Understand Christianity

Introduction:  From a human standpoint it would be great not to have to deal with this portion of Scripture.  You might be surprised at how often pastors DO avoid this and similar passages.  This is one of the dangers in preaching only topical messages.  It is too easy to avoid the unpleasant topics. Remember that Christ, our real example, did not avoid speaking the truth even when it was not popular.  He did not win many friends when He called the religious leaders of His day hypocrites and said to them, “You belong to your father, the devil.”  He also told them that they were “whited sepulchers and a generation of vipers.”  But He did speak the truth!  A faithful teacher of the Bible can do no less.  

As we proceed through this section today, try to picture in your mind a courtroom scene where the prosecution systematically builds a case against all humans and demonstrates that the wrath of God against us is completely justified.  In our unregenerate state we are hopelessly and helplessly lost.  God’s judgment of us is true, holy, and just.  And because it is, the wrath of God is well deserved.  

Many people are disturbed that a God of love also possesses wrath and hatred.  God is not only a God of love; he is also a God who manifests perfect holiness and justice.  Would you respect a God who did not hate sin? KJV  Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: 

It is true that God is a God of love.  However, some people who use that expression have little comprehension of what it really means.  Too often it is little more than human affection, or at worst it is filled with sensual connotations.    Some have emphasized the love of God to the point where they think they can get away with sins of all kinds.  The Bible says that God “winks” at such nonsense. (Acts 17:30).  (Ill.) Skeptic –farmer God has appointed a day of judgment as well as a promise of heaven for believers.

Paul develops this section by spelling out the need for God’s righteousness and God’s condemnation against pagan humanity.  

1. God condemns for suppressing His truth. (1:18)

God never condemns without a just cause.   Please note that the expression ‘is revealed’ could be translated as ‘is being revealed’ to bring the out the meaning of the present tense.  In other words, God’s truth is still there for them to see if they were not so intent on suppressing it, or ‘holding down’ the truth.  People still need the continuing revelation of God’s righteousness.  The wrath of God is an expression of His personal righteousness.  (Ill.) When people suppress God’s truth, they not only fail to give God His due, but they fail to treat others who were created in God’s image the way they should be treated.  When injustice prevails, people rail against it and try to correct the problem with demonstrations, and the like, but fail to see that at its core, it is a spiritual problem.  

2. God condemns for ignoring His revelation.  (1:19-20)  

God has made His revelation plain.  How has God done this?  He has done it in creation.  Theologians call this ‘natural revelation’ or ‘general revelation’.  It is natural or general because it is available to the whole human race.  General revelation is not sufficient for personal salvation by itself, but it is sufficient for anyone to ask the question, “Who made all of this: the moon, the stars, the planets, the earth?”   And everyone can observe that there is an order to creation.  And an order implies a creator.  I am convinced that if one will cry out to this Creator, He will give more light to the one crying out.  They may come in a variety of ways – a written word, a spoken word, etc.   

Note the connection between verse 19 and verse 20 with the word ‘for’.  Since God is spirit and thus invisible to our physical eyes so that we do not see His qualities physically, His creation does reveal those qualities for all to see.  This truth is not only taught here in Romans, but look at Psalm 19”1-6.  To deny this is to ignore God’s revelation.  Verse 20 says that those who do so are ‘without excuse’.   

3. God condemns for perverting His glory.  (1:21-23)

Since people suppress God’s truth and reject the clear evidence of God as the sovereign Creator of the universe, they then pervert God’s truth into idolatry.  (Ill.) Evolution  - Fosdick- Primitive idea of God 

Notice the progression in verse 22.  First, they knew God (at least Adam and Eve did before they disobeyed God).  Then, they did not glorify Him as God.  Next, they failed to thank God.  And the result was ‘their foolish hearts were darkened’.  Verse 23 describes an even further downward trend.  They foolishly claimed to be wise, but they became fools (literally ‘stupid’) worshipping gods of idols in the forms of people and animals.  The stubborn refusal to worship the true God resulted in the stupidity of idol worship.  

In one sense what happened to these rebels was the natural course one would expect for suppressing truth, ignoring revelation, and perverting God’s glory.  The text goes even further than that.  It says God ‘gave them up’.  Not once, but three times in this passage (vs. 24, 26, 28).  

1. God abandoned them to fornication. (1:24-25) 
One result of their corruption was a sexual lifestyle.  All forms of sexual activity except in the bonds of marriage are condemned by God.  Within marriage it is a gift from God.   Verse 25 then is a further application of verse 24.  It shows that the truth of God extends to all things.  

2. God abandoned them to sexual perversion. (1:26-27)
I don’t know how much clearer the word of God can be concerning these perverse matters.  Yet, you wouldn’t believe how some promoters of a ‘gay’ lifestyle interpret these two verses.  They insist that these verses mean that a heterosexual (male or female) is indulging in perverse behavior if  he/she engages in sex with a homosexual.  But for a homosexual male or female to engage in sex with another homosexual is natural.  This is really strange exegesis (interpretation) of Scripture.  The Bible clearly teaches a heterosexual lifestyle.  (See Genesis 2:21-24; Matt. 19:4-6)   

Homosexual behavior has within it the seeds of its own punishment.  

Leviticus 18:21-23-25

3. God abandoned them to a depraved lifestyle. (1:28-32)

These kinds of people rebelled not only against God’s law, but they tried to erase even the knowledge of God.  In other words, they wanted to put God out of their minds totally.  Eugene Peterson says it this way: 

These people are depraved to the core, so God abandons them to their deprave lifestyle.  (Ill.) Consider Job –God removed His hand for a time.

By dismissing God it creates a vacuum that needs to be filled with something.  “Filled” – perfect tense implies being filled to the full. First four (4) general forms of sin are mentioned: sexual immorality, wickedness, greed, and depravity.  Then follows a list of seventeen (17) specific types of wickedness.  The depth of such depravity is seen in verse 32 when it says that these people know better, but insist on continually practicing these things.  And to make matters worse, they not only continue to practice these things, they even approve of others who follow their example.  

Several weeks ago I said that people have always done what is wrong (sins).  But it is quite another thing when a society, or a person approves of such actions.  Then it becomes clear why God brings judgment upon a nation.  When God is no longer welcome in our schools, in our halls of government, in our courts, or in the public square, then God is more than justified in bringing condemnation.  

1. Those outside of Jesus Christ are totally and eternally lost.

2. All have violated their own moral standards.

3. All have the information they need from creation, conscience, providence.

4. John 14:6 & Acts 4:12

5. Their judgment is certain.

6. Their arguments are smokescreens. 

7. Let’s be about the Master’s commission! - Matthew 28:19,20