Sermon Tone Analysis

*“God is Exchanged”*

Romans 1:18-32

 

*Introduction*

 

Q&A 6

 

Q&A 10

 

*Need*

 

This is Paul’s basic understanding as he approaches

 

            God created people good – in his own image

                        So that they might:

                                    Know God

                                    Love God

                                    Live with God

           

            But … in the same breath … the creator God is angry about man’s sin

 

Paul is going to deliver the bad news first before the good news

 

Bad news: v. 18 – “The wrath of God is being revealed”

 

            Wrath of God

 

The wrath of God should never be confused with human anger for it not something that is uncontrolled.

God is able to control his anger – even in the midst of being angry.

God’s wrath is justified: it is a holy response to the unholy, a pure rejection of the impure.

In fact, for God not to express wrath at much of what goes on in our world would be wrong.

Not only is His wrath justifiable by his very nature—failure to respond in wrath would be doing a disservice to his very character.

Going to talk about until 3:20

 

Paul writing to mixed group: Jews and Gentiles

 

            Specifically targeting Gentiles

 

                        That’s us

 

                                    This is great finger-pointing passage – let’s not do it

 

                                                We need to see ourselves here in every word

 

                                                            Even if we are not guilty of the specific sins we are under God’s wrath b~/c of our first parents, Adam and Eve  -- H.C. Q&A 7 – “we are born sinners—corrupt from conception on.”

Cut to the chase – homosexuality – we will not be pointing fingers and saying, “You bad, bad, bad people!”

Want us to do – take that homosexual that you know – might even be related – put him right next to you – put your arm around them and say, “We’re in this thing together.

I am no better than you.

My sins deserve the wrath of God just as much as yours do.”

So in our text tonight…

 

*Satisfaction*

 

1 God’s revelation and Man’s exchange (18-23)

 

            Paul begins right where we would expect him to: God can be known

                        General revelation: general knowledge of God

                        Not special revelation: specific knowledge of God

 

            But even this general knowledge was sufficient – so that there would be no excuse

 

                       

            But they exchanged the glory of the immortal (eternal) God

 

            Exchanged

 

                        Christmas – get a sweater – don’t like – so I take it back and get a different one

 

                        Same here: exchange = “to change one thing for another”

 

                                    But not dealing with a simple sweater

 

                        Illustration: Somebody demonstrates for you

                                    A machine that makes money – real money

                                    In the course of the demo – they stamp out some $100 bills

                                    Then make you this offer:

                                                The machine (going to take some maintenance)

                                                The money – can go and buy anything right now

 

                        Which do you choose: the wise man chooses the machine – the money produced is endless

 

                        This is exactly what happens:

                                    Man exchanges a relationship with the Creator~/Maker~/Sustainer of the Universe for a relationship with the mortal creation.

We do this all the time: anytime we place a greater value on that which we can hold in our hands – that which we can see and touch – we are exchanging a relationship with the Creator God for a relationship with what we can create.

Car, boat, money, or prestige, recognition

                        Anything that can be tangibly seen here on earth

                                    You fill in the blank for yourself

 

As a result of the exchange…

 

2 God gives them over (24-25)

 

            Not immediate

 

Even in the days of Noah, “when the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen.

6:5),

The Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:20: “the patience of God waited.”

But God here doesn’t actively hand them over

 

Instead, he abandons

 

            “God gave them over” other translations – “God gave them up”

 

He abandons sinners to natural consequences

 

            Galatians 6:7

 

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.

A man reaps what he sows."

What this means: there’s a natural order to consequences

 

           

But even so, Paul says that “the Creator is forever praised.

So let it be!”

 

                        God cannot be blamed

 

                                    Might be some who would say, “God cannot do this!”  “Is not God a God of love?

Where is the mercy?

Where is the grace?”

The grace and mercy is right there in God’s wrath

 

                        God’s wrath is corrective in nature

                                    That it might lead to repentance

                                                And lead to healing

 

As it says in Isaiah 19:22:

Isaiah 19:22 (NIV) \\ \\

22 The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them.

They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

 

3 What God gives them over to (26-32)

 

            Not going to go into the details

 

                        I believe they are self-explanatory

 

                                    But pay special attention to vv. 29-31 – a catalog of common sins

                                                This is why we cannot point fingers – esp. at those who struggle with the sin of homosexuality – b~/c even the sins that are common to man bring out the very same wrath of God

 

                        Natural progression – a downward spiral

 

                                    Hits rock bottom

                                                Not only do these things – but give approval to those who do them

 

*Visualization*

 

Fred Phelps -- Westboro Baptist Church

 

            Don’t let the name fool you – every brand of Baptist denomination has disowned

 

                        He takes this passage in quite a different direction

                                    Yes, this is the guy who pickets the funerals of servicemen

                        Uses it to promote hatred towards those who are homosexual

                                    If you ever listen to one of his sermons – available on the internet

                                                You will hear hatred laced with profanity – all from a “pulpit”