Romans 1:24-32 God gave them over...To a life without Him.

Last week we learned that God‘s wrath, His anger is revealed against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth; God‘s actual anger is against those that hold down the truth. Remember that suppressing the truth means man has a God complex. Man thinks that they are autonomous, or that they are their own independent god. Suppressing the truth also implies that man knows the truth about God - which Paul went on to explain that what is known about God is evident through creation; and in creation God’s eternal power and divine nature is seen; meaning we can look at our environments, nature and see that their is a Creator to all of it, and also when we look at ourselves; how we are made to know right from wrong. The big takeaway was how Paul highlighted that there is no excuse for a man to suppress the truth, that their is no excuse not to honor or give things to God. Paul ended the passage talking about an exchange. He said that those that suppress the truth have exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for images of man. In Exodus 33:18-19 Moses tells us what the glory of God is.

Exodus 33:18–19 (NASB95)

18 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” 19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”

God is telling Moses that His glory is His goodness. It includes His grace and compassion which is never ending. And in here in Romans man has exchanged it for things that are perishable; for something that has no lasting effect, and is powerless.

Today’s passage we’re going to learn about what God does when Man exchanges truth about God, all of which explain why we need the Gospel, why we need Jesus. Paul begins Romans 1:24-32 by showing us what the result is for man’s suppression of the truth. He say’s, Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies will be dishonored among them. It is because man’s suppression that God literally hands them over in punishment. Remember, God is so holy and pure, and morally and ethically righteous, that He can not look on sin and let it go uncorrected. So God gives sinners over to the deep desires of their mind, which include emotions, and conscience, that comes from their hearts, which prove to be impure, unclean and include moral corruption - making their their bodies dishonorable. When we read any book of the Bible including this one we have to keep in mind what was going on when the book was written. Paul was writing to an audience that was surrounded by Roman culture where honor and being honored was important to them. Paul’s audience would’ve understood exactly what was happening here. Those that chose to honor their own desires instead of God will be given over to those impure desires - thinking that what they are doing is honorable or deserves honor, when in all actuality it is considered dishonor which leads to God’s judgment.

Ephesians 2:3 (NASB95)

3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

This specifically points out that those that live in the lust of their flesh are considered to be children of wrath. Children whom are headed for God’s wrath; God’s judgement which is a scary thing. Who would want to anger or provoke The Creator of the world?

Paul says for they (truth suppressors) exchange the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Why does Paul say they have traded truth for a lie? Because they have denied the existence of God by showing devotion to things that God spoke into existence. They decided to devote themselves to the things that God made rather than to devote themselves to God who is the maker. They decided to serve a false master instead of The Master. How is this portrayed in our world? or where do we see it in our world?

Jeremiah 10:14 (NASB95)

14 Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them.

So what does God do? He hands them over to the very sin that they think is honorable. Paul continues, For this reason, the exchange of truth of God for a lie, God gave them over to degrading [a state of shame or disgrace] passions; for their women exchange the natural function for that which is a natural, 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 due penalty of their error.

Going back to the Roman culture. Homosexuality was very popular among Roman emperors from my understanding. Their were also religious cults that included homosexuality as a part of their worship. However, Jews did not agree with those beliefs. Back in the Old Testament it was frowned upon.

Leviticus 18:22 (NASB95)

22 ‘You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

Because of this exchange, the truth of God for lie God, literally handed them over as punishment to the disgraceful and shameful passions of homosexuality. Again we see the exchange of something good for something bad. This exchange has distorts God’s intended nature for man and woman. The exchange for the natural function which refers to God’s intended nature for men and women. God created all things with specific natures that reflect His morally righteous nature. We see it in our knowledge of right and wrong. We were born with this intuition, or moral nature. Animals have a distinct natures as well. Men and women in part were created to create more image bearers, which implies the need for attraction. Men and women are attracted or drawn to one another which is part of their nature. The exchange here is natural for the unnatural. This is pretty bad because this goes completely against God’s intentions for men and women - as we can see women burned, or had a strong desire for other women and men in similar fashion to the women, performed or engaging in indecent behavior, shameful sexual behavior with other men - both, men and women, receiving or obtaining the necessary penalty for their moral corruption - you reap what you sow. Which is more moral corruption, and God’s wrath.

Can we not see can see this in our world today. With the increase hype of being openly homosexual, along with anything that amplifies, or promotes this type of behavior. It has even escalated to gender identification. These are clear examples of how willful sin effects our judgement, and shows how sexual sin progresses into deeper issues, such as were seeing here sexual identity, and perhaps even gender identity, although that is not specifically in the text. Behaving in this way “Degrading passions” means they are behaving as if they do not know God!

1 Thessalonians 4:5 (NASB95)

5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Paul goes on, just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, - notice that, they, man, did not see fit to acknowledge God; they judged for themselves whether they were going to prove God to be real - in order to prove the Truth. God did not tell them to not acknowledge Him, they took it upon themselves to do that; they decided in their own wisdom to do that. Are they wiser than the creator? See how sin blinds man, or how it effects man’s ability to perceive and understand. Again we see it, suppressors don’t acknowledge God and God gave them over to a depraved [ worthless; morally reprehensible - deserving condemnation] mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with [being completely full of ] general sin all unrighteousness - [unjust deed], wickedness [evil], greed [extreme greed], evil [depravity]; relational sin full of envy - [completely full of jealousy], murder [killing], strife [conflict], deceit [cunning, misrepresenting the truth], malice [evil disposition]; a mix of sins they are Gossips - [whisperers to no one else can hear them], slanderers [insulting] , haters of God, insolent [maltreatment of others], arrogant [proud], boastful [braggart], inventors of evil [thinkers of evil, wanting to hurt others], disobedient to parents, without understanding [foolish], untrustworthy [can’t keep an agreement], unloving [heartless], and merciful [ruthless];

That is a huge list. Look at the extent of sin all from not believing in God. Seems worth it right? Paul covers almost all areas sin. All of these characteristics deserve God’s anger and judgement. So far man has exchanged glory for idolatry - the consequence is - Gave them over in the lust of their heart. Then man exchanged truth for idolatry and sexual sin - the consequence is - Gave them over to degrading passions. Then man exchanged natural function for same sex attraction - the consequence is - Gave them over to a depraved mind. and although they know [proving they are being willful in their choice to not honor God] the ordinance [requirements] of God that those who practice [carry out an action] such things are worthy of death [spiritual death], they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Paul explains that man knows right from wrong - the ordinances of God, and that wrong actions deserve punishments, and not only that but they deserve the condemnation, or the wrath of God, under which all human beings stand as a result of sin. But, they still make them a practice, and not only that, Paul also makes it a point to call out those that give approval to others sin. They practice sin and approve of others sin. A life abandoned of God, a life without God.

Why did God give them over in the lusts of their hearts? (verse 23)

Why did God give them over to degrading passions? (verse 25)

Why did God give them over to a depraved mind? (verse 26 & 27)

What are some ways to prevent exchanging truth for a lie?

I want you to notice this - we were like these before. Even if we did not murder someone, we still suppressed the truth of God as some point.

Ephesians 2:11–12 (NASB95)

11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

What is the solution to this problem?

Ephesians 2:13 (NASB95)

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The Gospel. Why is the Gospel the solution? Because it shows us our sin problem, and fractured relationship with The Creator, and points us to Christ, who was born so that He could restore the fractured Creator - creation relationship of believers; having bore their sins so that they could be justified by His blood, and made righteous by His righteous sacrifice of His life.

What are some things that you learned from this passage?

How does God’s responses effect how you view Him?

How can you explain what you learned today to someone?