or satisfaction. When we recognize our sin and God’s wrath on it Only then are we ready to recieve his free gift of salvation. God’s judgement is not bad, it is holy and to the repenentent it is a gift that causes us to come to him for rescue.