Romans 1.30-31-Manifestations of Sin that are the Result of a Disapproved Intellect
Prairie View Christian Church
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday July 11, 2007
Romans: Romans 1:30-31-Manifestations of Sin that are the Result of a Disapproved Intellect
Lesson # 38
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 1:18.
This evening we will continue with our study of Romans 1:18-32, which is divided into two sections: (1) The basis for Gentile guilt (1:18-23). (2) The results of Gentile guilt (1:24-32).
We have completed a study of the first section that appears in Romans 1:18-23 and at the present time, we are studying Romans 1:24-32.
In Romans 1:24, we read where God gave the human race over to immoral degeneracy as a result of rejecting His revelation of Himself in creation.
Then, in Romans 1:25a, we saw 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.
In Romans 1:25b, 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.
Next, in Romans 1:26a, Paul writes that because the human race exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than Him as their Creator, God gave the human race over to disgraceful perversities, which he identifies in Romans 1:26b and 27 as lesbianism and homosexuality.
In Romans 1:26b, Paul explains or identifies that one of the “disgraceful perversities” he mentions in Romans 1:26a is lesbianism.
Then, in Romans 1:27, we read that God not only gave heathen Gentile women over to lesbianism for their rejection of Him but also He gave the men over to homosexuality for the same reason.
In Romans 1:28, Paul writes that God gave the human race over to a disapproved intellect for rejecting Him.
On Sunday morning, we studied Romans 1:29a, in which Paul writes that the human race is consumed with committing unrighteousness as a direct result of God giving the human race over to a disapproved intellect.
Last evening we noted Romans 1:29b, in which Paul presents to us a catalogue of sins that the members of the human race commit as the direct result of God giving them over to a disapproved intellect.
This evening we will study Romans 1:30-31, in which Paul completes his catalogue of sins that members of the human race commit as the direct result of God giving them over to a disapproved intellect.
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.”
Romans 1:26-27, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”
Romans 1:28-30, “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents.”
“Slanderers” is the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the adjective katalalos (katavlalo$) (kat-al-al-os), which means “slanderer” since it is composed of the preposition kata, “against” and the verb laleo, “to speak,” thus it literally means, “to speak against.”
“Slander” refers to defaming someone’s character as a result of bitterness towards them.
“Haters of God” is the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the adjective theostuges (qeostughv$) (theh-os-too-gace), which is composed of the noun theos, “God” and the verb stugo, “to hate,” thus it literally means in the active sense “God haters.”
Love and hate are absolutes meaning you either love God by obeying Him or you hate Him as expressed by disobeying Him.
The expression theostuges refers to hate in the “active” sense of expressing unjustifiable hostility and antagonism towards God, which expresses itself in malicious words and actions.
It also refers to hate in the “passive” sense, which is manifested by indifference to God and His ways and excluding Him from one’s life.
John 3:19-20, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”
“Insolent” is the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the noun hubristes (u(bristhv$) (hoo-bris-tace), which refers to a self-centered and violent cruelty, having no regard for others, implying an attitude of superiority, which results in mistreatment of and violent acts against others, thus a “violent insolent person.”
1 Timothy 1:13, “even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.”
“Arrogant” is the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the adjective huperephanos (u(perhvfano$) (hoop-er-ay-fan-os), which is composed of the preposition huper, “above” and the verb phaino, “I appear.”
Therefore, the word literally means, “one who shows himself above other people,” thus it refers to the “arrogant, proud.”
Huperephanos describes a person who from an attitude of superiority, regards others with contempt, as if they were unworthy of any intercourse with them.
1 Peter 5:5, “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
“Boastful” is the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the noun alazon (a)lazwn) (al-ad-zone), which means, “boastful presumption.”
It is used of a person who makes more of himself than reality justifies, ascribing to himself more and better things than he actually has, promising what he cannot perform.
The noun alazon refers to the loud arrogant boaster who expresses pride in oneself or one’s accomplishments and often suggests ostentation and exaggeration.
