Saturday, March 24, 2012

Romans 1:18-32 God Gave Them Up


Romans 1:18-32 God Gave Them Up

Romans is a letter that was carefully thought through before writing. Other letters from Paul are much more spontaneous, speaking from his passionate heart to minister to his hearers. Philippians is a great example, where he bubbles over with joy for his walk in Christ and the fellowship he relishes with beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. But Romans seems to be one of his most carefully written books.

As we go through Romans, we need to keep in mind that Paul has carefully planned this letter. It is designed to be a thorough, summary of the nature, strength and scope of our Christian faith. What we read is there by design. For instance, as he finishes his opening comments and expresses his life commitment to the Gospel, he anchors his letter in the strategic truth that "the just shall live by faith."

Ø  Check out Galatians 3 10-14 to get some more of Paul’s perspective on this important statement.
In verse 18, Paul proceeds to set the stage for the first major segment of the letter (1:18-3:31) which deals with the utter hopelessness of our lost condition because of our sin.   Look at the dramatic shift from 1:17 to 18!  Faith and Righteousness are the cornerstone of our salvation, now placed up against the wrath of God and ungodliness.  Paul is very effective at getting our attention! 

Ø  Take a few minutes to review 1:18-32 to see the theme Paul sets.

Note in 1:24 that man has been so perverted and obstinate in his rebellion that God… gave them up!  He has turned man loose to chase after to his sinful passions, and the result is that man spirals deeper and deeper into his sinful mind and behavior. 

Ø  Look through the next several verses to find this same phrase "God gave them up" repeated.  Can you see relationship between each of the verses that have this phrase?

So as man has pursued his uncontrolled lusts, from these verses in 1:18-32, what did he do?  He creates idols!  Isn’t that amazing?  He screamed and chaffed at having an obligation to God’s holy principles of living, until God let him go.  And once he was free, what did he do? Create a representation of a greater power for him to somehow worship!  Amazing!

Note the descriptive references to various idols – images of man, birds, beasts, the immoral worship of the body.  Do we have idols today that man worships the same way?

Note then what “comes out” of man as a result – a long list of very bad things!  Do we see these behaviors today in our society?  We certainly do.  And we interact every day with people who are saturated with these behaviors, and they continue to rail against God and carry on in their pleasure.  A very sad picture indeed.