God's Way to Avoid Spiritual Dangers in Life

The Book of Romans

Romans 1:16-32 (Initial reading: vs. 16-21)

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - March 13, 2016

(Revised August 17, 2020)

MESSAGE:

*In 1993, Willie Nelson was 60 years old, and he had some unusual advice for his 23-year-old daughter. Willie said, "Paula, look at everything I do closely, -- and do exactly the opposite." (1)

*That was probably the best advice Willie ever gave anybody. And it's the same thing we need to do as we go through this dark part of God's Word. We must do the opposite of what we see here. That’s how we can avoid spiritual dangers in our lives.

1. FIRST: WE MUST LET GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN OUR HEARTS.

*We must let the spiritual light of the Lord shine in our hearts, but we see the opposite happening in tonight's Scripture. In these verses, God gives us some compelling reasons to get out of spiritual darkness.

[1] AND THE FIRST REASON IS THAT IF WE STAY IN THE DARKNESS, THERE IS NO ESCAPE.

*This is God's clear message for us in vs. 16-18 Here Paul started by saying:

16. . . I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

17. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.''

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

*Church: There is no escape for those who refuse to receive the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Paul also made this truth clear in 2 Corinthians 4:3-6. There God's Word says:

3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

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.

5. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

[2] WE MUST LET GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN OUR HEARTS, BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER ESCAPE; ALSO BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXCUSE.

*We have no excuse to stay in the darkness. That’s what the Bible tells us in vs. 18-21, where God's Word says:

18. . . The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19. because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE,

21. because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, AND THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS WERE DARKENED.

*God's Word tells us that there is no excuse for people to stay in spiritual darkness. But most people have been fooled, because there are so many different ways to live in the darkness. Think about all of the false religions in the world.

*David Dykes explained that "they all may contain a little truth, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day. And a broken clock is worse than no clock at all because it gives you misleading information. People can believe in a god, but when it's a false god, they are no better off than the atheists.

*So what is God really like? -- Is He the God of the Muslim terrorists? Is God really named Allah? And does he reward murdering terrorists who highjack airplanes and kill innocent people? Does the one true God want all the infidels killed, even if it means strapping a bomb to your body and killing yourself? -- Of course not.

*Or is God like the impersonal god of the Deists? Deism teaches that God created the world like a watchmaker, and then He wound it up and started it. But now, He sits by uncaring or unable to get involved in what is happening in lives of individuals. Is that what God is like? -- Of course not.

*Hinduism teaches there are a number of gods and goddesses, but the greatest god is Brahmin, the impersonal, all pervasive life force in every person. New-Agers also teach that god is the life force in everything. That’s why they can worship trees, crystals, and even themselves. Is that what God is like? -- Of course not." (2)

*What is God really like? -- Look at Jesus Christ and you will see, because He is God. Jesus loves us in spite of our selfish, sinful hearts. He loved us enough to die on the cross for our sins. He rose again from the dead. And He will save anyone who will turn to Him in faith. Jesus Christ is able to take the darkest heart, and fill it with His life-giving light.

2. SO, HOW CAN WE AVOID SPIRITUAL DANGER? -- WE MUST LET GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN OUR HEARTS. WE ALSO MUST PUT THE CREATOR ABOVE HIS CREATION.

*We must put the Creator above His creation, but we see the opposite taking place in vs. 22-25. There Paul said this about foolish, ungodly people:

22. Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23. and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.

24. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25. who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

*It takes a lot of foolish arrogance to put creation over the Creator, and man over his Master, but untold millions are just that foolish.

*We read these verses about people making idols shaped like men or birds or animals, and we think, "Well that just doesn’t happen anymore." But think about the nation of India where Hinduism is the major religion. In 2020, there are estimated to be almost a billion Hindus living in that country. And according to Hinduism, animals are not inferior creatures, but are manifestations of God on the lower scale of evolution compared to man. They believe each animal contains a spark of the divine, capable of becoming human and achieving salvation like the rest of us.

*Hindus revere many divinities in animal form. They believe that Lord Vishnu was incarnated upon earth first as a fish, then as a tortoise, next as a boar, and so on. The third day of the harvest festival 'Pongal' in Tamilnadu is the cattle thanksgiving day. People decorate and worship their cattle on this day. (3)

*There are many more examples of idol worship going on in the world today. Idolatry isn’t dead. In many ways, it’s more widespread than ever!

*And just because we come to church doesn’t mean we don’t have idols in our own lives. If anything in our life is more important to us than the Lord Jesus Christ, then isn't that an idol for us?

3. HOW CAN WE AVOID SPIRITUAL DANGER? -- WE MUST PUT THE CREATOR ABOVE HIS CREATION. WE ALSO MUST LET GOD'S WORD SET OUR STANDARDS.

*But we see the opposite taking place in vs. 25. There Paul said these ungodly people "exchanged the truth of God for the lie." Church: That is the main reason why those people who professed themselves to be wise, became fools: THEY "EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR THE LIE."

*That's also the main reason why in vs. 25, they "worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever." And that's the main reason why our country has gotten so ungodly, foolish and arrogant today. It all hinges on how people treat the truth of God's Word.

*So how are you treating the Bible? You can give it reverence and respect, or you can reject it. This is the choice people must make, and it is hugely important for many reasons.

*But the point that stands out in vs. 25 is this: Who gets to say what's true and false? Who gets to say what’s right and wrong? Who gets to make the rules? Who gets to set the standards? We must let God's Word set the standards for our lives.

