sf425 - THE FAST TRACK TO FAILURE (Romans 1 18-32)

SF425

THE FAST TRACK TO FAILURE

 Romans 1:18‑32

INTRODUCTION

Series Background

 Three Major Divisions

Ø                  The Principles of the Gospel (1‑8)

Ø                  The Problems of the Gospel (9‑11)

Ø                  The Practice of the Gospel (12‑16)

 Three Divisions in this section

Ø                  The question of sin (1:18‑3:20)

Ø                  The question of salvation (3:21‑5:21)

Ø                  The question of sanctification (6:1‑8:39)

Sermon Background

 Pictured here is man's de-evolution. Man is not improving physically, morally, intellectually or spiritually. The pull is downward.

 Man is moving away from God.

 No people have lived up to the light they have.

Three Steps On The Fast Track To Failure

1A.      DENY THE TRUTH

The Truth of...

1B.       God's Wrath (v.18)

1C.      Against ungodliness

Godlessness = against God

2C.      Against unrighteousness

Wickedness = primarily a sin against man

Ø                  denies the rule of God

 3C.     Against unbelief

"Suppress the truth"

2B.       God's Witness (vv.19‑20)

1C.      Unmistakable (v.19)

Plain = phaneroo,  to render apparent (lit. or fig.):‑‑appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).

Psalms 8:3  "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,"

 2C.     Universal (v.20)

 The witness of nature ... points to an

Ø                  Eternal

Ø                  Omnipotent

Ø                  Omniscient

Ø                  Omnipresent

Ø                  Creator!

 2A.     DISTORT THE TRUTH

This Will Produce...

1B.       Futile Imaginations (v.21)

Become...

1C.      Consciously irreligious

Ø                  intellectual egotism

2C.      Consequently irrational

Hearts were darkened

Ø                  If you reason from a false premise, you will arrive at a false conclusion.

Ø                  No matter how logical the intervening steps were.

2B.       Foolish Professions (v.22)

Wise = cultured and learned man

Foolish = related to the word we get moron from

Psalms 14:1  "... The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good."

3B.       False Images (vv.23‑25)

1C.      Glory exchanged (v.23)

2C.      Goodness exchanged (v.24)

"Sinful desires" = impure longings

"Degrading" = atimazo, to render infamous, i.e. ‑‑despise, dishonor, suffer shame, treat shamefully.

3C.      God exchanged (v.25)

3A. DESTROY THEMSELVES

They Become

1B.       Morally Perverted (vv.26‑27)

"Shameful lust" = vile passion (pathos)

"Unnatural relations" = contrary to nature

"Inflamed with lust" = to burn deeply with a longing, excitement (orexis)

"Indecent acts" = . aschemosune,an indecency; ‑‑shame, that which is unseemly.

"Due penalty" =  antimisthia,  ‑‑recompense.

"Perversion" = plane, fraudulence; subj. a straying from orthodoxy or piety:‑‑deceit, to deceive, delusion, error

2B.       Mentally Perverted (vv. 28‑32)

 1C.  The cause (v.28)

Ø                  This is the outcome of their choices.

 2C. The consequences (vv.29‑32)

Ø                  Sinful character ‑ "every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity."

Ø                  Sinful conduct ‑ "envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice."

Ø                  Sinful conversation ‑ "gossips,...(v.30) slanderers, God‑haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful;"

Ø                  Sinful concepts ‑ "invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;(v.31)...  they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Ø                  Sinful companions ‑ (v.32)

 APPLICATION

This is what God holds against Man in general.

No wonder they are without excuse.

John 3:18  "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."