The word was used among the Greeks to denote an ostentatious, itinerant charlatan or imposter who at each of his stops sought to deceive people into believing his claims of curing power and healing abilities.
This word also includes itinerant philosophers and teachers who proclaimed doctrines and wisdom to anyone who would listen and pay.
2 Timothy 3:1-2, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.”
“Inventors of evil” is composed of the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the noun epheuretes (e)feurethv$) (ef-yoo-ret-ace), “inventors” and the genitive neuter plural form of the adjective kakos (kakov$) (kak-os), “evil.”
The noun epheuretes is a compound word composed of the preposition epi, “upon” and the verb heurisko, “to find” and thus refers to someone who thinks up schemes or plans of action.
The word describes a person who is not content with the usual, ordinary ways of sinning, but who seeks out new vices because he has grown bored and seeks a new thrill in some new sin.
The noun kakos describes that which is done against the laws of God and in opposition to Him and independently of Him and can refer to both moral and immoral degeneracy.
3 John 11, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”
“Disobedient to parents” is composed of the dative (of reference) masculine plural form of the goneus (goneuv$) (gon-yooce), “parents” and the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the adjective apeithes (a)peiqhv$) (ap-i-thace), “disobedient.”
The adjective apeithes is composed of the alpha prefix and the verb peitho, “to persuade,” thus the word literally “one who refuses to be persuaded.”
Disobedience to parents is rebellion against God and rejection of His Word since God commanded that children are to obey their parents.
Disobedience to parents is a rejection of one of the four institutions that the Lord Jesus Christ established for the human race.
These four institutions are systems of authority designed to protect the freedom of members of the human race, both unbeliever and the believer: (1) Volition: You have authority over your own soul (Gen. 2:16-17). (2) Marriage: Husband has authority over the wife (Gen. 2:22-24). (3) Family: Parents have authority over the children (Gen. 4:1). (4) Government: Government has authority over its citizens (Gen. 9:5-6).
Ephesians 6:1, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
Romans 1:31, “without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful.”
“Without understanding” is the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the adjective asunetos (a)suvneto$) (as-oon-ay-tos), which is composed of alpha prefix and the adjective sunetos, “intelligent, wise,” thus the word literally means, “without understanding, stupid.”
The word pertains to a lack of capacity for insight and understanding and is the result of failing to properly use one’s mental capacity.
The adjective describes the man who is a fool, who cannot learn the lesson of experience, who will not use the mind and brain that God has given to him.
This person is without insight or understanding and describes the unregenerate man's heart who has no capacity to bring together facts and make sense out of them.
In context this man has no capacity to conclude from observing creation that there is a Creator and is thus without insight into spiritual matters and thus is so blinded that evil is thought of as good and good as evil.
“Untrustworthy” is the accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the adjective asunthetos (a)suvnqeto$) (as-oon-thet-os), which is composed of the alpha prefix meaning “not” and the passive form of the verb suntithemi, “to make an agreement,” thus the word means, “agreement breakers.”
The word describes people who break contracts or agreements, treaties or break promises whenever it serves their purposes.
“Unloving” is the accusative masculine plural form of the adjective astorgos (a*storgo$) (as-tor-gos), which is composed of the alpha prefix meaning “without” and the verb stergo, “to affectionately love parents or children,” thus the word means, “unloving, unaffectionate, without affection for loved ones.”
The adjective describes a person who is without natural, instinctive affection for their parents or children and has an uncaring attitude towards those who are of their immediate family.
2 Timothy 3:1-3, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good.”
“Unmerciful” is accusative (of simple apposition) masculine plural form of the adjective aneleemon (a)nelehvmwn) (an-eleh-ay-mone), which is composed of the alpha prefix, “without” and the adjective eleemon, “merciful, compassionate,” thus the word literally means, “without mercy, unmerciful.”
The adjective aneleemon describes people who have no compassion for others or in other words they have no desire to alleviate the pain of those who are suffering.
Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Proverbs 11:17, “The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm.”