Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 1:18-32 Part 2

  TITLE: God's Case Against Unrighteous Mankind (pt.2)                                                                  TEXT: Romans 1:18-32

INTRO: Last week I used the courtroom illustration to explain what was happening in Romans 1:18-23. I feel this is a strong visual picture of what is going on in the text so I want to stay with it this morning. In the courtroom, once the prosecuting and defense  attorneys present their case, they 'rest' and the jury is sent out to deliberate a verdict.  Once the jury reaches a verdict, they return to the courtroom. The judge asks the defendant to rise and the jury pronounces it's verdict. Either innocent or Guilty of the charges. If found guilty the jury is dismissed and the judge sets a date for sentencing. Sentencing is the punishment appropriate for the crime committed.

EXP: This, however, is where the similarity between the courtroom drama and God's case against unrighteous mankind ends. You see, we already know from vs. 20 of Romans 1 that we are without excuse.
 We have already been found guilty of the sin of idolatry. God, who is our judge, and in front of whom we all will one day stand, lays out our sentencing in vs. 24-32. Our text this morning will show us not only how God reveals His wrath upon unrighteous mankind, but how man responds to the judgment of God.

TRANS: As we reenter the courtroom, the whole of sinful mankind is found guilty and stands before God, the righteous judge, awaiting their sentence and the Judge speaks.

I. How God's wrath is revealed. (Rom. 1:24-32)
    A. I, God give you over to your own impurity. (vs. 24-25)
 Read: Romans 1:24-25
        1. Therefore
            The first thing that should jump off the page as you read vs. 24 is the word 'therefore'. Whenever and wherever you see it, ask what it is There for? Here it serves as a connection between vss, 18-23 (Why God reveals His wrath) and 24-32 (How God reveals His wrath). It could be read, 'because of the guilt stemming from your idolatry, this is what I am going to do. This will be your sentence.'

        2. God gave them over.
            The other thing that should jump off the page is the phrase 'God gave them over'. Paul uses this three times, here in vs. 24, in  vs. 26 and 28. It is the proclamation of God's judgment. It is how He has chosen to show His wrath, at least at this time in human history. Of the phrase 'God gave them over' C.S. Lewis  said: 'The lost, enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have demanded and are therefore self-enslaved.'
            -God permits  sinners to go on in their sin and reap the sad consequences.
            -God reveals His wrath not by sending fire from heaven but by abandoning sinful man to their own  desires. He allows
              them to choose the road they will travel

        3. To impurity
           And it's a short journey from idolatry to impurity. If a man/woman is their own god, then they can do as they please w/o fear of judgment. And it pleases them to follow after their own lust which leads to impurity.
                -Impurity : sexual immorality. It relates to sexual activity that is   condemned by God. Such as fornication, adultery,
                  prostitution and the like.
          God only blesses and approves of  monogamous sex within the bounds of marriage. Of a man and a woman who in  marriage are given to each other and only to each other. (see Gen. 2:21-24; Matt. 19:4-6)

        4. Exchanged the truth for a lie
            Sinful man knows the truth of Gen. 2 and Matt. 19 but has both rejected and replaced God and His truth. They are more interested in satisfying their own lust than they are in acknowledging the truth of God.

TRANS: God has judged, the restraints have been lifted and mankind reacts by beginning a downward spiral to the depths of sin. What began as idolatry has now deteriorated to impurity. Here, now as God announces before the guilty world His second judgment.

    B. I, God, give you over to your degrading passions.
 Read: (vs. 26-27)

NOTE: Key here are the terms 'natural' and 'unnatural'
        1. Natural Function
            Heterosexual fornication, adultery, prostitution are all sin and break the moral law of God which results in impurity and the dishonoring of our bodies. But these are not 'unnatural'. They use the body in the way it was created to be used. It is using the body in a 'natural' way.

        2. Unnatural Function
            Homosexuality is 'unnatural'  according to God's Word, as it uses the body in an unnatural way,  a way that is against nature. A basic anatomy course will reveal the intended use of our sexual organs. Is this important?     You tell me.

