The Reprobate Mind: Choosing God or Destruction

Let’s Pray

Today we continue with our Romans series

Today we continue again with the scripture passage 18-32 and this has been a tough section of scripture for many

many have been convicted

many have been rebuked

many have had to get real with God and deal with His truth

The truth of the Gospel and God’s Truth being proclaimed has resulted thus far in two baptisms which is what God’s Word does....brings people to Jesus and God

That is not an easy process and growing and maturing in Christ is for sure not an easy process but a necessary process

Sanctification which is moving from milk to meat in Christian maturity takes work

it takes dedication

it takes obedience of faith through the Holy Spirit to the Word of God

That continues today

I want to again read all of the scripture passage before we get going this morning

Romans 1:18–32 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 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: 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. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 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. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 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: 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. 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; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 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.”

Romans 1:28-31

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Romans 1:28–31 “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; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:” “

Why did they not like to retain God in their knowledge

Pride

to retain God in their knowledge means men are morally responsible to God

If God is truly the Creator of all things...which He is

then man has to worship and obey

it really comes down to who is truly in charge

you

or

God

the problem is this

you and i never have been......are not....and never will be in charge

it is either

satan

or

God

never you or i

satan and God are the only two options

you are either following God

walking in the newness of life or

you are following satan and evil and sin and the world

you can choose to deny Truth but it doesn’t stop it from being true

God is God

Psalm 47:7

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Psalm 47:7 “For God is the King of all the earth: Sing ye praises with understanding.”

God is the King of all earth......because He is the King of all the earth you must sing praises with understanding

To retain the knowledge of God you must agree He is the King of all the earth

If He is the King of all the earth then you must obey and worship Him

I John 5:19

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1 John 5:19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

The ESV says

English Standard Version Chapter 5

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

God’s children....Christians....are from God and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one....lieth in wickedness

II Corinthians 4:4

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2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Very clear God or satan

again you can dislike the Truth

you can disagree with the Truth

you can deny or reject the Truth it is still the Truth if you deny or reject you are also failing to retain God in your knowledge

This is why man has spent so much time and energy trying to come up with theories

evolution

big bang

science all trying to dispell God the Creator

because if He is the Creator they have no choice but to submit to God and be morally obligated to obey Him

You and I do this very same thing in our own lives

justification

we try to justify away sin

we try to justify away tough truth

humans believe they are wise and in control so they can change definitions to better suit their evil desires

gender confusion

God defined gender as male and female

period

end of story

Some folks are so confused by satan they can’t even define what a woman is or what a man is

that is not from God

confusion is always form satan

I Corinthians 14:33

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1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

Confusion is not from God so that means it comes from satan

just like peace comes from God and God alone and never from satan or evil or sin or the world

Another thing the world has all confused and wrong is love

God defines love in

Romans 5:8

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Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Action

Responsibility

accountability

God’s love required Jesus to die

it has zero inclusion

it has zero tolerance

it has zero acceptance of sin and sinful lifestyles

Man defines love as an emotion....something you can fall into and out of

man defines love as all tolerant

all inclusive

and all accepting of sin and sinful lifestyles

I hear all the time

God loves me so I can live however I want to live

that is complete opposite of what God teaches in His Word

One has to be right and one has to be wrong

God is right by the way...but He gives you the free will so that means you can choose to be wrong

when man gets to a point of no return

only God can define and now when that is

then He gives them over to their evil

reprobate minds

Reprobate Mind

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reprobate comes from Greek word meaning not standing the test, not approved, unfit for....unproved

not a very good thing

their mind is reprobate because it didn’t stand the test

they know God yet rejected Him as God

they are without excuse as we have seen in this passage

they are never going to turn to God so God gives them over to their own evil lusts and desires

this is final

there is no coming back from God turning you over to your reprobate mind

You an I dont know if this has happened...there will be fruit but you and I cant see or understand heart relationship

These folks may put on a good front

go to church

tithe

serve

do all the “right” religious things but in their hearts they are full of evil and lustful fleshly desires

they have fully rejected God as God

church this is why true Bible study matters

church this is why true discipleship matters

church this is why the secret place matters

church this is why being authentic matters

church this is why being here on Sunday mornings matters....fellowship....encouragement...edifying...rebuking....correcting

as i said there will be fruit of a reprobate mind

God says our job is to judge fruit....beginning with our own

Matthew 7:3

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Matthew 7:3 “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

the mote comes from Greek and means dry twig....some translations use speck...something very small compared to

beam comes from Greek meaning a stick of timber....a beam..a tree....

why do you pick out the smallest thing in your brothers eye when you have a tree sticking out of your own eye

judge your own fruit

have others judge your fruit

pray and have God judge your fruit

is your fruit worldly

or

is your fruit Spiritual being produced by the Holy Spirit living inside you as a Christian

if you are not saved you cannot produce Spiritual fruit because you do not have the Holy Spirit

here in Romans we are given fruit of a reprobate mind

this fruit indicates a reprobate mind...not necessarily that one has been given over to it yet but on the path for sure

this fruit of that, being given over to a reprobate mind is usually found in how one responds to scripture and conviction in their lives

do they repent or reject

if you reject you better get with God and beg Him not to give you over to your reprobate mind

Fruit of a Reprobate Mind

Unrighteousness

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God must really want us to get unrighteousness because we have seen it a lot lately

the Greek word translated unrighteousness means wrongness

iniquity

unjust

wrong

This is wide reaching

from telling a lie to murder and everything in between

this is more a heart issue than action issue

the action....sin...behavior....etc is a symptom or result of an unrighteous heart

Fornication

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We hit this hard the past two weeks and here it is again

comes from Greek word por-ni-ah means harlotry including adultery and incest.

