Rom. 1:24-32 THE RESULTS OF MAN'S REBELLION
Intro: We are still dealing with the theme of God's divine wrath against sin.
In this passage, we fin the results of man's rebellion against God told in
clear, precise language.
I would like to call you attention to three terms that are used in our text
this evening. They are: "God also gave them up", v. 24; "God gave them
up", v. 26; and "God gave them over", v.28. These phrases tell us that there
is a limit to the patience and longsuffering of God. As we study these
verses, it will become apparent that when man makes his choice to abandon
God, God will also choose to abandon man! That is a sobering thought!
We are surrounded by millions of people who have been abandoned to
the lifestyle they have chosen over God. These people are capable of any
sin imaginable this evening. The truth is, there are people we all know who
are living a life that exists under the shadow of that is the result of their
abandonment of God and of His subsequent abandonment of them.
With that in mind, let's look into these sobering verses and try to learn
a little more about The Results Of Man's Rebellion.
I. V. 24-25 THE SUBSTANCE OF MAN'S SINFUL REBELLION
A. V. 24 Based In Sinful Choices - Mans chooses sin over God
because sin is bound up in his own heart, Matt. 15:15:19-20; James
1:14. The natural man will always choose his sins over the will of
God, the word of God and the purposes of God. Man is a sinner and
nothing can remedy that short of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ!
(Ill. Notice that the more a man seeks to honor himself by exalting his
will over that of God, the more dishonorable he becomes. When he
chooses sin over a relationship with the living God, his sinful nature
grows more corrupt still. Ill. Eph. 4:22, "corrupt" - Present, passive,
participle. Literally, "corrupting"! The whole character representing
the former self is not only corrupt, but growing more and more
corrupt. Every trait of the old man's behavior is putrid, crumbling, or
inflated like rotting waste or corpses. It stinks and is ripe for being
disposed of and forgotten forever! That is the truth about natural
man!)
B. V. 25 Based In Sinful Changes - Since man refuses to live by God's
lam, v. 18, he invents his own law! The result is that man also invents
his own gods. The chief god usually being "Self." God calls this
behavior the exchange of a truth for a lie! Man trades that which is
living, helpful and vital for that which is dead, harmful and vain!
(Ill. Why does man do this? Because he still possesses an
overwhelming desire to worship. However, he needs a god that will
condone his sinful behavior! Therefore, he lives for himself and his
invented gods.)
I. The Substance Of Man's Sinful Rebellion
II. V. 26-27 THE SYMBOL OF MAN'S SINFUL REBELLION
(Ill. Because man has chosen his sin over God, man is given over, v. 26, to
vile affections. The depths to which man can sink are represented here.
These next 2 verses describe the absolute bottom of the pit of iniquity. The
basic idea here is that this is where societies always end up when they
choose their ways over God's ways. It has been the case in every major
society throughout history, and we are seeing the same trend in America
tonight.)
A. V. 26-27a Man's Attractions Are Sickening - In these verses, the
Apostle describes the sin of homosexuality. Yes, I said sin! He uses
it to picture the absolute depths of depravity. Why this sin and not any
of the thousands of others? I think the answer lies in the fact that
homosexuals are typically given to more promiscuous behavior than
heterosexuals. One statistic has found that many homosexual males
have as many as 300 different sexual partners a year. The sad thing
for us is that the homosexual community in America is estimated to
be about 1% of the population. However, they are given special
privileges and are promoting their lifestyle in the open, demanding
that people like you and me endorse them, accept them and affirm
them in what they are doing! Even those at the highest echelons of
our government are extending special favors to homosexuals and
promoting the homosexual agenda. Yet, I still find the thought of
same sex relationships revolting, abominable and utterly sinful and
depraved. And, I'm in good company because God does too!
(Note: Paul tells us in v. 26 that "even their women" were involved in
this insidious lifestyle. The emphasis here is that women are usually
the last bastion of morality in any society. Men are more given to sin,
especially sexual sin, than are women. However, Paul is describing
a people who are totally given up to a sinful standard of life. He might
as well be writing about America!)
(We need to be much in prayer for those who are in the forefront
opposing the onslaught of the sodomites. As the days go by, the
battle cry will be for "tolerance". The day is coming when being
labeled "intolerant" will be result in a conviction for a crime. There are
already initiatives underway that would try to force people like myself
from condemning any lifestyle, but especially a homosexual one.)
(Ill. What strikes me as being really sad is the fact that certain
mainline so-called Christian denominations are seriously considering
accepting, ordaining and marrying homosexuals. That some groups
are all for declassifying homosexuality as a sin! Even the fact that it
would be debated at all is almost beyond my comprehension!)
B. V. 27b Man's Addiction Is Settled - This choice of lifestyles, and it
is a choice, brings its own judgment! When God gives a man up to
his choice of lifestyles, that man will find that his attraction to and
addiction to his sin will become stronger by the day. They are literally
overcome by their vile affections. What used to bring a twinge of
shame when committed, now doesn't phase them at all, opening the
door for them to sink to ever deeper levels of sinful depravity. That
is the "recompense of the sin". Being abandoned by God enslaves a
man to His sin fully! It is as though God had been actively restraining
them and now He takes away His hand and gibes them fully to their
sin and its ultimate end!
