In this study we are finishing up the last verses in the book of Romans chapter 1.
Lord God, thank you for this time we can spend together studying your word. In Jesus name Amen.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
God gave them up once so far and mankind now believes that He is wiser than God. This means that he puts his own thoughts, ideas, imaginings, pride and beliefs above God and His word. Sometimes man sees that something he thinks or imagines or discovers is true, or at least he thinks it's true and he becomes puffed up in himself. Modern day science is one example. As scientists discover more things, instead of being thankful to God, they just get more puffed up in themselves. The same is true with religion, medicine, philosophy or sometimes even psychology. If they find something that works to improve their daily lives, instead of being thankful to God (or even turning to God to begin with) they become puffed up in themselves.
They are also foolish in that many things that unsaved man believes would be helpful, is actually harmful either immediately or later on down the road. We are not God, we don't see or understand things clearly and totally, especially unsaved people who don't have God's Spirit in them to guide and teach them through the word.
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Basically, they would rather worship men - meaning men and women who are corruptible and they create false gods in their own sinful image and likeness as well. People also will worship the opposite gender, and make their whole life about the persuit and happiness of the opposite sex. Next, they start to worship birds, and animals and even bugs, spiders and snakes! They'd rather worship a beetle than God!
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Again, man begins to worship the opposite sex. This leads to sexual sins. All throughout history we see humanity worshipping all kinds of false gods. All forms of idolatry are the worship of the self, instead of worshipping God. Because they worship themselves they decide to just do whatever their flesh (sin nature) wants. All an unbeliever can do is sin. But the vast majority choose to not recognize their sin nature and so they become more reprobate over time. If they would recognize their sin nature and realize that they cannot save themselves, they could then turn to God for salvation (today, they can believe the gospel of the grace of God).
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Here is the second time that God gives man up - when they begin to go against the natural order of things. This includes homosexuality. According to God's word, homosexuality is a sin against nature. Fornication in general is also a sin against your own body.
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Here is the last and final time that God gives man up - because man has decided to just do whatever he wants and has no thought for God at all, God gives them up. Man now has a reprobate mind which leads to the following (to learn more about how wicked mankind can get when he goes his own way, I recommend reading in Genesis about Noah's flood, the tower of Babel and Sodom and Gomorrah):
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Unsaved man is in a desperate place. Choosing to remain at enmity with God by not believing the gospel of your salvation only produces fear, anxiety, guilt, condemnation, misery, destruction, despair, wrath and death.
But God has a wonderful plan for those who love Him! For those who choose to believe the gospel of their salvation, God gives us eternal life, joy, peace, hope, and even one day, glory and rewards in heaven!
Thank you Father God for this powerful study in Romans chapter one! In Jesus name Amen.
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