por-ni-ah has been used throughout the Bible to mean illicit sexual intercourse which includes

adultery....homosexuality...lesbionism...intercourse with animals etc

intercourse with close relatives

Wickedness

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comes from Greek word that means depravity, malic, plural plots, sins, iniquity, evil purposes and desires...deception

Covetousness

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Greek word meaning fraud, extortion, greediness

Church this is so hard today to live your life free of covetousness

you are bombarded with tv commercials that scream at you to be covetousness

most industries reward one for their covetousness

politicians and the elite...very rich are rewarded for their covetousness

you must stand on scripture and kill your covetousness

Maliciousness

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comes from a Greek word meaning depravity, trouble, evil, naughtiness, wickedness...ill will...desire to injure

so many Christians would never come out and say these things but in their hearts they mean them

as we have seen heart and intent matters to God

you can fool those around you by not acting on this but dwelling on these things and thinking them in your heart is the same as doing them....reprobate mind

Full of Envy

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Greek word meaning ill-will, jealousy, envy

Again more than actions and words but heart

Murder

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Greek word meaning murder...slaughter

Debate

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Greek word meaning wrangling, contention, strife.....not just arguing but the heart behind the argument

from websters 1828 wrangling means disputing or contending angrily

I struggle with this

i have a flash temper and am wrangling before I even realize I am angry....God has brought me a long way but I have a long way to go here

Deciet

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Greek word meaning to decoy....trick or bait...craft

I think of duck hunting here.....not sure why I have never really enjoyed duck hunting....it is okay....i like to go and shoot at the birds but it usually is really cold and there is long periods of time where you just sit.....or if you are with my brother in public land walking around in waist deep water for hours.....

anyway hunters spend big money and go through great effort to be decietful to the birds

camo everything

blinds

fake calls

even deocys....that look just like whatever you are hunting all to trick these ducks into flying within range to be killed

devil does the same thing

I Peter 5:8

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1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

you and I are to be authentic

honest

fair

the opposite of deceitful

Malignity

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Greek word meaning bad character, depravity of heart and life

Whisperers

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Greek word meaning secret calumniator..websters 1828 says calumniator means one who slanders...one who false and knowingly accuses another of a crime or offense

Backbiters

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Greek word meaning slanderer....talking against....evil speaker...

websters 1828 defines backbiter as one who slanders...speaks ill of the absent

Haters of God

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Greek word hateful to God

impious.....websters 1828 defines impious as irreverent towards God....contempt for God...tending to dishonor God or His laws

Despiteful

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Greek word meaning an insulter....an insolent man

websters 1828 defines insolent as proud and haughty with contempt of others...overbearing....domineering in power

Proud

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Greek word meaning appearing above others, an overweening estimate of one’s means or merits

Boasters

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Greek word meaning braggart...empty pretender

Inventors of Evil

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Inventors comes from Greek word discoverer...inventor

of evil things comes from Greek word meaning worthless, depraved...injurious....bad...evil...harm...ill...wicked

Disobedient to Parents

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Disobedient Greek word meaning unpersuadable...not compliant

to parents..Greek word meaning parent

Without Understanding

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Greek word meaning unintelligent, wicked, foolish

Covenant Breakers

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Greek word meaning faithless, treacherous to compacts

Without Natural Affection

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Greek word meaning hard-hearted towards kindred, unsociable, inhuman

Implacable

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Greek word meaning truceless....trucebreaker....without a treaty or covenant.

violent

cant keep word

Unmerciful

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Greek word meaning merciless....without mercy

These are pretty common things today

things that are a part of most people’s everyday lives but they are fruit of a reprobate mind

you must deal with them

you must take them captive

you must get rid of them

or they can lead you down a really dark

painful

road to destruction and rejection by God leaving you to face His wrath on your own

given over to a reprobate mind

Romans 1:32

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Romans 1:32 “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.”

God tells you that you have a choice to make

sin is always a choice

you can choose God and His ways and therefore choose life

or

you can choose satan

the world

self

sin

evil and therefore choose death

your thoughts matter

your words matter

your beliefs matter

you behavior matters

you are either honoring God or rejecting God

those are the only two choices

God goes even deeper than choice

and further not only do those with a reprobate mind do these things but they have pleasure in them that to them

they rejoice

they celebrate

they encourage

they live to see people do evil

that is today

that is society all around us

that is the culture we live in today

Look no further than the evil on full display in our politics

the government is shutdown and the people that God placed in power to fix it are the cause

not only are they the cause but they believe they are in fact gods themselves

how do i know

their fruit and their words

they are celebrating their belief that the other side is causing harm to the very people...american public...that they are in power to serve

the love glory and fame

they love money...greedy

the support and celebrate evil

they should be doing all they can to help not injure

they are evil

We are called to be different

God laid it on the hearts of a few here to help

will this project fix hunger in Nevada...nope not even close but it is what God called them to do and they belong to the family so it is what God called us to do

We are wanting to build a big box on a 4 by 6 post that will be placed beside our sign on ash street

in this box will be non-perishable goods and hats and coats for those who need them

they come to the box and take what they need.....will some abuse it...probably but that is between them and God

we are called to build it and stock it

He called us to provide....He will deal with the rest

We need help building the box and setting it up

then we need stuff to go inside the box

we also need people who will regularly check the box and refill it

all of us need to be in prayer over this and those who will be helped by the box....see Stephanie for more details

why do I mention that because you and I have a choice

are we going to honor God with our hands and feet and stuff or reject His call

do we have Godly minds or reprobate minds

Where are you?

Are you willing this morning to be honest and authentic and kill your reprobate mind at the foot of the cross?

Now is the time

Come!