(Ill. This judgment is also evident in the physical realm. AIDS is one
of the first thoughts that comes to mind. Instances of sexually
transmitted diseases are becoming rampant in our society, and it isn't
just affecting the homosexual community. They bear the brunt of
AIDS, but it is swiftly spreading to all corners of society. Ill. When a
man like Magic Johnson is diagnosed as HIV positive and admits to
having had sex with as many as 20,000 women, you begin to realize
the depths to which human depravity can sink!)
I. The Substance Of Man's Sinful Rebellion
II. The Symbol Of Man's Sinful Rebellion
III. V. 28-32 THE SCOPE OF MAN'S SINFUL REBELLION
A. V. 28a Seen In His Decision - At this point, man's rejection of God
is complete. As they give themselves more fully to their sins, the less
room they have in their minds for God. Eventually, He is rooted totally
out of the picture by the vile affections that have these people
trapped! Even the gods of his own invention become less and less
necessary. The person who has come this far in his rebellion comes
to think of himself as his own god.
B. V. 28b-31 Seen In His Depravity - We are told that God gives them
over to a "reprobate " mind. That refers to something that has been
put to the test, failed the test and has been rejected. The word was
used to refer to the refining of metals. The idea is that men did not
want God in their lives, so He gives them over to the power of a totally
depraved mind. At this point, they are absolutely capable of any sin
imaginable!
Ill. The Apostle gives us a list of 23 sins. These are not meant to be
an exhaustive list of possible sins, but it is a mere representation of
the sins of which man is capable of committing. Most are self
explanatory, but a word needs to be said about a few anyway.
1. Unrighteousness, Fornication and Wickedness - These three
categories of sin encompass all those listed below and every
other form of sin imaginable! They are all represented in these
words.
2. Covetousness- Appetite for the things of other.
3. Maliciousness - ill-will and vengeance.
4. Envy - It is the spirit that wants not only the things that another
person has, but begrudges the fact that the person has them. It
is the spirit that wants not only the things to be taken away from
the person, but wants him to suffer through the loss of them.
5. Murder - Obvious!
6. Debate - A spirit given to fighting!
7. Deceit - Pure old lying.
8. Malignity - A spirit do filled with evil, envy and hatred that it loves
nothing better than the destruction of another human being!
9. Whisperers - A gossip who seeks to harm another's reputation.
10. Backbiters - While the one above is done in secret, this one is
done in the open. It is the same spirit.
11. Haters of God - This is a person who hates the standards and
restrictions imposed by God. His goal is to be the god of his own
life.
12. Despiteful - A life of defiance that dares God or other men to get
in its way. This kind of person is determined to have his own way
at all costs.
13. Proud - Self-exaltation.
14. Boasters - This is a bragger. A person who brags about what he
has or what he has done, even if it isn't necessarily true.
15. Inventors of Evil Things - This is a person who is tired of sin as
usual and seeks new forms of pleasure and excitement.
16. Disobedient to Parents - Obvious! Watch a rebellious child!
He/she is open to all kinds of sinful activity!
17. Without Understanding - This is a person who refuses to learn
by experience. They have rejected the truth and have closed
their eyes and minds to it!
18. Covenant Breakers - Untrustworthy! Refers to people who will
not keep their word! You simply cannot depend on them!
19. Without Natural Affection - abnormal affection and love,
heartless, without human emotion or love, a lack of feeling for
others, abuse of normal affection and love. Others become little
more than pawns for a man's own use and benefit, pleasure and
purposes, excitement and stimulation. Abnormal affection, sex
and perversion prevail.
20. Implacable - A person who is unwilling to make peace or come
to an agreement.
21. Unmerciful - It is an absence of consideration or feelings for
others. What matters is one's own pleasure and rights, not the
pleasure and rights of others.
(Ill. This describes the world in which we live!)
C. V. 32 Seen In His Destiny - Man knows in his heart where his sin will
lead! However, he chooses to sin against his own conscience and go
on in his sinful activity. He pursues his sin with everything in his
power. And, to make matters worse, he passes his sinful behavior on
to others by encouraging them to follow in his footsteps. They also
delight in all those who live the same lifestyle. These people
encourage one another in their sins while both plunge headlong
toward Hell!
Conc: I don't know about you, but I find this image troubling. It is a harsh,
but true reality that those who reject God will ultimately be rejected by God.
When they seer their conscience, 1 Tim. 4:2, they close the door to God's
activity in their lives. Even though He is a God of love, mercy, grace and
longsuffering, He is still a God of holiness, justice, judgment and wrath.
There is a price to pay for rejecting Him.
There is a species of ant in Africa that builds its colonies and nests in
deep underground tunnels. It is here that their young and their queen live.
Even though these ants may be a great distance from the nest foraging for
food, they can sense when their queen in being attacked and they all
become extremely nervous and uncoordinated. If she is killed, they become
frantic and rush around aimlessly until they die.
What a perfect illustration of the person who has rejected God in his
life. Being unable to find direction and peace apart from a relationship with
God, he rushes around aimlessly, pursuing his sins until he too dies and
enters eternity. If you are in that shape, let me invite you to come to Jesus
for salvation this evening. If you know someone in this shape, let me
challenge you to pray for them.
It may even be that you are saved, but have allowed some of these
sins mentioned in these verses into your life. You need to get that dealt with
right now. I invite you, saint of God, to come to the Lord and seek a fresh,
renewed walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's mind Him this evening!
