A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 9 Chapter 1:26 – 25

 

  1. Verse 26 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:”
    1. “For this cause God gave them up” Let us remember this is the second of three times God said He gave them up.

a.       Verse 24 “…God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts…” The lust of their own hearts are enmity with God, every imagination is evil, and to fail to credit God with anything in fact cursing God. Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

b.      Here in verse 26 “God gave them up unto vile affections” or disgraceful passions or desires, this would include their mind set or their hearts desires. Romans 7:5 “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” - Jude 1:18 “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.”

c.       And in verse 28 “…God gave them over to a reprobate mind…” This is defined a worthless mind. John Gill defined it this way “a vain empty mind, worthless, good for nothing devoid of all true knowledge and judgment; incapable of approving what is truly good, or of disapproving that which is evil; a mind that has lost all conscience of things, and is disapproved of by God, and all good men.”

d.      Paul continued to define it this way verses 29 – 31 “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful”

e.       Paul best describes a lost man in Romans 3:10-18 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12.) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (13.) Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: (14.) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: (15.) Their feet are swift to shed blood: (16.) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17.) And the way of peace have they not known: (18.) There is no fear of God before their eyes.” -  The question is what is good in the natural man?

    1. “…for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:” This is to become shameful and lustful even to become openly homosexuals and become whores and sluts in their everyday desires. 

a.       God forbids homosexuality in both man and woman.  Leviticus 18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

b.      Life Application Bible Commentary says; “Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today—even by some churches. But society does not set the standard for God's law. Many homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them. But God does not obligate nor encourage us to fulfill all of our desires (even normal ones). Desires that violate God's laws must be controlled. God offers freedom from those sins through Jesus Christ and power to control our desires through the Holy Spirit.”

 

    1. Paul goes on in verse 27 “And 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.” – There is not DOUBT God is speaking about homosexuality.

a.       They defile God because they do not fear Him. Paul said Romans 3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

b.      Everything about homosexuality is defiling God’s law and God. There is nothing good in it. 

 

  1. Verse 32 “Who 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.”
    1. “Who knowing the judgment of God For when the Gentiles…” Lost people are not ignorant of God’s law; they by nature simply love to defile it.

a.        Romans 2:14 - 15 “which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: (15.) Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”

b.      Man by nature understand right from wrong; it is their nature that inspires their hearts which chooses evil over good.

c.       If man does not believe there is anything wrong with homosexuality, then why is it taking so long and so much division to make gay marriage the law of the land.

    1. “…that they which commit such things are worthy of death…”

a.       People also know by nature there is a God and He punishes sin by eternal damnation; however their natures will not allow them to fear hell.

b.      You as the average lost person if God exist and if there is a hell and most will answer yes. Most will tell you they deserve hell but hope there will be some way of escape.