Romans 1.25b-The Human Race Worshipped and Served the Creature Rather than the Creator
Tuesday June 26, 2007
Romans: Romans 1:25b-The Human Race Worshipped and Served the Creature Rather than the Creator
Lesson # 31
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 1:18.
We are currently engaged in a study of Romans 1:18-32, which deals with the unrighteousness of the Gentiles and is divided into two sections: (1) The basis for Gentile guilt (1:18-23). (2) The results of Gentile guilt (1:24-32).
Last Wednesday, we completed our study of the first section that appears in Romans 1:18-23, which deals with the basis for Gentile guilt before a holy God and on Thursday we began a study of Romans 1:24-32, in which Paul presents the results of Gentile guilt.
Last Thursday, we studied Romans 1:24 in which Paul writes that God gave the human race over to immoral degeneracy as a result of rejecting His revelation of Himself in creation.
On Sunday morning we studied Romans 1:25a, in which Paul writes that God gave the human race over to immoral degeneracy who were of such evil character that they exchanged the truth of God for the lie.
This evening we will study Romans 1:25b, in which Paul writes that the human race was of such evil character that not only did they exchange the truth of God for the lie but they also worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator.
Romans 1:18-19, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”
Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Romans 1:21, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
Romans 1:22-23, “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”
Romans 1:24, “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.”
Romans 1:25, “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
“And” is the “ascensive” use of the conjunction kai (kaiV), which introduces a clause which builds upon the preceding statement, “who indeed by virtue of their idolatrous character exchanged the truth originated from God for the lie.”
The conjunction kai is introducing a statement that emphatically expounds upon the previous statement and introduces an accessory idea and can be translated “furthermore” or “not only this.”
“Worshipped” is the 3rd person plural aorist passive (deponent) indicative form of the verb sebazomai (sebavzomai) (seb-ad-zom-eye), which means, “to express an attitude and ritual one’s allegiance to and regard for deity, to worship.”
The human race had an attitude of deep respect and awe for the creature rather than the Creator.
The human race esteemed the excellence of the creature rather than the excellence of the Creator as manifested through His personal qualities or attributes such as His omnipotence.
The human race possessed an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration for the creature rather than the Creator.
The human race was filled with admiration, amazement and awe for the creature rather than the Creator.
“Served” is the 3rd person plural aorist active indicative form of the verb latreuo (latreuvw), which in context refers to performing duties that render service to the creature that constitute the worship of the creature rather than the Creator.
The Word of God prohibits serving the creature and commands serving the Creator.
Deuteronomy 5:8-10, “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
“The creature” is the articular dative feminine singular form of the noun ktisis (ktivsi$), which refers to the totality of animate and inanimate objects that are contained in the first, second and third heavens and the earth that were created out of nothing by the Lord Jesus Christ.
When I say, “animate” I mean something that possesses life and so therefore, an “animate” object refers to bird life, marine life, domestic and wild animals, creatures, which creep and crawl and of course, mankind.
An “inanimate” object is something does not possess soul life and so therefore, an “inanimate” object refers to the stars, satellites, suns and planets that populate the stellar universe and of course everything on planet earth that does not possess soul life.
As we have noted in our studies of Genesis 1 and 2, all these “animate” and “inanimate” objects were either: (1) Created out of nothing (bara), (2) produced from existing material (`asah), (3) formed from existing material (yatsar), (4) built from existing material (banah) or (5) restored in the sense of being returned to a former, original, normal or unimpaired condition (`asah).
Genesis 1:1, “In eternity past, God created out of nothing the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:2, “However the earth became an empty desolation, and darkness was upon the surface of the raging ocean depths. Now, the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”
Genesis 1:3, “And then, God commanded, ‘let there be light,’ and so, there was light.’”
Genesis 1:4, “And then, God having observed that in essence the light was perfect, God then caused a division between the light and the darkness.”
Genesis 1:5, “And then, concerning the light, God designated the name day but concerning the darkness, He designated the name night and so it was evening and so it was morning, the first day.”
Genesis 1:6, “Next, God commanded, ‘let there be an atmosphere in the middle of the waters, and let it be a cause of division between waters from waters.’”
Genesis 1:7, “Consequently, God restored the atmosphere and thus caused a division between the waters, which were beneath the atmosphere and the waters, which were above the atmosphere, thus it came to pass as previously described.”
Genesis 1:8, “And then, concerning the atmosphere, God designated the name ‘heavens,’ and so it was evening and so it was morning, the second day.”
Genesis 1:9, “Next, God commanded, ‘Let the waters beneath the heavens be gathered together into one place and as a result, let the dry land appear,’ thus it came to pass as previously described.”
Genesis 1:10, “And then, concerning the dry land, God designated the name earth, however, concerning the collected mass of waters, He designated the name seas and then He observed that it was perfect.”
Genesis 1:11, “Next, God commanded, ‘let the earth produce vegetation: plant life, which produces seed, fruit trees, which reproduce fruit according to their own species whose seed is in itself, upon the earth, thus it came to pass as previously described.’”
Genesis 1:12, “Consequently, the execution of this command caused the earth to bring forth vegetation: plant life, which reproduces seed according to their own species, and trees, which reproduce fruit, fruit whose seed is in itself according to their own species and then God observed that it was perfect.
