The consequences of the condemnation - divine abandonment (Romans1:24-32) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 The consequences of the condemnation - divine abandonment (Romans1:24-32)

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music

 

 The consequences of the condemnation-- God's divine abandonment 

Scriptures reading Romans 1:24-32 (KJV)

 

²⁴Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: ²⁵Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: ²⁷And 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.

             ²⁸And 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; ²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ³²Who 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.

 

Verse 24  Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their heart. the same expression is used also in vv.26 and 28. Because of this, God gave them up over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. The result of man’s giving up God is man’s being given up by Him. Those who give up God force God to give them up. According to this chapter God gives people up to three things :1) uncleanness (v.24), 2) passions of dishonor (v.26), and a disapproved mind (v.28). The consequence of such a giving up is fornication (vv.24,26-27), which violates a governing and controlling principle and brings in confusion. Every kind of evil issues from this fornication (vv.29-32). Note the repetition of this phrase in vv.26 and 28 Paul is attacking the frank idolatry of most of the Gentile world, in which animals were considered gods (v.23), sexual perversion was prevalent (vv.26-27), and sin in general was rampant (vv.29-32)

Verse 25 The truth of God is the reality of God. God is true and real. What He is, is a reality. But the idols are false. Whatever they are is a lie.

Verse 32 Also approve of those who practice them. Not only did the people themselves sin but they encouraged and vicariously enjoyed the sins of others. Verse 32 Righteous or righteous requirement, as in 8:4 " That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit; that is, the requirement of God’s righteous will. Hence, this phrase also refers to the judgment that is out of God’s will (Rev.15:4), or to statutes with judgments, that is, ordinance (2:26; Luke 1:6) or to the righteous acts that meets God’s requirement (5:18).

 

Bibliography,

 

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

            Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

            Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.