*Rich Young told another story about Willie Nelson. Apparently, at one time Willie owned a golf course. And he said the great thing about owning a golf course was that he got to decide what was par for each hole. Willie pointed to a hole and said: "See that hole there? It’s a par 47. Yesterday, I birdied it." (4)

*Who gets to make the rules? Who gets to say what’s right and wrong? Who gets to set the standards? When men reject God's Word, the greatest evils can be looked upon as good things, and they are by many today. But the bottom line for Bible-believing Christians is this: We cannot say that something is right if God says that it is wrong.

4. HOW CAN WE AVOID SPIRITUAL DANGER? -- WE MUST LET GOD'S WORD SET OUR STANDARDS, AND WE MUST RUN AWAY FROM WHAT GOD REJECTS.

*But we see the opposite taking place in vs. 24-31:

24. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25. who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

29. being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

30. backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31. undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

*This is an amazing list of shameful sin, as we see at least 25 separate kinds of evil. Look down through the list, and you will probably see some things that caught you in Satan’s trap. What about covetousness, envy, deceit and disobedience to your parents?

*We all need to run away from all of these things, because God rejects them all. But notice that the Bible is very strong about homosexuality here. Please listen again to vs. 24-27:

24. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25. who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

*Why are some people tempted to be homosexual? -- Are they born that way? You will hear that theory suggested today in order to justify homosexuality. But people are born that way only in the sense that we are all born with sinful natures. We are all born with the deadly spiritual cancer of sin in our souls.

*At the same time, no one chooses exactly how they are going to be tempted to sin. Most people are tempted to lie at one time or another, and most people are tempted to be selfish. Not nearly as many people are tempted to steal, but some are. And though most people will never be tempted to be homosexual, some surely are.

*We will not all be tempted to sin the same way, but all of us will be tempted to sin. The only choice is: What are we going to do about our temptations? Are we going to give into them and embrace them? -- Or are we going to trust in the Lord to help us overcome them?

*But why are some people tempted to be homosexual? Is it Dad and Mom’s fault? Family life can be a factor, but not always. It’s a mystery in some ways. But here are three factors you can pretty much count on.

[1] THE FIRST IS SOCIETY.

*For almost 60 years there has been an aggressive, well-financed campaign by liberal groups to redefine the definition of family and acceptable relationships. Largely through the influence of the media, this campaign has been successful throughout much of our society.

*In ungodly eyes, the Bible believers are the bad people. Bible-rejecting politicians, business leaders and judges led the way to legalize same sex marriage. And these massive changes made it much more likely for someone who’s tempted to go in that direction. The first factor is society.

[2] AND THE SECOND FACTOR IS A SEDUCER.

*I'm talking about someone who is already in the lifestyle. Maybe it's a misguided friend who's persuaded that there’s nothing wrong with it. So, when a person chooses the gay lifestyle, someone else has been there to help lead them into it. The second factor is a seducer.

[3] BUT THE THIRD AND MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IS SATAN.

*Satan and his demonic helpers love to attack all of us at our weakest points. Their biggest weapon is deceit, so when it comes to homosexuality, they are standing in the shadows saying: "It’s okay. That’s just the way you are. That’s the way God made you." But it’s all a big lie, and God wants us to run away from all sinful things.

5. HOW CAN WE AVOID SPIRITUAL DANGER? -- WE MUST RUN AWAY FROM WHAT GOD REJECTS, AND WE MUST RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE FOR OUR GUILT.

*But we see the opposite taking place in vs. 32. There Paul said this about foolish, ungodly people: "who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

*The people who commit these sins are worthy of death. But Paul will go on to make the case that ALL OF US ARE WORTHY OF DEATH, because Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

*The gift of eternal life is a gift that no one can do without! And Jesus Christ is the only way to get it! By His grace, Jesus died on the cross for us! He died for the 25 sins listed here, and 2,500 more that we could also list!

*Jesus has the power to wash away all of our sins, if we will turn to Him and trust in Him as our personal Lord and Savior. That’s why back up in vs. 16-17, Paul said:

16. . . I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

17. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.''

*Only Jesus Christ has the power to save our souls!

*F. B. Meyer told about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn Mountain in the Alps. They hired three guides and began to climb the steepest, most slippery part. The men were all tied together, and part way up the mountain, the last man lost his footing.

*He was temporarily held up by the other four, because each had a toehold in the ice. But then the next man slipped, and the next, and the next. The only one to stand firm was the first guide who had driven a spike deep in the ice. And because he did, all of the other men were saved.

*F. B. Meyer told that story, and then he said, "I am like one of those men who slipped. But thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Jesus Christ! And because He stands, I will never perish." (5)

CONCLUSION:

*Most of us could never climb a mountain in the Alps, and we sure aren’t going to climb our way into Heaven. But when we receive Jesus Christ, He will take us all the way! Praise the Lord! And thank God for the cross of Christ!

(1) Houston Chronicle, May 20, 1993, p. 2A - Source: "McHenry's Quips, Quotes, and Other Notes" by Raymond McHenry - Published by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. - p. 215

(2) Adapted from SermonCentral sermon "What Is God Really Like" by David Dykes - Luke 15:11-24

(3) Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_by_country

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/essays/animals.asp

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_sacred_animals_of_Hinduism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_India

(4) SermonCentral illustration contributed by Rich Young

(5) "Our Daily Bread" - Source: Sermonillustrations.com - Topic: Security