Genesis 1:13, “And so it was evening and so it was morning, the third day.”
Genesis 1:14, “Next, God commanded, ‘let there be luminaries located in the space region of the heavens in order to cause a division between the day and the night and as a result they will be permanently for signs and for appointed seasons and for days and years.’”
Genesis 1:15, “Consequently, they will be permanently for luminaries in the space region of the heavens and as a result they will be a cause of illumination upon the earth, thus it came to pass as previously described.’”
Genesis 1:16, “Next, God restored the two great luminaries, the greater luminary in order to rule the day and the lesser luminary in order to rule the night. Also He restored the stars.”
Genesis 1:17, “Consequently, God placed them permanently in the space region of the heavens so that as a result they would be a cause of illumination upon the earth.
Genesis 1:18, “And with the result that they rule over the day and the night and with the result that they cause a division between the light and the darkness and then God observed that it was perfect.
Genesis 1:19, “And so it was evening and so it was morning, the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:20, “Next, God commanded, ‘let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures. However, let the birds fly back and forth above the earth across the face of the atmosphere region of the heavens.’”
Genesis 1:21, “Next, God created out of nothing the great reptiles. Also, He created out of nothing each and every living creature: those, which crawl, those, which the waters teem with, each of them according to their own species. Also, He created out of nothing each and every winged bird according to their own species and then God observed that it was perfect.”
Genesis 1:22, “Next, God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the various bodies of water. However, let the birds multiply on the earth.’”
Genesis 1:23, “And so it was evening and so it was morning, the fifth day.”
Genesis 1:24, “Next, God commanded, ‘Cause the earth to bring forth living creatures according to their own species: domestic animals and creepers-crawlers and non-domestic (wild) animals according to their own species, thus it came to pass as previously described.’”
Genesis 1:25, “Consequently, God (the Holy Spirit) produced non-domestic or wild animals from the earth according to their own species. Also, He produced the domestic animals according to their own species. Also, He produced each and every creeper-crawler on the ground according to their own species and then He (preincarnate Christ) observed that it was perfect.”
Genesis 1:26, “Next, God decreed let Us model man in Our image, according to Our likeness. Consequently, they will rule over the fish in the various bodies of water and over the birds in the earth’s atmosphere and over the animal kingdom and over the entire earth and over each and every creeper-crawler, those which crawl upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:27, “Consequently, God created out of nothing the essence of man in His own image. In the image of God, He created him out of nothing. Male and female, He created them out of nothing.”
Genesis 1:28, “Next, God blessed them and then, God commanded them for their benefit, ‘both of you, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and rule over the fish in the various bodies of water and over the birds in the earth’s atmosphere and over each and every living creature, those which crawl upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:29, “Next, God said, ‘I have given for the benefit of both of you each and every plant, which produces seed, those, which are on the surface of the entire earth and in addition each and every tree, those trees, which have fruit on them, those, which produce seed. They will be food for the benefit of both of you.’”
Genesis 1:30, “Also, for the benefit of each and every living creature whose habitat is on the earth, specifically, each and every bird whose habitat is the earth’s atmosphere as well as for the benefit of each and every one, which crawls upon the earth, those creatures, which have soul life in them, I have given each and every green plant for food. Thus, it came to pass as previously described.”
Genesis 1:31, “Next, God (the Son) observed each and everything, which He had done. Now behold, it was absolutely perfect! And so it was evening and so it was morning, the sixth and final day.”
Genesis 2:1, “Thus, the heavens and the earth were completed and all their systems and organizations.”
Genesis 2:2, “Consequently, God (the Son) brought to completion His work by the seventh day, which He had done. Consequently, He ceased by the seventh day from all His work, which He had accomplished.”
Genesis 2:3, “Next, God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because during it (the seventh day), He ceased from all His work in which God both created out of nothing and restored.”
Romans 1:25, “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
“The Creator” is the articular accusative masculine singular aorist active participle form of the verb ktizo (ktivzw), which is the equivalent to the Hebrew verb bara (arB) and thus means, “to create something out of nothing.”
In Romans 1:25, the verb ktizo is used in an absolute sense for the Creator who the Scriptures teach is the second member of the Trinity, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator.
Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
“Blessed” is the adjective eulogetos (eu)loghtov$), which is used with the Lord Jesus Christ as its object and means, “worthy of praise and glorification.”
The word refers to the fact that the Creator is worthy to be praised and glorified rather than the creature.
Since the Lord Jesus Christ created out of nothing each and every animate, i.e. living creature, and inanimate object in the heavens and on the earth, He alone is worthy to be praised and glorified and worshipped and served.
Ephesians 1:3, “Worthy of praise and glorification is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who has blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in the Person of Christ.”
“Forever” is composed of the preposition eis (ei)$) and the accusative masculine plural definite article tous (touV$), which is modifying the accusative masculine plural form of the noun aion (ai)wvn), which means, “eternal.”
The noun aion is used with the preposition eis to express the concept of eternity and appears regularly in doxologies and offerings of praise in the Greek New Testament as it does here in Romans 1:25.
“Amen” is the interjection amen (a)mhvn), which emphasizes the certainty that the Creator will be worshipped, glorified and praised throughout all of eternity.
Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”