The Judgement of God - Gentile Guilt
Notes
Transcript
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For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
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: 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. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 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.
Introduction/Review
Introduction/Review
Introduction
Romans is Paul's doctrinal dissertation on the theology of the gospel. He was not writing a gospel tract to evangelize the lost (although the truth contained is essential in such an endeavour), but rather he was writing to further the understanding of Christians and to to establish and equip them for effective service service.
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established;
Growth in the Christian life begins and ends with the gospel. There is no greater and higher truth that can be learned and explored. It has been aptly said “the gospel is simple but the gospel is not shallow” and based on the writings of Paul we can conclude that he would have echoed the same sentiment. In fact the gospel is so vast and so deep that you could never plunge its depth in a thousand lifetimes.
Consider the paradox of these verses:
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Review
We have already discussed in the introduction to this letter:
Paul’s Credentials - he was an Apostle with the highest authority and calling sent to deliver this message
Paul’s Concern - he heal a deep seated desire to see Christians grow and mature
Paul’s Confidence - Everything Paul risked was overshadowed by his absolute confidence in the authenticity and authority of the gospel message. Clearly, he believed it to be the most important message in all the world
Transition
Transition
We now turn our attention to the meat of the message or as some might say “where the rubber meats the road”. In this opening section Paul wastes no time in beating around the bush and goes straight to the heart of the matter. All of mankind is handcuffed and brought into the courtroom for sentencing and the evidence gathered against him is insurmountable for even the most skilled defense attorney!
We learn that the Gentile world is guilty. Then we learn that the Jewish world is guilty. Finally, we are presented with the conclusive summary that all of man is guilty!
Today we are going to focus on the Gentile guilt...
When we look at the guilt of the gentile world we must start with the intellect of the gentile world.
I. The Gentile is guilty because of his Intelligence
I. The Gentile is guilty because of his Intelligence
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Man began with an intimate relationship with God and with the pure intellect that God created him with
We are reminded that he “held the truth” - means to keep or believe but to suppress it because you don't want it
It is a dangerous thing to suppress the truth that God has revealed to us in order to elevate our own ideas and plans above Gods.
What started as intelligence about the very presence and power of God was rejected. What followed was ignorance...
II. The Gentile is guilty because of his Ignorance
II. The Gentile is guilty because of his Ignorance
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
A. Ignorance through disregard - “glorified him not as God”
A. Ignorance through disregard - “glorified him not as God”
they simply refused to acknowledge God for who he is
B. Ignorance through disrespect - “neither were thankful”
B. Ignorance through disrespect - “neither were thankful”
Is there anything more off-putting than a child who is unthankful?
C. Ignorance through delusion - “vain in their imaginations…foolish heart was darkened”
C. Ignorance through delusion - “vain in their imaginations…foolish heart was darkened”
What we think is so powerful
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
Eat and drink, saith he to thee;
But his heart is not with thee.
D. Ignorance through distinction - “professing themselves to be wise”
D. Ignorance through distinction - “professing themselves to be wise”
They were not shy about telling everyone how much they knew
E. Ignorance through distortion - “they became fools”
E. Ignorance through distortion - “they became fools”
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,
There is none that doeth good.
F. Ignorance through devotion - “changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image”
F. Ignorance through devotion - “changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image”
God is a never changing fixed foundation and yet man would not have him
We are made to worship and devote ourselves to something and the ultimate form of worship for man is this case is self-worship
Man, Birds, Beasts, Creeping things - all options for the object of our religious energy
Man started from a position of intelligence about the nature of God and due to his choices moved to a place of supreme ignorance. This eventually led to indulgence...
III. The gentile is guiltily because of his Indulgence
III. The gentile is guiltily because of his Indulgence
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
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: 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.
“God gave them up” - To uncleaness
“God gave them up” - To vile affections
The gentile is guilty because of his intelligence, he is guilty because of his Ignorance, he is guilty because of his indulgence and finally he is guilty because of his insistence...
IV. The gentile is guilty because of his Insistence
IV. The gentile is guilty because of his Insistence
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 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.
“God gave them over” - There are times when God gives us what we desire and we can see the sad picture of such a thing right here
They had rejected God and so God allowed the consequences that follow that to flow into their lives
Illustration: The Johnstown Flood (locally, the Great Flood of 1889) occurred on May 31, 1889, after the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam, located on the south fork of the Little Conemaugh River, 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It killed more than 2200 people and cause over 17 million dollars of damage. It was reported that the dam was in disrepair and serious neglect for years prior to the disaster.
Like a dam that is holding back the water - God is holding back the forces of darkness and sin from completely overtaking our lives. However the more that we pick against the wall and tear out brick the weaker the wall becomes and eventually the levy breaks and we are flooded.
What we read here about mankind is disgusting and unsettling but based on even a casual observance to the world around us we can easily see the truth in what Paul is writing.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The opportunity to know God and to acknowledge his position as Creator and God is available to all men. When this truth is received and believed God delivers more. However, when this is rejected for our own ideas we can clearly see the downward spiral and eventual destruction that follows such a path.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
What are some lessons we can take away from this truth today?
1. The real problem facing man today is the destructive force of sin in all of its many forms but espesually in its basic root which is the rejection of God and his ultimate authority.
1. The real problem facing man today is the destructive force of sin in all of its many forms but espesually in its basic root which is the rejection of God and his ultimate authority.
2. While sin destroys the lives of those who do not know Christ as savior, it also cripples believers and wreaks havoc on the church.
2. While sin destroys the lives of those who do not know Christ as savior, it also cripples believers and wreaks havoc on the church.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
3. Any presentation of the gospel must begin with the sin problem. We must teach it to our children, we must preach it in our churches and as Gods people we must live out the realities.
3. Any presentation of the gospel must begin with the sin problem. We must teach it to our children, we must preach it in our churches and as Gods people we must live out the realities.