August 6, 2017
Morning Service

Last week we began our study on the letter Paul wrote to the church at Rome.  It can be a life changing study as Paul explains in depth some things about our Lord that can build and challenge our faith at the same time.  I again challenge you to jump into this study with both feet and just see where the Holy Spirit directs you to go.  We ended with verse 17 last week that says:

Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

·         Those who are Christ followers choose to live by faith.  It is through our believing faith that we obtain our salvation.  The good works that follow are because of that salvation, not in any way to earn it.  When we choose to follow, we also choose to obey His commands and enjoy the rewards He has promised us.  It is an act of our free will to make these choices, just as He has designed.  He cannot “make” us follow Him, He desires us to “want” to follow Him.  Paul now addresses the other choice that is available to us; to reject His wonderful gift of salvation and choose to live life “My way!”

Romans 1:18-20  For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  (19)  because the thing which may be known of God is clearly revealed within them, for God revealed it to them.  (20)  For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.

·         For those who choose not to accept Gods free gift, He will reveal His wrath upon them.  Paul tells us here that no one has a legitimate excuse to deny the truth of God because He has revealed (shown) to everyone the truth that He does exist.  He did this through the complexity, order and beauty of His creation.  It certainly takes more faith to believe that our world was not created by Him than it does to accept the truth that He is the Creator of all that is seen and unseen.

Romans 1:21-23 Because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  (22)  Professing to be wise, they became fools (23)  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.

·         So in choosing not to acknowledge the existence of God and that He is the center of all creation, they choose to set themselves as the center of everything that they see and experience.  They allow their own imaginations to create foolish ideas of whom and what God is.  They even created idols that were only images of things the true Creator created and worshiped them.

·         Idolatry can be statues and images of a created god, but they can also be goals or aspirations of things we desire to pursue rather than God Himself.  These include power, success, prestige, money, or possessions.  Idol worship is anything that displaces God as first place in your heart.  Is there anything in your life that you “could not live without?”  Be careful that your answer does not become an idol!

 

Romans 1:24-25  Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.  (25)  For they changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

·         Here again is the fact that God has given us free will to choose.  They chose not to acknowledge and worship Him but chose some alternate route and God said “Okay if that is what you want, go ahead and see where it takes you.”  People tend to believe what helps to justify the sinful lifestyle choices they desire to make.  Our media today constantly reinforces that what the Bible calls evil is really good and what the Bible calls good is really evil.  Be careful what your source of truth is.

·         Now Paul explains the life that results from choosing to ignore God and choose your own truth.

Romans 1:26-28  For this cause, God gave them up to vile passions; for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.  (27)  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another; males with males working out shamefulness, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error.  (28)  And even as they did not think fit to have God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do the things not right,

·         One avenue they chose to vary from God’s perfect way was to pervert the natural sexual desires for the opposite sex and instead desire homosexual relationships with one another.  This speaks very clearly that this act and lifestyle are not pleasing to God, but are totally against His will (Lev. 18:22).  The “politically correct” response is to be tolerant and allow everyone to choose their own truth in this matter.  The clear truth is that this is sin and living such a lifestyle is an abomination to God.  The consequences of this choice made by so many and the embracing of it by the media has caused unbelievable harm to our society as we know it.  The way things are going, I can foresee a time where I would be arrested for preaching this scripture in public.

·         Notice verse 26 it says “God gave them over to a reprobate mind.”  That means they He allows them to believe whole heartedly in what they are doing as being just and right.  That is why they are so proactive about making their lifestyle accepted in society as normal.

·         We tend to rank homosexuality at the top of the list of sin, but it really lies on equal ground with many other poor lifestyle choices we make.  Paul continues the list.

 

Romans 1:29-32  being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; being full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, evil habits, becoming whisperers,  (30)  backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  (31)  undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;  (32)  who, knowing the righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those practicing them.

·         These lifestyles are sinful as well.  They come first from rejecting God’s truth and choosing to live a life that brings forth these fruits instead of the fruits that the Spirit of God would produce in your life.  Anyone practicing these things is not truly happy because the KNOW deep down they are contrary to the truth. 

·         Let us be the first to look into our own lives and put off any of these sinful attributes from our lives.  Confess them to your Father and ask for forgiveness.

 

Today we learn that God gives us all a free will to choose what we follow as truth.  A life chosen to reject Jesus as Lord has been described to us today.  The choice to follow Jesus is not an easy one, but it one that is promised to be fulfilled with the “peace that passes all understanding.”

 

Father, help us to acknowledge You in all our ways and be faithful followers.