ILL: The first week in June is Gay Pride Week at the worlds best loved family playground, Disneyworld.
        The first weekend in June has been declared Gay Pride Day in Asbury Park.
        NJ govenor Christie Whitman has declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride month.
        Laws are being passed to legitimize same sex marriages. ...to allow homosexuals 'special status' as disadvantaged
          minority.
       There are openly gay characters on TV and in the movies who because of their public profile are telling the world, and our
         children, it is OK, it's normal and natural to be gay.

 And everyone everywhere is calling for acceptance and tolerance.  Is this important? You tell me.

         3. Homosexuality
             Throughout history, one of the marks of a society on the decline has been an increased tolerance of and participation in homosexual activity. Look around, and listen, we're there.

          4. What does the Bible have to say about homosexuality?
              a. Homosexuality is not a sickness / sexual orientation or genetic predisposition. It's a choice, it's sin. Remember, our bodies were created by God for their natural, heterosexual use. As such, homosexuality is nothing more than a another rebellious act against our creator to remove God and to alter the rules so that we can be self- indulgent. Homosexuality is nothing  more than the clay saying to the potter 'I don't like the way you have made me to be used. I'm gonna do something else. After all it's my body and I know what is best for me.'

              b. Even if we choose homosexuality. Even if we sin in this way, we can be forgiven and choose not to continue in it.
  Read 1 Cor. 6:9b-11
                  Note that some of the Believers in the Corinthian church were idolaters, adulterers and homosexuals. But they were forgiven and  they no longer were controlled by or continued in those sins. There is forgiveness and healing in Jesus Christ.But there are also consequences if you choose homosexuality. Paul continues by stelling us the results of this kind of 'unnatural' sin.

         5.  Received in themselves
             Some would say this is a prediction of Aids. I don't think this is what Paul had in mind. Paul never heard of Aids although he did know of other sexually transmitted diseases present in his day. But I don't think this is his point. I think his point is that sin has consequences and be warned, 'unnatural' sin has 'unnatural' consequences.

TRANS: God has once again passed judgment and sinful mankind has responded by sinking from dishonoring their bodies with lust to degrading their bodies with unnatural acts. In verses 28-32 God gives His third sentence and we see sinful mankind respond in even deeper more creative sin.

   C. I, God, give you over to your depraved minds. (vs. 28-32)
        While some Biblical truths are very pleasant, others are not. Here, man's response to God's judgment falls under the very unpleasant category. In fact, it is ugly, grim and depressing.  Sinful man according to our text, didn't want to retain any knowledge of God. So, God gave them over to a depraved mind. A mind that can no longer make right choices.

         1. Let's see some of mans choices. (use overhead)
         2. The bottom line: We encourage sin in others.
            What a dark picture of our moral depravity w/o God. What a picture of the depths sinful man will go to be rid of God. It seems we could get no worse than this, but we do... The text tells us they know this kind of sin results  in  eternal death: Hell. BUT not only do they continue to practice these sins, they give hearty approval to others who practice them too. They, we, encourage others to sin. This is selfish, malicious and it too is idolatry. We become the most important being in the universe and our well being is to be considered at all costs.In this, sinful mankind has sunk to the lowest point. We encourage sin in others because we don't want to be guilty alone and because if more people are doing it then it won't look wrong for me.

Conclusion
        Friends, this is not how it might happen. This is how it is.  It is what you can expect of a society, and individuals who reject and replace God. Why does God 'Give them over'? He does this because when darkness prevails. When despair and violence are widespread, men and women are the most ready to come to the light of the righteousness of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. He gives mankind up so that in their despair they might give themselves over to His grace That is why last week, I asked you to consider  on what you base your defense before a righteous and holy God.

         If you base it on anything but the personal acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary, then you are truly without excuse, and are in a downward spiral heading for certain death and Hell.. Stop.  Acknowledge you rejection of God. Repent of your sins and attempts to take God's place. Whatever your sin, as dark and evil as they may be, they can be forgiven by JC who died for your sins. Suppressing the truth incites the wrath of God. Embracing the truth invites the righteousness of God.