Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
Romans
January 22, 2006 #14
in series
SALVATION NEEDED
AS SEEN IN THE FACT OF UNIVERSAL SIN (1:18-3:20)
In this section we look at three segments of the human race THE HEATHEN, THE HYPOCRITE AND THE HEBREW
THE HEATHEN NEED THE GOSPEL
Romans 1:18-32
Conclusion
In part one we saw that the reasons for God’s wrath against the heathen are four-fold. We saw #1: Because of Man’s suppression of the truth and #2: Because of Man’s Rejection of God. Now the conclusion of the chapter.
3. Because of Man’s Substitution for Creation 1:23-28 - Paul tells us that, although men know God in His creation, they did not honor Him for who He is. They were filled with irreverance and ingratitude. Their speculations were futile and their hearts became even more darkened in their sin. Man, being dead, was really unaware of his true condition and professed themselves to be wise when in reality they became fools. This becomes much more evident as they focus their worship, not on the one true and living God, but upon men. In other words they placed man where God should be in their lives. Men became the object of their worship. As one writer accurtately states “The root of the problem is man’s utterly arrogant preoccupation with himself.”
They went even lower than that. From corruptible man they degenerated to birds – then animals and finally reptiles. History bears out this grim fact. Dr. Alan Johnson gives this assessment of verses 24-27 - “God gave them over in the lust of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. In their freedom from God’s absolutes they turned to perversion and even inversion of the created order. In the end their humanism resulted in dehumanization of each other. To dishonor their bodies must refer not to the normal sexual relations between married couples but, as Paul will show in vs 26,27 to perverted sex and inverted relations of homosexual acts. This fate came to those who exchanged the truth of God for the lie” Three times in this chapter Paul writes that “God gave them over.” vs 24,26,28. I believe this refers to God taking His hand of restraint off of the human race, allowing them to reap the awful results of their sin. With God’s sovereign hand of restraint removed there is only one way man can go and that is deeper and deeper into sin and degradation.
4. Because of Man’s Appreciation of Evil – 1:28-32 Paul writes in verse 28 ”and just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind to do those things which are not proper.” He then expounds upon what is really deep within the heart of man “being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice (they are) gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful, and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice those things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” This list occurs in different ways and in different places in the Word of God. Genesis 6:5 succinctly states the condition of man before God. “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that EVERY intent of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY evil CONTINUALLY.” This, my friends, is total depravity. A bleak picture, indeed!
However, when God moves in and changes a life, a total transformation occurs. Paul writes in II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”As a new creation, we have new relationships, a new nature, a new power to live for God in Christ, a new mind, a new lifestyle, new motivations and a new destination.
God is a gracious God. If anyone reading this pen pulpit has not as yet found forgiveness by trusting in Jesus Christ, you can do so right now. Just tell God you agree with Him that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and you believe that The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay completely for all your sins. If you really mean this from the heart, God will forgive you and make you His child. God bless.
Love to all of you,